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I’m hosting another giveaway – USA Entries ONLY – for a Kindle Fire 7 with Alexa capability. There will also be other surprise goodies in the package for you to win!
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These folks have done some great skits for Southern lifestyle humor, and the one below is my absolute favorite!
This could pretty much be how Savannah is during the summer months…
When It’s Gnat Season in the South
The struggle is real, y’all ?
Posted by So True, Y’all on Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Hey everyone!
I’ve had a few people traveling to New Orleans lately, my good ole hometown, and I figured I would create a blog post with my favorite spots and info. Obviously, there are more things than on this listing, but these are my favorites and/or recommendations.
First on the list? City Park, New Orleans. Click here for website.
Why? Because everything about the place represents “home” to me. There are hundreds of oak trees that are over 100 years old, all with dangling Spanish moss that twinkles at sunset.
A note of warning – do not take the Spanish moss off the tree or pretend that it is a wig. There are chigger bugs that live within the moss! Ack!
There are walking paths, driving paths, some beautiful spots to sit by the water and feed the ducks, the Peristyle with its unique architecture (many romantic movie scenes have been filmed in this spot), and even a Morning Call (a beignet coffee spot for locals).
Around City Park is an area nicknamed “Mid-City.” Not to be confused with Central City, which is a dangerous place!
Bayou St. John winds its way near the park, along with shotgun homes painted in Victorian colors. Definitely worth a drive around the park and surrounding area. Whenever I get back to visit New Orleans, I make sure to at least drive through the park even if I don’t have time to stop and relax. It’s refreshing just to be amidst that area again.
Trivia: my high school is right near City Park, and on the last day of high school, I hurled my Chemistry notebook into Bayou St. John. I’m sure I was not the first, or the last.
Next up: Casual Spots for Coffee and Beignets:
Café du Monde – popular tourist place in the Quarter (on Decatur Street) for beignets and coffee. Next door to an open-air market which is interesting to walk through. The vendors sell spices, sauces, etc., some of which you can’t get anywhere else. http://www.cafedumonde.com/
Tip: If the line is long or there are no seats left, you can get your order to go, but eat the beignets fairly soon. They do not travel well.
Morning Call in City Park (about 10 min drive from Quarter) – has beignets and coffee just like Café du Monde. What’s the difference? Tourists go to Café du Monde, locals go to Morning Call. The location in City Park is fantastic, though. Spacious, amongst live oaks draped with Spanish moss, you can sit inside or outside (seating is actually a lot easier at Morning Call since Café du Monde is usually crowded with tourist lines). http://neworleanscitypark.com/in-the-park/morning-call
The City Park area is worth driving around. Architecture of the homes nearby, Bayou St. John, the park itself, plus coffee at Morning Call. They also have wifi, by the way.
General Good Eats & Places:
Zea’s Rotisserie & Grill – My NOLA addiction, the place I *MUST* go every time I’m home. Sadly their NOLA location is closed, but there is one 10 min away from the NOLA airport. Depending on your flights, if you can afford the time to stop here for lunch or dinner, it is worth it. Best red beans and rice on the PLANET. http://zearestaurants.com/locations/harahan/
Note: There is also a Zea’s in Metairie, within Clearview Mall.
French Quarter Restaurants:
You really can’t go wrong on food or drink anywhere in the Quarter, but below are some fave spots:
Tujague’s – located near Jackson Square in the French Quarter. On the pricier side, but one of my favorites. It’s the 2nd oldest restaurant in New Orleans. Seafood, cocktails, crawfish etouffee to die for. Website is http://www.tujaguesrestaurant.com/
Crescent City Brewhouse – located right near Jackson Square. This is an ideal seafood, hamburger, salad, lots of different beers and brews. It’s close proximity to many sightseeing things in the French Quarter, decently priced, and the atmosphere is nice and laid back. Website is http://www.crescentcitybrewhouse.com/
Irene’s Cuisine – 539 St Philip St, Italian, only open for dinner. Go hungry!
Antoine’s – one of the old, upscale restaurants with seafood in the Quarter. Pricey.
Court of Two Sisters – one of the old, upscale restaurants with seafood in the Quarter. Pricey.
Brennan’s – on Royal Street. Not sure if you’re there for a Sunday brunch, and it’s expensive, but it’s a 7-course breakfast like no other.
Deanie’s Seafood – awesome seafood, long lines. Popular spot.
Felix’s (oysters) – If you like oysters, this is the spot. It’s in the Quarter. Acme House is a secondary place, but Felix’s is king.
Muriel’s Jackson Square – Nice brunch spot right on Jackson Square.
For bars/pubs – Any in the Quarter will be decent, but a few notables:
Johnny White’s – I’ve never been but heard good things. It’s best known as the bar that never closed during Hurricane Katrina. http://www.johnnywhitesfrenchquarter.com/
The Carousel Bar in the Hotel Montleone – LOVE this spot! It’s a revolving carousel and unique place. Worth it to go in and grab at least one drink to enjoy the atmosphere. http://hotelmonteleone.com/entertainment/carousel-bar/
Lafitte’s Bar – oldest bar in NOLA. Decent drinks, kind of a dive but interesting history. http://www.lafittesblacksmithshop.com/Location.html
Music
Music – If you want good music, unless someone is playing at Preservation Hall, forget Bourbon Street and head toward Frenchman Street. It’s on the outer edge of the Quarter but walkable. The Maison is my fave spot, but there’s also Snug Harbor and other popular music venues.
There’s also the Garden District which has some classics like Commander’s Palace and other venues. Gorgeous homes, lots of spots to eat and drink.
Note about Garden District: Do be cautious at night – if you go there in the evening, I’d recommend Uber/taxi right to where you’re going. Do not walk around at night browsing the homes! Popular mugging spot.
Other Activities Besides Eating and Drinking in NOLA? Are there such things?
Lake Ponchartrain/Across the Lake – The Causeway Twin Spans across Lake Ponchartrain are approximately 23-24 miles. The drive is going from Metairie over to the Covington area. If you get the chance to take the drive, here are my suggestions:
1- Bring peppy music with you. That “thump-thump” of the 23 mile bridge gets old, and it’s very easy to start to doze off. You’re on 2 lanes driving across water, not a good idea to fall asleep!
2 – Somewhere around the middle of the drive, you will no longer be able to see land. For most of the drive, you see the buildings you left behind in Metairie, and you see tree shapes eventually of the places you’re going in Covington. But for a few miles, you can’t see ANYTHING except water in every direction. It’s pretty cool, especially if you drive across at sunset.
Aquarium / IMAX – right along the Riverwalk in Quarter http://audubonnatureinstitute.org/aquarium
World War II Museum – on the outskirts of the Quarter – may want to Uber it since parking is bad. Great history and so much to see. http://www.nationalww2museum.org/
Riverboat Cruise – http://www.steamboatnatchez.com/
And there you have Elaine’s listing!
Let me know what your favorite spots are to add to the list. And if you like books set in NOLA, check out Water’s Blood (Urban Fantasy/Romance) and Penance (Urban Fantasy/Romance/Good v Evil), both of which are set in New Orleans Mid-City.
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I am hosting a Q&A session on Wednesday, March 7, at 10:00 a.m. EST on the Author #AMA network. Stop by and ask me anything!
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Hello everyone!
Yes, I know it’s been some time since I’ve posted a blog. Sorry about that! Life and some other complex things got in the way of my blogging, but you’ll be happy to know that in 2018, it’s my goal to blog once per week and stick to a schedule.
No more self sabotage or getting out of it!
So, the topic for today is Savannah, Georgia. I call it the perfect haunt because it is a town on the Georgia coast that has a haunted history. Haunted hotels, haunted bars, ghost tours for the walk-friendly and bus ghost tours for those who don’t like standing on their feet for 2 hours.
A friend of mine is also going to Savannah soon, so I figured this would be a good travel blog to refer to. As many of you know, NO GRITS NO GLORY was set in Savannah, one of my favorite cities on Earth. And that book practically wrote itself. The muse drips with the Spanish moss dangling from the live oaks; the wind whispers secrets that she wants to have me type down and add into my story.
I wish all books were as easy to write as that one, but Savannah itself did lend a haunted hand.
So, if you’re going to Savannah, here are some things I recommend:
Things to See & Do
Bonaventure Cemetery
This is my favorite and it’s always a must-see for anyone. It is a bit difficult to find, so make sure you ask your local hotel for directions. Spend some time wandering around, taking in the scenery and enjoying this photographer’s paradise. There are some famous graves such as Johnny Mercer and Baby Gracie, along with a few notable others.
My favorite part of Bonaventure is the elaborate carvings, statues, and nature. Nature conservationist John Muir even said that he would rather spend time in Bonaventure with the dead, rather than hanging out with the living. This quote makes perfect sense once you’ve seen this gem of Savannah.
If you want to learn the history and don’t want to trek it on your own, I highly recommend the 2-3 hour walking tour with the fantastic Shannon Scott. He’s a well-versed historian and great storyteller. Find out more info here.
River Street
This is the famous street in historic downtown that is akin to other cities’ famous streets. It’s a walk-able stretch of land beside the river with tons of hotels, restaurants and bars. There is usually a festival or activity going on by the river on weekends. So shop for pralines, have lunch, watch the dolphins in the river around 8 am when they come into the river from the ocean to have breakfast.
There is plenty of shopping here too, and you can watch the barges pull into the port while you stroll along the riverfront.
Mercer House, Telfair Museum of Art, Juliette Low House
I combine these 3 because they are great for a first-time visitor to Savannah, but not necessarily a place to keep returning to on subsequent trips. FYI for those of you who saw the movie, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” – the “bird girl” statue is in the Telfair museum. It used to be in Bonaventure until numerous vandalism attempts required her to be moved after the movie came out.
Broughton Street & City Market – For the shoppers!
Broughton Street is about 3 blocks off River Street and is a shopping/quick dining haven. There are hotels, specialty martini shops, stores, etc. You can also find plenty to shop for on River Street, but check out Broughton too.
City Market is near the river and has many eateries, shops, antiques, etc. to browse.
Leopold’s Ice Cream
While you’re on Broughton, check out Leopold’s Ice Cream (operating since 1919) right next to the theater. It’s a Savannah tradition. Check out their website here.
Savannah Squares
The historic district of Savannah is laid out in a grid format, with numerous “squares” separating streets every few blocks. This is a lovely thing for bikers and walkers, because each square has a park all its own. Statues, monuments, restaurants, offices are located on each square.
If you’re driving, well, the squares can be challenging to drive through if you’re in a hurry. Just relax and take your time, and you’ll be fine.
Trivia: Chippewa Square is where Tom Hanks sat on the bench for most of the “Forrest Gump” movie. However, the bench was a prop, so it is no longer there.
My favorite squares are Reynolds (where The Pink House restaurant is located), Whitefield (where there is a gazebo), and Troup (there’s a special water fountain just for dogs!)
Walk through all the squares and enjoy the individuality when you’re there! Click here for info on all the squares of Savannah.
Ghost Tour!
Don’t miss the chance to do a haunted tour of Savannah! There are many companies that host them. If the weather is nice and you’re up for being on your feet for a few hours, do the walking tour. It takes about 2 hours. You won’t be traveling further than a mile or so, but you will be standing the whole time.
If standing isn’t your thing, then opt for the hearse or bus ghost tour! Still as fun and works if the weather is cold or wet, too!
Restaurants
I’ve eaten casual and fine dining, I’ve had drinks in a few places to overlook the river, and below are my favorites. You really can’t go “wrong” in Savannah because the food is good and the drinks overflowing. But my recommendations after 20+ years of visiting Savannah are the following list. Click on the restaurant name to go to their website for more info.
The Pink House
Delicious food, great drinks, a jazz piano bar downstairs, and an interesting historic site of Savannah. The Emancipation Proclamation was read aloud on the Pink House steps when slavery ended. And that’s just one of the many historic facts about the place. It’s worth going to even if you’re just stopping by for a drink.
Expensive, fine dining, special occasion. Every birthday or anniversary, if I’m in Savannah, I go here. But it’s not the kind of thing you can do every night because it’s pricey.
Garibaldi’s or Vic’s on the River
I put these two together because I went to both in the same trip and I don’t remember which was which, but the food was great and the atmosphere idyllic. Vic’s on the River is great if you can get a river-view table.
River House Seafood
This is one of the few great restaurants on River Street. Most of River Street is good, but the food is better once you get off the beaten path. However, I’ve had fantastic steaks here so if you’re a meat lover, it’s worth checking out and is a bit more casual than the previous listings.
Kevin Barry’s Irish Pub
It’s right on River Street and is the perfect place to stop and have a drink or appetizers. This is one of the best Irish pubs I’ve ever seen. Their main menu dishes are okay, but the atmosphere and drinks are the best. Sit upstairs and watch the river while having a pint. Or sit downstairs because they have nightly entertainment and the music is great. Always a must do.
Henry’s
Great and affordable breakfast/lunch place. If you don’t want to pay a fortune for a hotel breakfast or you just want something local, this place is delicious and affordable. It’s near Broughton & Drayton Streets.
Mrs. Wilkes OR Paula Deen’s Lady & Sons
If you have not ingested down home, Southern food since birth, you may want to check out Mrs. Wilkes or Paula Deen’s restaurants. They both feature a TON of down-Southern-home cooking. But do be warned – they get crowded easily and you will wait in a line. And you’ll want to exercise afterward because they practically slather butter on everything!
The Pirate’s House
Admittedly, I didn’t really care for the food at this place. HOWEVER, it has a haunted history AND they have staff dressed up as pirates who can give you a tour. It makes the place festive and it’s worth going there for the experience. The food wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as good as the other places.
But go there, maybe for lunch, and look down into the Shanghai tunnels where unsuspecting men were dragged off onto ships when they became too inebriated to notice–until it was too late!