This year marks New Orleans Tricentennial and the city, affectionately known as Nola, shows no signs of slowing down despite its age.
History is everywhere, from its well-preserved antebellum neighborhoods to The National World War II Museum, ranked as the #1 attraction in the city by TripAdvisor and the #1 “Best Place to Learn U.S. Military History” by USA Today.
I slept in a bit of history, The Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery, an elegant boutique hotel on the border of the Warehouse & Arts District and Central Business District. The mid-nineteenth century coffee and tobacco warehouse was converted to a hotel in 1997 and now boasts Chef Nina Compton’s James Beard Award-nominated restaurant, Compère Lapin.
Among the other “must do’s” on any foodies list is lunch at Commander’s Palace in the tree-lined Garden District neighborhood. The historic restaurant dates back to 1880 and combines haute Creole cuisine with timeless Louisiana charm.
I timed my visit to experience the annual New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The 2018 edition will take place from April 27-29 and May 3-6. The line up will be announced soon and if the past is any indication of the future, the 49th edition of the festival is sure to be a hit.
In addition to its music and food scene, New Orleans prides itself on its walkability and its biking opportunities. After putting my legs to work exploring Nola en pied and a two-wheeled tour of the Bywater, my extended weekend was capped off with a bit of renewal at The Spa in the elegant Windsor Court Hotel down the block from The Old No. 77.
Three centuries since its birth, my 72-hour getaway in New Orleans convinced me that the city more than lives up to its denizens favorite saying, “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler.”
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Photo Credits
All Photographs Are © Mark Edward Harris
Mark Edward Harris Photographer Bio
Mark Edward Harris’ assignments have taken him to 97 countries on six continents. His editorial work has appeared in publications such as Vanity Fair, LIFE, Time, GEO, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, Wallpaper, Casa Vogue, GQ Thailand, Money Magazine, Architectural Digest, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, and The London Sunday Times Travel Magazine as well as all the major photography and in-flight magazines. His commercial clients range from The Gap to Coca-Cola. He is the recipient of numerous awards including a CLIO, ACE, Aurora Gold, and Photographer of the Year at the Black & White Spider Awards. His books include Faces of the Twentieth Century: Master Photographers and Their Work, The Way of the Japanese Bath, Wanderlust, North Korea, South Korea, and Inside Iran. North Korea was named Photography Book of the Year at the International Photography Awards. Mark’s latest book, The Travel Photo Essay: Describing a Journey Through Images was released by Focal Press/Routledge in the fall of 2017.
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