We're home! It seems like we've been traveling for months, probably because we've been away from home or traveling... for months. First there were the seven weeks we spent in Houston with my parents while waiting to close on our new house (THANKS, PARENTS!), then another trip to Houston for our anniversary weekend without the kids (THANKS, PARENTS!), then a trip to the lake for Opa's sixtieth birthday party (Happy Birthday, Opa!), then a week-long vacation in New Orleans, and, finally, another few days with family in Houston, celebrating my dad's birthday (Happy Birthday, Dida!). So. Summer. That was quick!
New Orleans was wonderful. The kids had a great time, minus the time we had to take Milka to the ER for a partially dislocated elbow (I'm serious) and the time Sammy vomited up his gourmet hot dog at a fancy butcher/sandwich shop. Other than that, though: fun! Also, New Orleans with kids is probably 900% different than New Orleans without kids. (We were in bed by 9 pm every night.) We spent our days walking, eating pralines and beignets and GLUTEN FREE PIZZA, swimming at the hotel pool, drinking coffee, riding the St. Charles streetcar, playing at Audubon Park, and running around the Aquarium. Also, sweating. New Orleans in August!
So, pro tips for traveling to New Orleans with children in August:
1. Anticipate sweating; bring lots of clothes.
2. Stay at the Westin. They have a rooftop pool that is 100% pool and 100% on top of their roof, facts that impress children. They are also gracious when/if one of your children wets the bed at night and it soaks into the fancy mattress.
3. Ride the streetcars! They're cheap! And fun!
4. Go to Cafe Du Monde at least once a day. Eat beignets (of course), or, if you can't have gluten (my life is terrible), order a frozen Cafe Au Lait, pretty much the best drink ever on a hot day. DO NOT go to the bathroom there, though. It smells like urine/death/sadness, and *BONUS* the lock doesn't work.
5. Eat pralines every hour. Your kid doesn't like pralines? No problem! Most praline shops also offer other sweets, like chocolate covered Oreos (Sammy's favorite) or, you know, ice cream.
6. Visit Audubon Park! BRING LOTS OF WATER!
7. Go to Magazine St. and find this fancy macaron shop. Delicious!
8. Go to the French Quarter and look for horses. They will (a) be attached to carriages and (b) make your kids happy. Expect occasional whining ("WHY CAN'T WE RIDE IN A HORSE CARRIAGE? WHY WHY WHY?") and distract your children with other, less expensive fanciness ("Look! An old building! So pretty, right?")
9. Check out the Aquarium of the Americas. It's pricey but perfect for those days when a mid-afternoon thunderstorm arrives out of nowhere. Also: air conditioning!
10. Practice crossing the street while holding your two year old's hand. Prepare for giant water puddles and how best to avoid them without accidentally dislocating your two year old's elbow. (Related: locate the nearest Emergency Room in case of emergency!)
Next post: MORE PHOTOS!
New Orleans was wonderful. The kids had a great time, minus the time we had to take Milka to the ER for a partially dislocated elbow (I'm serious) and the time Sammy vomited up his gourmet hot dog at a fancy butcher/sandwich shop. Other than that, though: fun! Also, New Orleans with kids is probably 900% different than New Orleans without kids. (We were in bed by 9 pm every night.) We spent our days walking, eating pralines and beignets and GLUTEN FREE PIZZA, swimming at the hotel pool, drinking coffee, riding the St. Charles streetcar, playing at Audubon Park, and running around the Aquarium. Also, sweating. New Orleans in August!
So, pro tips for traveling to New Orleans with children in August:
1. Anticipate sweating; bring lots of clothes.
2. Stay at the Westin. They have a rooftop pool that is 100% pool and 100% on top of their roof, facts that impress children. They are also gracious when/if one of your children wets the bed at night and it soaks into the fancy mattress.
3. Ride the streetcars! They're cheap! And fun!
4. Go to Cafe Du Monde at least once a day. Eat beignets (of course), or, if you can't have gluten (my life is terrible), order a frozen Cafe Au Lait, pretty much the best drink ever on a hot day. DO NOT go to the bathroom there, though. It smells like urine/death/sadness, and *BONUS* the lock doesn't work.
5. Eat pralines every hour. Your kid doesn't like pralines? No problem! Most praline shops also offer other sweets, like chocolate covered Oreos (Sammy's favorite) or, you know, ice cream.
6. Visit Audubon Park! BRING LOTS OF WATER!
7. Go to Magazine St. and find this fancy macaron shop. Delicious!
8. Go to the French Quarter and look for horses. They will (a) be attached to carriages and (b) make your kids happy. Expect occasional whining ("WHY CAN'T WE RIDE IN A HORSE CARRIAGE? WHY WHY WHY?") and distract your children with other, less expensive fanciness ("Look! An old building! So pretty, right?")
9. Check out the Aquarium of the Americas. It's pricey but perfect for those days when a mid-afternoon thunderstorm arrives out of nowhere. Also: air conditioning!
10. Practice crossing the street while holding your two year old's hand. Prepare for giant water puddles and how best to avoid them without accidentally dislocating your two year old's elbow. (Related: locate the nearest Emergency Room in case of emergency!)
Next post: MORE PHOTOS!
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