Family Vacation 2014: Stop #1, New Orleans

As a family we were all excited about the opportunity to take our first real family vacation.  Sure we have done little trips here and there, but nothing like the driving that would take place on this adventure with a 4 and 3 year old in tow.  But, we did successfully make it across 5 states over the course of a week.  We drove across Texas to New Orleans, LA.  Then after stopping there for a couple of nights we drove to Sandestin, FL to take in the white beaches and blue water.  After enjoying Sandestin we stopped in Mobile, AL to visit the battleship U.S.S. Alabama before returning to Texas.  Sounds like fun right....well, it was!  The kids did really well in the car and did very little complaining.  So sit back and relax as we share a little bit about our trip covering the crossing of 5 States.

We were all excited to begin the family vacation adventure.  Our first stop was the city of New Orleans. Yes, I know this not typically the stopping place for a family vacation, but we wanted to do a swamp tour, take the kids to Jackson Square, and eat at Cafe Du Monde.  All of these things were done.  However, the most entertaining part of the visit may have very well been the entrance to the city.  As we attempted to exit I-10 we immediately came to a standstill. We weren't sure what was taking place. Traffic was backed up, police were attempting to direct traffic, and the traffic signals were all blinking red.  Well, as it turns out the city complexly shuts done when JayZ and Beyonce are performing at the Superdome!  The outfits worn by the people going to the concert made many of those on Bourbon street look pretty normal.  So, after a long day of driving, we finally checked into the St. Christopher Hotel and walked to get some yummy food for dinner.

Our first order of business the next day was taking part in a Cajun Pride Swamp Tour.  We were all excited to go on the tour.  It might seem like a cheesy tourist thing to do, but it was a lot of fun.  Our guide was excellent and very informative.  He shared candidly about his life as a true Cajun, the animals he works with, and his home. Surprisingly the kids (especially Cade) paid close attention to him and loved every minute of the tour.  During the tour we even got the opportunity to hold a five year old alligator!  Caelin was the only one to not hold the alligator cause "it is alive and slimy", hahaha!  Cade said his favorite part of the boat adventure was going potty on the boat.  The boat had a toilet that in order to use, you would scoop water with a pot into the potty, go potty, and then use a pump to get the dirty water to flow out.  I bet it wouldn't had been so much fun if he would of been the one to do all the work!  Instead he just laughed and thought it was hilarious.  After we returned from the swamp tour we unloaded and regrouped at the hotel. We then headed out on foot to Jackson Square. We walked the square, ate the "flat donuts" at Cafe Du Monde, and enjoyed some of the local jazz musicians. It was a lot of fun. Of course though if you are in New Orleans you must take a stroll down Bourbon Street.  However, do not do this at night is you are dragging two young children with you.  So we did Bourbon Street during the daytime.  Now we know not to do Bourbon Street even with kids during the daytime!  We hurriedly waked past a man in fishnet hose, heels, and leather vest at one point. However, the best was the young woman wearing a red skirt and two very carefully placed red stars (I will leave this to your imagination) at which Cade looks over then back at us and says very seriously, "She needs to put some clothes on."  Needless to say the kids were exhausted from all the walking and sightseeing so we ate dinner in the hotel room, had a movie night, and prepared for the next day during which we would arrive in Sandestin, FL.