New Orleans Trip 2016: Activities & Tips!

Alex & I at the Running of the Bulls NOLA 2016

This year’s trip to New Orleans was just so much fun! We definitely tried out some new experiences than years before and are excited to share them with you. When I knew my husband was going to be in NOLA for a conference, the first thing I did was visit the New Orleans Events Calendar for 2016 hand this is where the fun all started. Here is my 2016 list of fun activities and tips for NOLA (don’t forget to review my NOLA Top 10 Here):

1) The San Fermin in Nueva Orleans: The Running of the Bulls Festival in New Orleans.

When I was checking the calendar of events for things to do when we were in NOLA in July, I came across the San Fermin in Nueva Orleans and was instantly curious. Turns out…you can participate in the running of the bulls…but the bulls…are roller derby ladies strapped with whiffle-ball bats!! WHAT?!?! IS THIS THE COOLEST THING I HAVE EVER READ?!? Yes. Indeed it was. Every single person we met was awesome. The drinks were great. The music was great. Everything about this festival was great. We will be back, hopefully every single year, to participate in this event.

We made it to the end of the race!

New Orleans Trip 2016: Where the good eats happened!

New Orleans is one of my favorite cities to visit. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you may have seen my NOLA Top 10 List & a few extra tips post. This trip, Alex & I went exploring with the help of the 2016 New Orleans Official Visitors Guide & the wonderful support of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. I have quite a bit to share, but lets start with one of the greatest things about NOLA…the food. All opinions are my own & are very much shared by my traveling companion- my husband Alex.

The Best Creme Brûlée Ever. Tableau Restaurant, NOLA

Gilled Gulf Fish @ Tableau Restaurant, NOLA

Tableau

This restaurant is a MUST! Everything about it was perfect. The ambiance, the staff (our waiter- Keith- gave us the best recommendations!), and the food were just wonderful. What really sparked my interest is when I was reading the menu and I came across the EAT FIT NOLA approved dishes which is an initiative that highlights the smart choices on the menu for those of us who are being mindful of healthy eating and healthy options while dining out. Alex and I tried the Truffled Crab Fingers for an appetizer. Alex had the Roasted Duck Breast: Blackberry gastrique, Creole mustard reduction, arugula & local blackberry salad, baguette and I had the Gilled Gulf Fish:Tamarind glazed, local summer vegetable ragout, spicy chilies, mirliton slaw. These were all good, but let me tell you something. Keith suggested we try the Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée and I will not lie- IT WAS THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD. Well done Tableau & thank you for the memorable dining experience!

Travels to Daytona Beach, FL

I have a lot of traveling to do with my job & in the beginning of November, I was able to take a journey to Daytona Beach, FL for the Certificate of Training in Childhood & Adolescent Weight Management which was probably the best conference I have ever attended.  The content was incredible, fun, and energizing.  I am sure my interns and I all walked out of there ready to battle the obesity epidemic.  And of course, since I had never been to Florida before, I wanted to take in the scenery as well to unwind from such intense training.  The training was held at The Shores Resort & Spa which I give a hearty 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The only reason why they did not get the entire 5 stars is because they have minimal privacy on the balconies.  I could see at least 9 different balconies from my balcony, which is not very romantic.  Even though I was by myself.  I would still consider taking my family here for vacation since the rooms are large, clean, and gorgeous.  The beach was wonderful and not too busy.  The on-site dining was fantastic, especially for the price.  Ask for the fish tacos and for a nightcap, ask the bartender for the hot chocolate with kahlua.  The hotel features smores kits and fire pits, which allowed for some peer bonding time.  It was lovely!

Here I am (on the right, on my knee) with my lovely LRU dietetic interns!

Some of the places we ate were the Ocean Deck Restaurant and Beach Club and Inlet Harbor Restaurant & Marina

The Ocean Deck is exactly what I wanted for a beach town.  It was well decorated, great food, and open seating.  Also, a great beer selection.  The Inlet Harbor Restaurant was fun.  I felt as though I was walking into a Jimmy Buffett tailgate when we entered the restaurant.  The waitstaff was wonderful and not too bad on the eyes...  I had their bacon-wrapped shrimp, tried alligator (yum!), and all in all thought the atmosphere, food, staff, and drinks were something to recommend!  My only complaint is that the lobby of the portion of the restaurant we ate in smelled like a dirty bathroom.  Toxic, dirty bathroom.  I'm sure they've taken care of that by now. 

Inlet Harbor Restaurant's Complimentary Hush Puppies

Passing through Daytona Beach and seeing the Daytona 500 is pretty cool.  Some of my interns drove to Disney (which apparently is only 1.5 hours away) after the conference for some international cuisine.  The airport was clean and easy to use.  And really, you can't help but love scenes like this after a long day of conferencing...

Sunset over the Atlantic Ocean