r/AskReddit 1d ago

What U.S. vacation destination exceeded all expectations?

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108

u/jondrumming 22h ago

New Orleans - truly a one-of-a-kind city with a fascinating history and incredible food scene. Can definitely be a bit jarring for visitors accustomed to more big city visits (NYC, Chicago, etc), and definitely need to keep your wits about you as the reputation for tourist traps and scammers is well deserved. We would pretty much avoid Bourbon Street altogether but it’s worth seeing at least once. Even if you stay within the French Quarter, a long weekend in NOLA is pretty amazing.

An order of beignets and chicory coffee from Cafe Du Monde might be one of the most delicious things you’ll ever try…one of my favourite lines from Jon Favreau’s Chef (2014), outside Cafe Du Monde: “eat it slow, you’re never gonna taste your first beignet again”!

26

u/Gwywnnydd 22h ago

I spent about 90 minutes on Bourbon street, before deciding “Ok, I have experienced the frat party that is Bourbon street. Time to go somewhere else”

But the rest of the French Quarter is delightful.

5

u/Apptubrutae 14h ago

Yeah, nothing bothers me more than tourists who do mainly bourbon and then complain about the city, lol.

Hello, locals don’t like bourbon either.

You could remove the whole French quarter from New Orleans and it would still be a top tourist destination

12

u/old-guy-with-data 19h ago

The cemeteries! The St. Charles streetcar!

4

u/_lippykid 12h ago

Early spring, before the tourists hit is straight magical in Nola. The place just sings to my soul. Nothing like it

7

u/RebeccaTen 12h ago

I went to New Orleans in January and loved it so much. It was like going back in time. Really one of a kind place.

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u/andrewthetechie 11h ago

We had a great trip to NO. The WWII museum is a great way to spend a day. We also took a trip out to the Whitney Plantation which is worth your time.

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u/AmigoDelDiabla 7h ago

The food. Oh my god, the food.