From Kitchener to the Crescent City: A Bourbon-Fuelled, Beignet-Dusted Adventure in New Orleans
There’s a moment, somewhere between crossing the Windsor-Detroit border and stepping onto the cobblestone corner of Bourbon and Canal, where you realize you’re not just on a trip—you’re in for an experience. The kind that smells like powdered sugar, sounds like brass bands, and tastes like hot sauce and history.
After driving down from Kitchener to Detroit and catching a flight south, we landed in New Orleans, Louisiana—a city that doesn’t just welcome you, it seduces you. We checked into the Crowne Plaza Astor at the heart of Canal and Bourbon, a prime launchpad for exploring both the wild and the wondrous.
Our first walk up Bourbon Street was exactly what you'd imagine—chaotic, electric, and teeming with life. Beads, buskers, brass bands, and that unmistakable mix of music and mischief. It’s Mardi Gras energy, even in the off-season. And yet, for all the kitsch and noise, there's something magical about hearing a trumpet echo between balconies while sipping a cocktail under the glow of neon.
Of course, no trip to New Orleans is complete without acknowledging its otherworldly charm. We signed up for a Haunted Tour and were led through the French Quarter’s most ghost-soaked corners. Murders, mysteries, voodoo queens, and restless spirits—each stop left us equal parts spooked and smitten with the city’s folklore. It’s theatrical, yes, but grounded in generations of storytelling that defines the city’s soul.
The food? Unmatched. We started high-end with Brennan’s, a French Creole institution where Banana’s Foster was first made. Then we dove into the down-home classics: Gumbo Shop served up rich, smoky bowls that stick to your bones, while Killer PoBoys hit us with crusty baguettes stuffed with everything from shrimp to pork belly.
We couldn’t resist Dat Dog—a funky, colourful spot serving gourmet sausages with wild toppings (crawfish dog with etouffee, anyone?). And for breakfast? TOAST delivered buttery biscuits and thick-cut bacon that helped us rally for each jam-packed day.
To escape the Quarter’s buzz, we hopped the ferry to Algiers Point, a quiet, historic neighborhood with shotgun homes and shady streets. We grabbed coffee at Congregation Coffee, a cozy spot perfect for people-watching, and later returned for tacos at a little joint that proved the Crescent City’s Latin offerings are just as strong as its Southern fare. Algiers is a perfect breather—just enough distance from the Quarter, but still dripping with character.
One of the smartest moves we made? Buying a pass for the Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tour. It let us see the lay of the land—from Jackson Square to the Superdome—while offering great historical context. It also dropped us in the Garden District, where the oak-lined streets and stately mansions feel like a Southern Gothic novel brought to life. The homes are stunning, the air thick with magnolia, and the architecture tells a story of wealth, war, and reinvention.
While Bourbon gets the headlines, Frenchmen Street is where the true music lovers go. The clubs here—like The Spotted Cat and d.b.a.—offer front-row seats to the city’s jazz, funk, and soul heartbeat. No cover, no pretension, just raw talent and rhythm pouring into the streets. We ended each night here, drink in hand, heart full, letting the music do the talking.
New Orleans isn’t a checklist destination. It’s a city that’s lived-in, layered, and proud of its imperfections. You come for the gumbo and the ghosts, but stay for the spirit—the resilience, the rhythm, the relentless joy of it all.
From Kitchener to Detroit to the Big Easy, this was a trip that reminded us how travel can shake loose the ordinary. New Orleans doesn’t just feed you. It recharges your senses, steals your sleep, and sends you home with stories you’ll tell for years.
And maybe just a few beads, too.
