What to Do in New Orleans

·         Dinner at Peche Seafood Grill (Notable mention Le Petite Grocery)

You must, must, must eat here! This laid back seafood restaurant was the winner of 2 James Beard Awards- one for best new restaurant and the other for Best Chef in the South. There was just so much flavor in all the food- you really could not go wrong with anything on the menu. Make reservations ahead of time because you won’t be able to get in without one.

·         Drinks at the Carousel

Located at the historic Hotel Monteleone, this bar is made out of an actual Carousel and the bar seats slowly move! It was such a fun New Orleansy place plus the bar is a fun excuse to see the inside of this beautiful historic hotel.

·         Explore the French Quarter

The French Quarter feels like another world. You do not feel like you are in the United States. The whole neighborhood is so unique and unlike anything I had ever seen or experienced before. I would stay away from the Bourbon street part of the French Quarter. Bourbon Street is just a little too crazy for my tastes. There were just too many super drunk people going from bar to bar. However, if you keep walking and even just walk one street off of Bourbon street then there are tons of fun antique stores to explore.

·         Eat Beignets at Café Du Monde

The famous Café Du Monde! I am going to give you the best tip that someone gave us before we went and it made ALL the difference in the world!..... You do not have to wait in the long line that inevitably wind down the block! There are signs in the restaurant saying “seat yourself”- so you can just walk in and take an open table if you see one. Only tourists wait in the line because they see everything standing in it and think that they also have to! You guys- do.not.wait.in.the.line! This will change your life. The beignets are gooey, warm and totally worth it.

·         Eat donuts at District Donut

Just another one of the fun donut shops in the US. They also have Nitro beer, which, apparently, is very hard to find.

·         Go to the World War II Museum

The only World War II Museum in the US is in New Orleans.  Buy tickets and spend the whole afternoon there. If you are a World War II buff, then this is a must do. I went because Matt was interested in it and actually did not hate it. I learned a lot and was really moved by how much our veterans sacrificed for our country and safety.

·         Walk Down Magazine street 

What to do in Charleston

You guys so much has happened, I cannot even believe that it is 2016 and I have so failed Wonder & Awe for far too long! These past couple of months have been filled with lots of holiday to do’s and sweet little weekend trips. Matt and I want to travel and explore as much as possible in the next couple of years, so whenever I have a free day we take a little trip. We went to Charleston, South Carolina after Thanksgiving this year and it was so beautiful and surprisingly warm! The weather was around 70 degrees and sunny the whole weekend. Perfection. I am oddly obsessed with the photographer, OliviaRae James, who is based out of Charleston, so before going I basically stalked her instagram to figure out what she does on a typical Charleston weekend and then made it the itinerary of our whole trip!

^^ The College of Charleston 

·         Stay at Zero George Street. 
Zero George is the newest boutique hotel in Charleston and it is drop dead gorgeous. The hotel is very small so make sure to make your reservation far enough in advance.  But if you cannot stay there, definitely eat dinner in their beautiful restaurant. Matt and I could not get into Zero George so we made sure to make a dinner reservation there and it was well worth it.

·         Tour Boone Hall Plantation. 
Boone Hall Plantation is about a 20 minute cab ride out from the city. You can take a tour of the home and the property, all of which are included in the general admission ticket. If you have never toured a plantation in the south before, this is a must see. So romantic and beyond gorgeous.  Plan on spending an afternoon there.

·         Eat at Chez Nous.  
(Notable mention- Five Loaves, very close by…) Chez Nous is tucked off the street in a little alley way, located in a beautiful little house. This small little French restaurant was one of the best meals Matt and I have had in a long time. Olivia Rae James is a regular, so obviously it was a must-do for me and one of the best parts of our trip.

·         Get a drink at Bin 152. 
We loved this laid back wine bar. Stop by for some wine and cheese.

·         Take a carriage ride. 
Take one of the city’s many carriage rides to get a tour of different historical parts of Charleston you might not have seen otherwise. The tour guides are entertaining and teach you lots of historical information.

·         Walk around and explore the city. 
Walk the Battery to see some of the old mansions. Charleston is filled with American history. It is small enough to explore on foot but big enough to constantly be surprised by new little quaint neighborhoods. 

^^ Stop by the store Candlefish, which is basically a beautiful bar for candles!