A timelapse from my 360 camera of an airboat swamp tour near New Orleans.
exploring
Attractions and other places we visit.
New Orleans airboat swamp tour
We took a swamp tour on an airboat, via LaBiche Swamp Tours. Though more of a bayou tour, with a brief trip through a swamp.
We saw a bunch of birds, and some alligators, on a small six-passenger airboat.
A map of the area:
We booked via Mona Lisa Lounge, a nearby dive bar, who provided a bonus pre-tour beverage, some beads, and conversation with the very drunk wife of the owner:
We then proceeded to the tour dock:
The waiting area:
Our airboat:
A larger airboat:
Heading out through the bayou:
The alligators were starting brumation, so were less common, but we did see a few. Here’s our first alligator sighting:
A video of a swimming gator:
A video of airboat travel:
Another video of a swimming gator:
Our airboat:
Another airboat:
A rescued gator back at the dock:
A fun experience.
New Orleans
We did a bit of exploring of New Orleans, Louisiana, including walking around the French Quarter, a quick drive through the Garden District, and elsewhere. This post has an assortment of pictures from the city.
An interactive map:
Lots of pictures from the distinctive French Quarter:
We had a jazz brunch at the Court of Two Sisters:
A beignet and coffee snack:
Even the cops have swag:
We stopped at another Cafe Beignet for coffee beans (that were kinda gross), and also picked up some tasty pralines:
A brief drive through the Garden District:
Hale Boggs Bridge:
Veterans Memorial Bridge:
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway holds the Guinness World Record for longest continuous span over water in the world, at 23.83 miles (38.35 km) long:
A couple more shots from the French Quarter to finish up:
The city certainly has a lot of character.
Natchez Trace Parkway
We drove along about 140 miles of the 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. A weird park barely wider than the road, with thousands of years of history.
Though we drove both ways on that portion, so a total of about 280 miles, plus some detours, over two days.
We also drove past Elvis Presley’s birthplace and Tupelo National Battlefield, and visited Meriwether Lewis National Monument.
An interactive map (see the NPS site for the full route map):
Tupelo:
Back to the Parkway:
Alabama state line:
Tennessee River:
Tennessee State Line:
Meriwether Lewis National Monument, where Lewis of Lewis & Clark died and was buried:
Laurel Hill Road:
Sunset:
A nice scenic drive, with some interesting stops.
Graceland
We visited Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley, in Memphis, Tennessee.
An interactive map:
Gate to the visitor center:
Welcome to Graceland:
We had a reservation for a self-guided tour of the Graceland mansion. We each had a somewhat trashed iPad and headphones with an audio and video guide for the tour:
Shuttle bus across the road to the mansion:
Graceland mansion:
Upstairs was not included in the tour; it’s private to the family:
Backyard:
The manager’s office:
More exhibits, starting with Elvis as a child and his parents:
Gym:
Horses:
The Presley graveyard, where Elvis and his family are buried:
Then we shuttled back over the road to the museum area, and lunch at Gladys’ Diner:
We of course had to have grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches:
Gift store:
Elvis exhibits:
An interesting experience.
Garvan Woodland Gardens
We visited Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Map:
An interactive map:
An impressive architectural feature is Anthony Chapel, which we had to quickly visit as it was about to be closed for a wedding:
A waterfall:
Model trains:
This was in early November, so they were in the process of adding holiday decorations:
An impressive treehouse:
A very nice garden, highly recommended.
Hot Springs National Park
We visited Hot Springs National Park, an urban park in the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Map:
Convenient free parking:
The main feature of this national park is “Bathhouse Row”, a series of historic bathhouses that used the natural hot water of the area; some of which still operate today.
Buckstaff Baths is one that still offers bathing; Jenn did a traditional bath and massage package here:
Ozark:
Quapaw Baths is another that still operates; Jenn did a more modern spa package here:
Lamar:
This bathhouse contains a gift store:
The Maurice:
The Hale:
The Fordyce contains the park visitor center:
Floor plan:
Stained glass windows:
Historic bathhouse exhibits:
Machinery in the basement:
Spring in the basement:
Locker room:
Ladies lounge:
Exhibits:
Gym:
Info exhibits:
A handy reference model of Bathhouse Row:
Superior Baths contains a restaurant and brewery — the only brewery on national park land:
Menu:
Trolley:
Hot fountain:
Hot spring:
The Grand Promenade:
Hot spring:
Arlington Hotel:
We also visited the nearby Hot Springs Mountain Tower, with a view of downtown.
Approaching the tower:
A switchback road to the tower:
Info sign:
Token to go up the elevator:
There are two viewing levels; the lower one is enclosed:
Upstairs is an outdoor viewing level:
Parking area:
View of downtown:
A bit different than the usual national park.
2023 selfies
I thought it’d be fun to create an animated GIF of selfies and other pictures of Jenn and me from 2023. We’ve been to some interesting places!
2023 attractions, part 4
Concluding the summary of some of the attractions we visited in 2023. With some sneak peeks of places we visited recently that haven’t been posted about yet!
This is part four of four, covering October through December, inclusive. Start with part one, or check out part two or part three, if you haven’t already.
October 2023
Yellowstone Old Faithful area:
Yellowstone Tower-Roosevelt area:
Yellowstone old west cookout and wagon ride:
Buffalo Bill Center of the West:
Devils Tower National Monument:
November 2023
Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit:
Theodore Roosevelt National Park South Unit:
Pitchfork Steak Fondue and Medora Musical:
Mount Rushmore National Memorial:
Minuteman Missile National Historic Site:
December 2023
Route 66 in Tucumcari, New Mexico:
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta morning sessions:
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta evening sessions:
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta flight:
Hot Springs National Park (blog post coming in January):
Garvan Woodland Gardens (post coming in January):
Graceland (post coming in January):
Natchez Trace Parkway (post coming in February):
New Orleans (post coming in February):
New Orleans airboat swamp tour (post coming in February):
New Orleans Oak Alley Plantation (post coming in February):
New Orleans Steamboat Natchez Sunday Brunch Jazz Cruise (post coming in February):
The National WWII Museum (post coming in February):
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve (post coming in February):
New Orleans St Louis Cemetery Number 1 (post coming in February):
New Orleans Celebration in the Oaks:
Lambert’s Cafe (post coming in February):
Fort Morgan State Historic Site (post coming in February):
USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park (post coming in February):
Lots of fun activities!
2023 attractions, part 3
Continuing from yesterday, a summary of some of the attractions we visited in 2023.
This is part three of four, covering July through September, inclusive. Start with part one, or check out part two, if you haven’t already.
July 2023
Bruce Munro: Light at Sensorio:
Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center:
Napa and Sonoma wineries: Domaine Carneros, Iron Horse, Korbel:
Mariners at Athletics baseball game:
Avenue of the Giants, Humboldt Redwoods State Park:
August 2023
Redwood State and National Parks:
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area:
September 2023
Olympic National Park beaches and rainforests:
Seattle Mariners vs Chicago White Sox baseball game:
Ferry to Seattle, Mariners team store:
Craters of the Moon National Monument:
Snake River whitewater rafting:
Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion, tomorrow.