We explored The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
exploring
Attractions and other places we visit.
New Orleans Oak Alley Plantation
We visited Oak Alley Plantation, a historic sugar plantation west of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Map:
One reason we chose to tour this plantation was that they acknowledged the history of slavery as part of the establishment:
They had exhibits on the slave quarters, work, and other conditions:
Some nice gardens:
The big house:
Sugarcane theater, with a video on sugarcane harvesting:
We had a guided tour of inside the big house. Unfortunately they don’t allow photos inside:
A view of the oak trees from the second floor balcony:
The wrap-around balcony:
After the tour inside, we walked around the gardens some more:
Then went to the cafe for lunch, followed by the gift store:
Fascinating history.
Video: New Orleans airboat swamp tour
A timelapse from my 360 camera of an airboat swamp tour near New Orleans.
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!
