NOLA and the Gulf Coast Adventure - DAY 4

Day 4 - Sunshine in Mississippi! 🌞

MANY years ago I sat in a movie theater and watched a pre-movie ad about vacationing along Mississippi's Gulf Coast. Amazing that years later, when we had free plane tickets to use, I remembered those ads and we booked that trip!

After 3 days in NOLA, we rented a car and headed East! First a stop in Metairie Cemetery to see the amazing Mausoleums (and Anne Rice's final resting place) before we drove over the big bridge to Mississippi.

Final resting place of Anne Rice GCAJGRW

The cemetery flooding is real!

Diberts Derriere GCK71X

This Egyptian pyramid is so reminiscent of Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. Powerful!

The coastal road didn't disappoint! We started our adventure shopping and eating in Bay St Louis (shopping at Fleurty Girls and then fajitas at Avocado's). They gave me a free ice cream dessert for Mother's Day ❤️

This beautiful coastal road led us through Long Beach, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Ocean Springs! Stops included dipping our toes in the water and driving past Beauvoir House. Of the entire trip, we geocached the most along this shore.

Biloxi National Cemetery EarthCache GCAAMB5

The lighthouse virtual was cool because you could either take a selfie in front of the structure or use the webcam! The webcam linked to the page was down, but I found a new link to use. LOVE WEBCAMS!

Biloxi Lighthouse GC7B8V6

After dinner at a restaurant on stilts, we hung out in the parking lot to visit with our new friend!

Nice view #08 GAFNQG

We ended our day at the Inn at Long Beach. If you ever make it to the Mississippi Gulf coast, THIS is where you want to stay! It sits across the road to a beautiful but quiet beach. It's affordable, beautifully appointed, and the nicest staff you will meet!

SCORECARD

12,000+ steps walked

4 Virtuals

4 traditionals

1 Earthcache

4 cemeteries

1 new state souvenir

2 fabulous meals

NOLA and the Gulf Coast Adventure - DAY 3

 Day 3 - In the downpour of New Orleans

The storm has hit, but it hasn't dampened our adventure!

After Banana Foster French toast at the Ruby Slipper, we grabbed our first traditional on this trip at the trolley station!

Creole Cache GCBBQF2

We made our way via trolley along Canal Street to the Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium. Perfect way to while away a wet morning.

From the Aquarium/Insectarium, we walked along the riverfront to see the riverboat and log a Virtual geocache.

From Distant Shores GCD7CB

Lunch at Landry's included oysters and calamari topped off with beignets at Cafe Beignet.

Have you ever had a muffaletta? We were told the originals were at Central Grocery & Deli so we brought some back to the hotel for a rest and meal before our night adventure.

How else do you top off a Saturday night in New Orleans than taking a "Dead of Night Ghosts and Cemetery Tour"? It included walking through Masonic Cemetery 1 at night and being told ghost stories in City Park under the 1,000 YO oaks! Spectacular experience!

I would've loved to have seen more Virtuals in the cemeteries. They were amazing structures above ground and in the walls. So much history here.

SCORECARD

12,000+ steps walked

1 Virtual

1 traditional

1 aquarium

1 cemetery tour

2 fabulous meals

NOLA and the Gulf Coast Adventure - DAY 2

Day 2 - New Orleans. The day turned out to be very gray - but it kept the sun off our backs and the tourists inside!

We started out visiting an AMAZING cemetery - St Louis No. 1!

Nick Cage has a pyramid here...

... and Madame Laveau, voo doo queen, is buried with her husband and her lover.

Zelda, our tour guide, really brought the history to life with the "year and a day" law and burial myths. As we were leaving the cemetery, we saw & heard a jazz funeral procession passing by - we were told they were coming back from the funeral because the music is upbeat, celebrating life.

Afterwards, we were hopping on-and-off our bus to visit the Garden District and Jackson Square.

Reminder for Hurricane Katrina

Lunch and music in the French Quarter (and a little geocaching, too!).

Jackson Square GC9P5TM

Dinner was at Zesty Creole where we continued our foodie journey. We tried so many new things! Gator bites, jambalaya, gumbo, fried green tomatoes, beignets, muffalettas, Po'boys (just to name a few).

We wrapped by exploring Bourbon Street at night (been there done that)...

...and taking 4 spins at the Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone.

SCORECARD

12,000+ steps walked

1 Virtual

1 pyramid

1 Voo Doo queen

1 tour bus

1 carousel ride

2 fabulous meals

There are very few non-Virtuals in or near the French Quarter