My Christmas break usually lasts for about two weeks.  It is a time for me to rest and relax with no worries about deadlines. I spend a lot of time with family and it’s typically very low key.   My dogs love for me to be at home, because they get the constant attention they so lack when I am at work.   This year, however, I decided to cap off the holiday season by taking my dad to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, Louisiana where Auburn was playing Oklahoma on Jan. 2.   Some friends that I sit beside at the Auburn home games had made plans to go to the Sugar Bowl after Auburn’s bowl game was announced.  I really didn’t think much about going until I found out I could get tickets to the game cheaper through Stub Hub. Plus I was able to get a relatively reasonable price on a hotel room through Booking.com, so the decision to go was made.

It had been about five years since my last trip to New Orleans.  A lot of people don’t particularly like New Orleans because of the 24/7 party atmosphere.  I on the other hand, love the city, mainly because of the food, culture and music.  I used to visit New Orleans every year, but since Hurricane Katrina I have not visited as often as I would like.  The last time I was in New Orleans was in May 2011 around my birthday.  I have always wanted to visit the city during the Christmas holidays. I’ve seen photos of the New Orleans hotels decorated for the holidays on social media, so I knew the holiday season would be beautiful.  So not only was I going to the game but able to spend time in New Orleans during the holiday.

New Orleans has many historic hotels especially on Canal Street, the main street, and in the French Quarter.  My dad and I arrived early in the evening on New Year’s Day. After checking into our hotel in the Garden District, we took the trolley to meet up with our friends at The Roosevelt Hotel.  It was one of the hotels that I had seen on social media, the lobby was gorgeous.   We had drinks in The Fountain Lounge and then walked to the French Quarter for dinner.  We ended up eating at Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar on Iberville Street in the Quarter. The restaurant is known for its charbroiled oysters, and I can testify that they do melt in your mouth.  Being my father’s daughter, I struck up a conversation with the table next to me and met a woman who was a cancer survivor.  She was vacationing in New Orleans for New Year’s Eve before starting a PR job in Las Vegas with MGM Entertainment.  It’s funny how you meet interesting people when traveling.  I have vowed to keep in touch with her.

On Monday morning, my dad and I ate breakfast at the Trolley Stop Cafe in the Garden District before meeting up with our friends. (I highly recommend the restaurant!)  After we caught up with them, we hung out a while at the Marriott Hotel where the Auburn football team was staying.  We saw former players and cheerleaders and, of course, Aubie the Auburn mascot.  My dad stayed at the hotel while my friends and I walked around the French Quarter again.  We went to see the Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone.  Part of the experience at the bar is that it slowly turns around the room.   After walking around Bourbon Street we returned to the Marriott and got ready for the game.

The game didn’t turn out exactly as I hoped it would, but the night did. After the game we ended up at the world famous Cafe Du Monde for coffee and beignets. The trip was fun despite Auburn’s loss.  Plus I was able to spend time with my dad and my Auburn friends who have become more like family.