Carly Where We Stayed:
Sheraton New Orleans on Canal St and Magazine St
As with most Sheratons, the room was amazing and this one is in a PERFECT location to watch parades.
Tip: BOOK EARLY. If you are even thinking of going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras within the next two years, you’re going to want to get your hotel room ASAP. Come beginning of the year, every spare room in the city will be occupied.
When We Went:
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras is technically 20 days before Easter (so it changes every year), but Mardi Gras season starts in January. We went the weekend before Mardi Gras Day which is when most of the action is.
What We Wore:
Most of the time, it is cold during Mardi Gras (Long sleeves, jacket, jeans, booties) but as is typical with Louisiana, the weather changes fast so make sure to check before you pack.
It is wildly popular to wear obnoxious, Mardi Gras representative clothing. I wore a green, purple, and gold rugby style shirt with jeans, booties, a sequence headband, beads, and a boa. Some people dress more normally, some people are even more dramatic (like, full head dress and costume). There is really no wrong way to dress for the Mardi Gras parade/late night celebrations.
***If you are going to any sort of party, plan to dress nicely. Especially if you are planning to go to a Mardi Gras ball***
What We Ate:
Honestly, it is hard to go wrong with food in Louisiana don’t feel pressured to eat somewhere expensive for it to be good. Some of my favorites include Deanie’s Seafood, Maspero’s, and, if you’re really trying to spend that big buck, Antoine’s, but again, half the places I’ve eaten in, I couldn’t even tell you the name because we just walked in when we were hungry and they have all been great!
Some foods you should try: Beignets, Po-boys, Muffelatas, Etoufee, Sauce Piquant, Gumbo, literally any type of seafood that is in season (google it)
What We Did:
Partied!!
But seriously, why are you staying in New Orleans for Mardi Gras if you’re not in it to get a little crazy. Obviously the go-to place is Bourbon, but remember that New Orleans is FULL of really awesome places to get your drink on. One of my personal favorites is the Carousel Bar inside the Hotel Monteleone.
We also got tickets to go to the Endymion Extravaganza. For those not as familiar with the origin story, Mardi Gras is actually a religious holiday and, as with most religious holidays, has its own traditions. Obviously, one of these traditions is to have parades, but what you might notice is the court (King, Queen, and maids) that ride on these floats. These courts can represent a number of organizations/towns depending on who sponsors the parade, but the bigger sponsors will hold extravagant balls to celebrate the Mardi Gras. The Endymion Extravaganza is one of the biggest although tickets are hard to come by.
If you get tired of watching the parades (yeah right, but just humor me), try booking a walking tour. There are tons of sites online that will help connect you with New Orleans Historians who will walk you around the city and show you all the cool things that most people don’t get to know about New Orleans.
Tip: Grab a go-cup (: a to-go cup that holds the alcoholic beverage that you weren’t quite done with yet) on your way out of a restaurant or bar and keep the party going all day long. And yes, it’s legal.
What We Would Do Different:
I wish I would have planned better to know when and where to cross parade routes. You can download maps and see times of parade routes online. Forget about driving, but even walking around the city can be difficult without knowing what is going on.
Geaux or No-Geaux?
GEAUX! Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a one of a kind experience. While your experience might differ a little from mine, Mardi Gras is a family holiday and has something to offer everyone, even the kids! So practice your best “Throw me something, mister” and laissez le bon temps rouler!
