Travel Tuesdays-- My Favorite City in these United States

For any of you who have been to New Orleans, you can back me up when I say that there is no place like New Orleans. Seriously-- his city is one of a kind. And one of the most amazing things about it are that there are so many amazing things about it!

I love being somewhere diverse, and don't think I could ever live in a truly homogenous environment. New Orleans definitely addresses that. The cultural influences here include French, Spanish, Haittan, and good ole Southern U.S.A. The architecture clearly reflects this blending of cultures into a feel that has become uniquely New Orleans.

And the food. Oh my word the food. As a foodie, I have a personal rule against watching what I eat on the rate New Orleans trip, simply because it is a unique opportunity. Po Boys, muffullatas, crawfish, oysters, bananas foster, great steak, amazing seafood, fish, crepes, and a million other "specialty" dishes that are restricted to this area of Louisiana all seem to be perfectly in line with my taste. Take my friend here, consumed greedily on my last trip-- crab stuffed puff pastry with a lemon wine garlic butter sauce. I had pecan sweet potato casserole on the side, and started with turtle soup. I was in HEAVEN.

I have literally not even scratched the surface of all that New Orleans can offer. I am sure it will pop up frequently on my Tuesday blogs because I feel so at home there, and love it so much!

Travel Tuesdays- It's a Really Big Hole

So I am rarely opposed to going somewhere or doing something just so I can say I have. There are experiences I think we should all have in our lives, and I try to knock those off when I can.

• Seeing the Goonies house... check... 
• Playing the really big slot machine in Vegas... check... 
• Going to the County in Ireland where your great, great grandmother was born...check.

The Grand Canyon was always on the list, you know... just cuz. So when the Boy and I went to Vegas, I anticipated needing a Vegas break (too many days in a row of lights and colors and dinging sounds make me feel slightly crazy), and we planned a get-away to the Grand Canyon. Because it was this big hole everyone says you should go see. Didn't have any personal interest in the big hole, but its something I should see, right?

If, for any moment in your life, you have nursed the notion (as I did) that the Grand Canyon is just a big hole and what is the big deal, you should kill that notion!

OK, so truthfully, its a really big hole. But is is such an astoundingly enormous, intricate, delicate, and beautiful hole that it will take the breath away of even those huge cynics like me that weren't sold on a three hour drive to see it. I mean... look at this thing:

 And this doesn't even... I mean you can't even... you look at the picture and...

OK, the point is the place rendered ME speechless. For an experience I decided to have, you know, just because, it was one of the most moving and evocative places I have ever been.

If you get the chance, I highly recommend the Grand Canyon.




And I ALWAYS like recommendations for other places like this. I don't necessarily mean national treasures, but are there places you have gone just for the hell of it and ended up finding totally amazing and moving?

I mean, wow. Really.

Travel Tuesdays-- The Great Oregon Trespass

Oregon may just be my favorite state (outside of my great home state of Maryland!). It is beautiful, has great seafood and great wine, an amazing, laid-back feeling, and... the house where Goonies was filmed.

I know. I've been there.

See, someone lives there now, but apparently it is someone who carries a love of Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin and the gang... because they don't get pissy about people coming to see the house.

This house. This house that I stood in the yard and took a picture of. I stood where one of the Coreys once stood!











And there will be more... much, much more... on Oregon in the coming months. Because it is an amazing state, and I love it so very much.