A bright and early start on Day 2 of our San Francisco Tour gets us to San Francisco from our nearby Fremont Crowne Plaza Hotel by 7:30. We are dropped off near China Town for breakfast. It’s typical San Francisco Spring weather: gray, drizzly skies and temps in the mid-60s. My first mission is to find some caffeine, which isn’t too hard since there are several cute cafes nestled below the tall sky rises. We have 90 minutes for breakfast, so I spend my last hour wandering around the financial district, people watching and snapping photos of the amazing architecture and cool statues and art. Our first official sightseeing excursion of the day is Lombard Street – famous for its steepness and pinpoint curves. Those of us who are up for it are encouraged to hike to the top and take in the breathtaking views. Anna and I accept the challenge and are greeted at the top of the 
I was lucky enough to take a trip to New Orleans this past week and see what it has to offer. It had always been one of the top places on my bucket list, as I’m sure it is for many others. The food, the music, the French influenced architecture, and of course, the rich history, bring people to this delectable melting pot of a city. Although many warned me of the smothering August humidity, I seized my opportunity to go regardless of the temperature. Plus, it was no secret among my friends that I loved being blanketed by humidity, to their chagrins. We stepped off of the plane and taxied our way over to the French Quarter, only a half hour away. The small cobblestone streets and hidden alleyways alluded to the city’s age, which was built during a time where a horse and buggy were the main mode of transp 
Who knew that Washington D.C. had so many monuments and memorials! By the end of our trip I was nicknaming D.C. the memorial amusement park. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Iwo Jima Memorial are just some of the amazing sites you can check out while in DC. I was amazed to see just how much we fit into this day tour of D.C. Not only did we see the memorials but we went into the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, one of the most renowned museums in the U.S! I’ve been obsessed with National Geographic since I was younger, and the Smithsonian is right up there in the ranks. There are about a bazillion (19 to be exact) different Smithsonian museums in DC, each with their own area of expertise. Some of these include the National Portrait Gallery, Postal Museum, and an Air and Space Museum. 
Yosemite was one of our favorite family vacation destinations, so I was excited to revisit the beautiful park after a decade had passed. Our tour group got an early (very, very early) start to our day, and made it to Yosemite by 9 am. March turned out to be the perfect time of year to visit the Yosemite, because the waterfalls were flowing at maximum force as the snow started melting heading into the warmer months. Our first stop gave us perfect views of El Capitan. At 3,000 feet from base to summit, El Capitan is one of the largest granite monoliths (mountain consisting of a single massive rock) in the world and a favorite challenge for rock climbers from around the globe. The next stop was Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America. Our group made the short easy hike to the base of the falls where we got up-close views of the water freely flowing over a tall cliff through m 
One of the most surprising destinations on our list was the Corning Glass Museum in Corning, New York. I imagined something out of Color Me Mine, but this was quite the contrary. If a museum of glass doesn’t really peak your interest, you’ll be amazed by the unique and interesting artworks that people create with this delicate material. Our tour guide told us that this particular artist (see image above) built an entire table out of glass to hold this amazing showcase piece: a glass ship with solid gold embellishments. However, the glass boat was so heavy that the table couldn’t withstand its weight, and the artist had to rebuild it with a marble slab to better distribute it. The details are so intricate you have to wonder just how they sculpt these spectacular pieces out of hot glass! The museum held an extensive collection ran 
I was lucky enough to take a trip to New Orleans this past week and see what it has to offer. It had always been one of the top places on my bucket list, as I’m sure it is for many others. The food, the music, the French influenced architecture, and of course, the rich history, bring people to this delectable melting pot of a city. Although many warned me of the smothering August humidity, I seized my opportunity to go regardless of the temperature. Plus, it was no secret among my friends that I loved being blanketed by humidity, to their chagrins.
We stepped off of the plane and taxied our way over to the French Quarter, only a half hour away. The small cobblestone streets and hidden alleyways alluded to the city’s age, which was built during a time where a horse and buggy were the main mode of transport. The French Quarter is definitely the place to stay if you are visiting NOLA. You soon learn that it is the perfect walking city, with shops at every turn and street musicians on every corner. If you’re into the party scene you should check out a Scandalous Cocktail Hour Small Group Tour. While Bourbon St. is known as party central, there is much more to New Orleans, and a couple days can let you become familiar with the art galleries on Royal St. to the happening beats on Frenchman St.
Frenchman St. was by far one of my favorite parts of our trip. It’s where the locals go to listen to live music, which inhabit the various bars that line its sidewalks. With the amount of live music and cool smoky bars, I literally felt like a kid in a candy shop. Loud brass bands with energetic tempos, sultry blues beats that made you want to melt, traditional jazz that let you sit back and relax, and even some gypsy jazz to get you in a roaring 20’s mood. Even when you weren’t in the bars, there were musicians that serenaded the crowds on their in-between-bar jaunts. There was even one guy playing a sitar and rocking out!
When you’ve filled your ears with nightlife you work up an appetite, and NOLA is known for its world famous Creole cuisine. Gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish, oysters, and Andouille sausage are available everywhere you go, along with other Southern delicacies. I had the best oysters Rockefeller around at Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar and the most amazing eggs benedict in a breakfast to-die-for at Stanley’s near Jackson Square. Of course, everyone has to make a pit stop at the world famous Café Du Monde right along the Mississippi, which is the place to go when you are craving something sweet. The only thing on the menu to eat are beignets, a New Orleans delicacy which put our version of a donut to shame.
Want a bit of music and food? Check out a New Orleans Steamboat Dinner and Jazz Cruise and you can take a ride along the Mississippi while listening to Dixieland’s finest on the historic Natchez Steamboat.
The best way to work off all that food is to take a historic stroll to Jackson Square where you’ll find the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral. Want to take a walk on the wild side? You can always go voodoo shop hopping, as they dominate the French Quarter—you might even get your fortune told. A New Orleans Ghosts and Spirits Nighttime Walking Tour can also give you a spooky glimpse into the city’s gloomy past.
If you’re looking to go beyond the borders of the French Quarter, you can experience some of Louisiana’s other gems like the awe-inspiring Oak Alley Plantation, where Interview With a Vampire was filmed, or go deep into the Bayou swampland and catch yourself a gator.
Check out all of our New Orleans Tours here.
