Lousiana – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

Airport Stay

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New Orleans is an easy city to get to and once you land, you are inundated with the feel of the landscape. Near the airport, check in to the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Airport. It’s about 15 minutes from downtown. Lake Pontchartrain is in your backyard. If you like bridges, water, or Guinness Book of World Records stuff, take a drive on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, the 23.83-mile road over the lake.

Real World

If New Orleans is fantasy land, Metairie is the real world. Located 8 minutes outside of New Orleans, the Sheraton Metairie – New Orleans Hotel is a beautiful modern property and a great base to experience all the region has to offer. When the weather is good, check out the hotel’s rooftop pool. It’s close to shopping and dining and if you are a gambler, the casino is not far away.

Conventions and Meetings

Every year, hundreds of companies converge onto New Orleans under the guise of a convention or annual sales meeting. To further legitimize the company-wide “meeting,” they stay at hotels such as the Hilton Garden Inn New Orleans Convention Center. It even has it in the name. The hotel is reasonably priced for its location. It’s close to the St. Charles Street Car Line, the Aquarium and the famous River Walk with its views of the Mississippi River.

The Party

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If you show no qualms about getting your party on, book a stay in the French Quarter. The Hyatt French Quarter on Iberville Avenue is a block off Bourbon Street and close to jazz clubs, lounges, and restaurants, including my favorite, the Quarter, Acme Oyster Bar. The unique location pulses with the energy of the French Quarter and offers easy access to downtown and the Garden District. The historic hotel offers a modern and elegant decor. The courtyard is a beautiful space to hold an elegant wedding or host a cool party.

The Heart

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If southern Louisiana is a body, then the famous Bourbon Street is the heart. You haven’t partied unless you’ve partied on Bourbon Street. Bourbon Orleans Hotel is in the center of the action. The hotel looks and feels like New Orleans. If you’re lucky enough to visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras, make sure and get a room with a balcony. You can watch the craziness at a safe distance.

New Orleans remains one of my favorite places in the world. Each visit offers a new experience.

Have you been to New Orleans? What’s your favorite part of town?

My bucket list is taking me back down south. I found a few small cities big time attractions I can’t wait to check out. A few sports highlights, adventure to a galaxy far, far away, a place to quench your thirst and a trip to the past to top it all off.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

My favorite genre to read and to write is sports romance. So any chance I get, I like to experience a sport spectacle. One of the best places to immerse yourself in college life is at the University of Alabama. Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Crimson Tide are loyal and enthusiastic fans. Stay at many of the hotels near campus and you can’t help but get caught up in the excitement of college football in this historic setting.

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Huntsville, Alabama

I really, really, really wanted to go to space camp when I was a kid. After watching that movie, pilot school was in my future. I saw myself living on the International Space Station. The dream ended when I failed freshman science. Huntsville, Alabama is the home of Space Camp and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, the largest museum dedicated to the US space program. Every year thousands of kids descend on Huntsville and attend Space Camp. These future scientists get to learn first hand what it’s like to live and work as an astronaut without leaving earth. The Center houses replicates of some of the most iconic rockets in NASA history. With a Marriott hotel right on campus stay close to the action and explore the many exhibits and demos at the Center.

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Dunwoody, Georgia

Dunwoody, Georgia is a small suburb of Atlanta. As the birth place of Ryan Seacrest, Dunwoody is a laid back town with a historic vibe. Although discovered in the late 1800, it wasn’t incorporated into a city until 2008. You can check into a hotel on the square and walk to the many restaurants and bars in the area. I found a spot that is a must to experience, especially if you like beer. Moondog Growlers offers craft beer tastings daily and if you find one you like, pick up a Growler and fill it up from the tap to take home.

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Louisville, Kentucky

If baseball is your thing, a stop at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in Louisville, Kentucky is a must. The museum has several interactive attractions and a perfect place to learn enough about baseball to impress the most rabid fan. Get your picture taken next to the largest steel bat in the world. Take a few swings in the batting cages and check out some of the great players and their bats from major league baseball.

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Baton Rouge, Louisiana

I would conclude my trip with a step into history, literally. At Louisiana State University, they have created the Rural Museum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The museum is known as one of the best outdoor museums in the world. The museum’s mission is to preserve the way of life in the south in the 18th and 19th century. The museum includes several free-standing structures from the time and many artifacts used in everyday life during this time period. There are hotels right on campus for you to stay and visit this and other cool attractions in this college/capital town.

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