Great Drinks – Jumpin’ Gators
For the month of September 2021 we are going to devote the entire month to two topics each week. Every single one will have a specific goal: to give detailed, up-to-date information about what to drink, eat and where to go when you visit New Orleans.
1.Three Cheers For Us
Since I have experienced roughly 90% of this list you will be getting a first-hand “been there, done that” report without having to search the web yourself – in other words, it’s all here, just for you. Let’s begin with an upcoming event and festival.
(A) Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is offering a digital format of its “Tales of the Cocktail 2021” conference from September 20th to the 23rd. Call (504) 948-0511. CLICK HERE for more information. https://talesofthecocktail.org/
(B) The National Fried Chicken Festival that will take place from Saturday, October 23 to Sunday, October 24. 2021 will feature fried chicken in more ways than you can imagine. This event will be held near the UNO Lakefront Arena located at 6801 Franklin Avenue (or, said differently: a 17-minute drive from the French Quarter). Entrance to this fun in the sun is FREE!
If it swims – they love it!
2.Gators on Steroids
When my husband Peter and I visited New Orleans one of the “most fun” and exciting things we did was take a guided swamp tour on an airboat. If you’ve never been on one, you’re in for a real treat. Over the years, I’d seen pictures of airboats but nothing beats actually going on one.
(C) What is riding in an airboat like? The short answer is this: lots of speed and noise BUT as you whip along you barely notice the large caged fan at the back of the boat because you’re having so much fun. Airboats can operate in water as shallow as a few inches. There are no parts under the water level.
(D) What’s the difference between a gator and a croc? You can relax. Crocodiles don’t inhabit New Orleans swamps. Between the two, the alligator is smaller (between 6 and 12 ft. in length). Not exactly a dwarf, BUT the crocodile is a giant (up to 20 ft. long).
(E) What do NOLA alligators eat? Not you, so don’t worry! They favor water birds, lizards etc. BUT they really love marshmallows. Put marshmallows at the end of a long branch, hold it up high over the water and watch a gator jump up and up. What a show off!
There’s real good fishin’ in the swamp
(F) What’s the difference between a swamp and a bayou? A swamp is low ground saturated with water – it may have certain kinds of trees while a bayou is a stagnant body of water.
(G) What is the most scenic thing on a swamp tour? For me personally, it was the live oak and bald cypress trees covered with Spanish moss. An astounding fact: the bald cypress can live up to 400 years.
WHY RATHBONE MANSIONS? To make your stay in New Orleans as pleasant as possible be sure to read our blogs for ideas and/or speak to our staff at the front desk. We want you and your family/friends to really enjoy your time in our fair city.
PLEASE CHECK THE WEB for any additional information you may need or want. We strive to give as much “contact verbiage” as possible.
Shaun Nelson-Henrick
THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 IN NEW YORK CITY: THE EVENT THAT SHOOK THE WORLD
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum from the 25th Floor of One World Trade Center