For our first day in New Orleans I knew I wanted to skip as many tourist traps as possible and have a leisurely day in the Garden District. Obviously anything with “garden” in the name will be right up my alley. When I visit a city in the south, I have to visit all of the historic homes. It’s my favorite thing to do when traveling. I have such admiration for different types of architecture so with a city so inspired by French culture, I knew I would love it.

Our hotel is located on Canal Street so we decided to take an Uber over to the Garden District, but there is also the Streetcar. It’s a quick ride from Canal Street to Washington Avenue. We got dropped off by Commander’s Palace, which is not only known for the food but also its bright turquoise facade. The Lafayette Cemetery is right across the street, but we both decided that really wasn’t our thing.

We took off towards Magazine Street in search of brunch. Taking our time along the way to stop and admire all of the amazing homes lining the streets. We both commented how much this area of New Orleans reminded us of Charleston, another beloved Southern city. But even with the similarities if felt very authentic to New Orleans. You can definitely see the influence of French architecture and the bold color choices that are synonymous with New Orleans.

For brunch we decided on The Ruby Slipper Cafe. We had heard good things from our driver and decided it was worth a try. The food was delicious and the staff was extremely friendly. Nothing beats Southern Hospitality! We learned that The Ruby Slipper Cafe was named for the feeling of homecoming after Katrina. Inspired by Dorothy’s “There’s no place like home!” Love that!

After eating our weight in French Toast, we decided to take the long way back through the Garden District to see more of the homes. It was a beautiful day, only slightly humid and the old Oak Trees offered the perfect amount of shade. The Magnolia Trees were on the end of their bloom cycle but it still made the air smell sweet. Combined with the Honeysuckle and the Jasmine… I was in complete heaven.

Something I always seem to pack when I travel in the summer is a LWD. I knew it would be humid so I wanted something light and flowy that would keep me comfortable with a day of walking. I saw this dress from Anthopologie and knew it would be perfect for New Orleans. It has a very romantic and feminine feel that plays off the charm of the city.

After a few hours, and a few blisters, we headed back to the hotel for the evening. The first day of any trip is more about getting acclimated to the area. We always try to take it easy so we don’t wear ourselves out at the beginning of the trip.

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Dress: Anthropologie, Shoes: Blank Canvas, Bag: Kayu