Five years ago, I booked a one-way ticket from the US to Morocco with no idea of what to expect.
22.11.2024 - 13:47 / lonelyplanet.com
Nov 21, 2024 • 6 min read
The truest way to show your love for New Orleans? To leave it for the day.
Whether you’re fleeing from the brutally hot and humid weather, seeking an outdoorsy adventure or simply looking for a respite from the Big Easy’s riot of colors and sounds, here are a few of the best ideas for easy day trips from New Orleans.
Travel time: 40 minutes by car
One of our favorite ways to experience south Louisiana’s rich wetlands is by visiting Barataria Preserve, a national park about 25 miles south of New Orleans. Easy dirt trails and boardwalks thread through the swamps here, and you may be able to spot local alligators (although wildlife sightings are often hindered by prolific invasive water flora). On your way back to New Orleans, pop into the superlatively good Tan Dinh for some excellent Vietnamese food.
How to get to Barataria Preserve from New Orleans: Take US-90 and cross the Crescent City Connection Bridge over the Mississippi to the New Orleans Westbank. From US-90, take exit 4B to access Barataria Blvd, which leads to the preserve.
Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes to Gulfport by car
Despite being completely tied to the water, there’s no real beach access in New Orleans, barring a few stretches of not-very-friendly sand on Lake Pontchartrain. While the beaches of Gulf Shores and Dauphin Island, Alabama, are pretty lovely, they’re also a fair distance away. Consider instead the decent sand, friendly restaurants and generally laid-back seashore vibe at Mississippi Gulf Coast towns like Bay St Louis and Gulfport. While this area can get inundated with day trippers on hot weekends, a relatively quiet escape beckons during the week.
How to get to Mississippi Gulf Coast from New Orleans: Heading east on I-10 will take you along the entire Mississippi coast to the Alabama state line.
Travel time: 2 hours 30 minutes by car
As fabled a destination as New Orleans itself, Cajun Country is a land of low prairies, deep swamps, good music and delicious meals that you will probably not want to let your cardiologist know about. “Acadiana,” as the area is known, consists of many small towns scattered around southwest Louisiana. The capital of the region is Lafayette, a small, friendly city located 140 miles west of New Orleans that’s packed with great food and excellent live music venues. Don’t leave without stopping in for a night of dancing at the Blue Moon Saloon.
How to get to Lafayette from New Orleans: Take I-10 west. Part of the route goes through the preserved Atchafalaya Basin, one of the state’s remaining wild wetlands.
Travel time: 1 hour by car
A cluster of restored antebellum mansions sits roughly 50 miles west of New Orleans, with the Whitney Plantation being the most interesting of the bunch
Five years ago, I booked a one-way ticket from the US to Morocco with no idea of what to expect.
Dec 7, 2024 • 8 min read
Holiday flight prices are no joke — and when you’re on a student budget, fares can feel even more steep.
Dec 3, 2024 • 6 min read
French luxury cruise line Ponant has announced an exceptional holiday season savings on over 100 of its journeys on bookings made by January 3, 2025.
Cyber Week has officially, but there savings don't stop there—introducing Travel Tuesday. With so many sales to sift through it might be hard to pinpoint the best Travel Tuesday cruise deals, but rest assured—we have you covered. Today is one of the best times of the year to score heavily discounted cruise fares, bundled packages, onboard credit, and much more ahead of Wave Season in January. On this list, we've included cruises from across the globe—South Africa, England, Canada, Alaska, and Hawaii just to name a few destinations. While the destinations are beautiful, the itineraries, excursions, and sales are just as stellar. Whether you're plotting out 2025 travel or want to book a last-minute 2024 trip, we've got you covered. Below, find the 19 best Travel Tuesday cruise deals to book before the night ends. If you're looking for more deals on flights, hotels, and rental cars, check out our more extensive Travel Tuesday deal roundup.
Dec 3, 2024 • 4 min read
While I'm grateful to call Toronto my hometown, New York is where I've built my career and adult life, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.
Alterra Mountain Company is celebrating the start of ski season by offering free lift tickets to kids next month at each of their North American resorts.
Dec 2, 2024 • 8 min read
Road trips can be amazing, awe-inspiring, and annoying.
While The Platinum Card® from American Express offers many travel and lifestyle perks, it is also one of the most expensive cards on the market with an annual fee of $695 per year (see rates and fees).