Page 17 - AAA Northway – AAA Now! – Summer 2018

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Celebrating NOLA’s 300-year History
By Dorothy Crouch
Often thought of as the epicenter of Mardi Gras indulgence, New Orleans offers much more than beads, brews and debauchery. While the city
is a magnet for history enthusiasts, 2018 marks 300 hundred years since New Orleans’ founding by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville in 1718. Though the city has experienced its share of growth and rebirth over the last 300 years, the excitement found in this town is bigger and easier to find than ever, and with more to celebrate this year, New Orleans, Louisiana – or NOLA – is sure to sate the travel palate of all visitors.
As the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans, the French Quarter serves as the heart of the city’s cultural and historic scene. Also known as Vieux Carré, the French Quarter is home to the city’s most unique shopping, popular dining and impressive architecture. While strolling through this neighborhood, visitors can admire the famous building designs that blend Spanish, French, Creole and American styles.
Once a center of trade for Native Americans, the French Market has served as a place of commerce along the Mississippi River since 1791. Now an open-air market, it spans five blocks, from the famed Café du Monde to Esplanade Avenue.
In addition to the Farmer’s Market Paviliion and Dutch Alley, visitors will find clothing, local art and crafts.
Within the French Quarter lies one of New Orleans’ most infamous attractions – Bourbon Street. Though this strip has been known to be the site of wild behavior, there is more to Bourbon Street’s bars than Mardi Gras. The Royal Sonesta New Orleans is housed on a property whose existence can be traced back to 1721. Inside the hotel that opened in 1969, visitors will find an extensive art collection, dining options – including Restaurant R’evolution — and Le Booze to enjoy
a well-deserved nightcap. Another NOLA staple,
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar, traces its roots back to the 1720s, enjoying the title of “the oldest structure to be used as a bar in the United States.” At the Old Absinthe House, visitors will find a 200-year-old bar that survived war and Prohibition, allowing guests to enjoy its signature cocktail, The Absinthe House Frappe, which dates back to 1874.
Though New Orleans’ reputation is based in revelry, this notoriety has grown from a strong history that has provided stories of resilience and tales of local life that live on through the city’s culture. Look beyond the mystique of NOLA in 2018, as the region’s history comes to life during its 300th anniversary.
BEST OF SPAIN • DAY 11
Seville, Spain
Discovering historic secret passageways at your own Seville hotel, Las Casas de la Juderia
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