Yes, you read that right — an accidental trip!!
Originally, I had a group trip planned to another neighboring state, but the rain ruined our plans at the very last minute. There was no way I was going to waste my only free weekend of the month sitting at home. I was itching to travel. And guess what was already on my list? New Orleans.
Everything happens for a reason — and this one couldn’t have been more perfectly timed. That weekend just happened to be the Halloween parade weekend. Could there be a better time to visit the spookiest city in the USA? And my close ones know how much I love traveling solo… it was as if all my manifestations were finally coming true!
My trip officially began at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, and honestly, what a dramatic way to start exploring New Orleans. I booked my tour through GetYourGuide — super easy and around $25, totally worth it.
The tour starts at the Basin St. Station Visitor Center, a cozy little place where you can find public parking right next door. Inside, there’s a café, restrooms, and a cute gift shop with fridge magnets and souvenirs. I checked in, grabbed my ticket, and waited for the tour to begin. That’s where I met a solo traveler from the UK, and we instantly bonded over our love for solo traveling.
Our tour guide was an absolute gem — the kind of person who could make history sound like a Netflix drama. I was a bit skeptical at first (who chooses a cemetery as their first stop?), but within minutes, I was hooked.
St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 dates back to 1854, one of the city’s historic above-ground cemeteries. The guide explained that because New Orleans sits below sea level, traditional burials used to flood — so the city built these elegant above-ground tombs instead, like marble apartments for the afterlife. Creepy but genius, right?
We stopped by the tomb of Marie Laveau, the legendary Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, famous for her healing rituals and spiritual influence. People still visit her tomb today to leave small offerings and wishes. And then there’s the pyramid-shaped tomb built by Nicolas Cage — because of course the man who bought a haunted house also bought himself a future resting spot shaped like a pyramid.
For a place filled with tombs, it felt weirdly peaceful — quiet, mysterious, but comforting in a strange way. By the end of the tour, I realized it was the perfect way to start my trip.
Next stop was Jackson Square. I parked near Café du Monde and started exploring the area on foot. The best thing about this part of New Orleans is how walkable it is — everything is close by, and you can just wander around without a plan.
The whole place was full of life — street artists drawing portraits and caricatures, musicians playing jazz, people dancing, and the smell of powdered sugar and beignets floating in the air. The St. Louis Cathedral looked so beautiful in the middle of all that energy.
As soon as I reached, it started drizzling, and it felt so romantic — like a scene straight out of a movie. With the French balconies, Romeo stairs, and jazz music in the background, everything felt kind of magical.
After walking around for a while, I stopped at the Vampire Café and tried their famous blood-bag drink. It looked spooky but tasted great.
And of course, I couldn’t leave without having the beignets from Café du Monde. They were warm, soft, and completely covered in powdered sugar — so good! That’s also where I met a girl from France who was traveling solo, just like me.
Then I came across a place that perfectly matched New Orleans’ spooky charm — the Voodoo Museum. It was creepy and pretty at the same time!
Inside, I learned about voodoo traditions, saw old ritual objects, and even got to try a fun little ritual myself. You write your wish on a small piece of paper, roll it inside a dollar bill, place it next to the voodoo doll, knock on the table nine times — one-two-three, one-two-three, one-two-three — then close your eyes and make your wish.
Did I do it? Of course.
Will I tell you what I wished for? Absolutely not.
Afterwards, I headed to the HI New Orleans Hostel to check in. There’s public parking nearby, and when you check in, they give you a discount code for it — super convenient! Honestly, 100% recommended — it’s the best place to stay in New Orleans. It’s clean, safe, affordable, and in the perfect location. I’d stayed at the HI Chicago Hostel before, so choosing this one for New Orleans was an easy decision.
The hostel is right by Canal Street, which turned out to be the perfect spot to watch the Halloween Parade. The parade literally turns around on Canal Street, so you get to see it twice — once going down and again coming back.
When I checked in, I met a girl from the Netherlands named Flora. It was her second time coming all the way back to New Orleans from the Netherlands — that’s how much she loved it! We hit it off instantly.
Just a few minutes away from the hostel, on Canal Street, there’s Café Beignet. We went there to grab some beignets before the parade started. Honestly, I liked Café Beignet’s beignets more than Café du Monde’s — they’re bigger, fresher, and the café is smaller but super cute and less crowded.
We got our beignets and found a good spot along the street because the crowd was already building up. Everyone was so excited, waiting for the parade to start. And when it finally did — wow.
It was incredible! There were so many groups dressed up in crazy Halloween costumes, dancing, cheering, and throwing beads and New Orleans souvenirs into the crowd. The music, the energy, the atmosphere — it was honestly one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences. After the parade, Flora and I walked over to Bourbon Street. The whole street had come alive — neon lights, music everywhere, people dancing, laughing, celebrating. It looked completely different at night than during the day. And that’s how I ended my first day in New Orleans — full of beignets, music, new friends, and Halloween magic.
The next day, I had booked a Swamp Tour — again through GetYourGuide. The location was about 45 minutes away from my hostel, so I left early in the morning. And honestly, it was such a beautiful drive!
It was my first time in the bayou, and it felt like I was inside a National Geographic documentary. The water, the moss-covered trees, the silence broken only by bird calls — everything looked so surreal. At one point, I literally thought, “This feels like a scene straight out of the Journey movie.”
The nature was beyond words — calm, green, and full of life. We even saw a baby alligator🐊 The tour guide was great too — funny, full of stories, and he made sure we got to see a lot. When the airboat started speeding up and taking turns, it was honestly thrilling. The whole tour lasted about one and a half hours, and it was totally worth it.
After the swamp adventure, I headed to the Garden District — probably the most aesthetic and fancy area of New Orleans. The houses there were huge, elegant, and so beautifully designed that every corner looked like a Pinterest board.
The oak trees along the streets formed a perfect canopy, making the whole place feel peaceful and rich — literally and figuratively. It’s easy to see why it’s called the Garden District; it’s full of charm, greenery, and those Southern-style porches that make you want to sit with a glass of sweet tea.
Most of the houses were decorated for Halloween, with spooky skeletons, cobwebs, and pumpkins all around. Walking through those streets was the perfect way to end my trip — calm, pretty, and full of that New Orleans magic that somehow stays with you even after you leave.
🪷Before You Bloom in NOLA
- Carry cash — some cafés are cash-only, and you’ll need it for tipping tour guides or street artists at Jackson Square.
- Use public parking and walk — New Orleans is one of the most walkable cities, so take advantage and explore on foot.
- Beignet alert — they come buried in powdered sugar, so keep napkins handy (and maybe skip the black outfit).
- Parade prep — if you’re visiting during Halloween, bring a bag for all the beads and goodies you’ll catch.
- Café du Monde hack — the long line outside is for take-out. For dine-in, just walk in and grab a table yourself!
If you are interested in seeing more pictures from this trip please follow: stemoflotus on Instagram 🪷
Wondering Lotus 