This is the start a new blog series of my past travels that I’ve wanted to make for a while now. Especially in the last year, I have gone to some really incredible places that are definitely worth sharing. First up is
New Orleans, Louisiana.
It just so happens that a year ago today, I was traveling to New Orleans with my SPJ executive board. For those who don’t know, SPJ is the Society for Professional Journalists. I was the Public Relations Coordinator for my school’s chapter. Last September we took a plane to NOLA for the 2016 Excellence in Journalism Conference. Let me tell you, it was the best school trip I’ve ever been on. We started off the trip in a limo from the airport to the hotel, which was super swanky for us. Not only did I learn a lot during the actual conference (I even went to a seminar about the media covering of the Netflix hit Making a Murder!), I got so close with my SPJ executive board that we became a family.
I fell in love with New Orleans.The entire time I was geeking over the French architecture and the delicious food. I ate alligator for the first time and had some classic New Orleans jambalaya which were scrumptious and a must if you ever go. Bourbon Street was absolutely wild, so I’m glad I got to experience it with these guys who I knew had my back and knew how to have a good time.The conference threw all attendees a Jazz Era night at the House of Blues the second night we were down there and I was overjoyed because I felt like I had gone back in time to the 1920s *squeals with delight*.
We surely didn’t do a lot of sight-seeing, but I now have outrageous stories I’ll still be telling when I’m 80. I took a ton of pictures during the trip but I thought these were the best/most-blog-worthy. This year we couldn’t attend the Excellence in Journalism Conference because of finances and most of my team had graduated last year. So lets look back at this wild adventure and think fondly on this wonderful experience with these wonderful people.
My partner in crime, Kaydee, and I leaving Dulles Airport.
tiles are cool
the whole SPJ fam at the start of the conference
my friends called me “Sandy from Grease” because of this outfit.
fun facts: there are no open container policies in NOLA and there was just a parade on our street
some really cool artwork in our hotel
“hey Kim how did you get all those beads?”…
“Picked them up from on the ground obviously, how else do you get beads…?”
I am so obsessed with the beautiful architecture in this city
meet Kaydee and mine’s moms Brooke and Shannon (I love these girls !!!!)
what I wore for the Jazz Night at House of Blues
fam at the House of Blues
“the boat on the bayou floats right by you…”
our first beignets
All of the clothes I wore in this post are at least a year old but I linked some similar styles below. Even though it was September, it was really warm in NOLA. Pro-Tip: the only accessory you’re really going to need when you’re down here is Mardi Gras beads. And they are not hard to get… *wink wink*.
Bonus pic: they call this “burrito Kim”
Have you ever been to New Orleans? Comment below!
Thanks for reading!