How I Celebrated My Birthday Week in New Orleans (and What I Wore)
- Ashley Avis
- Sep 29
- 3 min read
New Orleans has been on my bucket list for years. The French Quarter architecture, the jazz, the food, I’ve always been drawn to it. I’ve even tried making jambalaya at home with mixed results.
Add in the fact that Princess and the Frog and the new Haunted Mansion movie play on repeat in my house (yes, even if it’s just me watching), and you can see why this city was calling my name.
So for my birthday this year, I thought, why not? My twin sister (Aly) and I packed our bags and headed to New Orleans for a week of exploring, eating, and soaking it all in.
Of course, the first thing I did was check the weather. Humid AF. We’re talking 30+ degrees with air so thick you could swim through it. Which meant one thing: outfit planning was going to be key.
Luckily, my sister had the itinerary down, so I could focus on what I do best: figuring out what to wear.
Our plans included:
A steamboat dinner cruise on the Mississippi
A walking ghost tour in the French Quarter
A city and cemetery tour
A stop (or two) at Café du Monde for their famous beignets
Here’s what I wore and what I packed for all those adventures.
Outfit One: Walking the Quarter
For our very first day, we hit the ground running. We checked into our hotel, threw on something light and playful, and went straight out to explore. I went for something trendy but super comfortable because I knew we’d be walking a ton.
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Outfit Two: Birthday Dress Vibes
This was one of my favorite looks of the trip. I wore a pink bubble hem dress that felt flirty but still easy to move in, while my sister went with the cutest flowy, lemon print dress.
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My Bag (LV Speedy Bandoulière 30)
Poolside Moment
When it was time to head down to the pool, I threw on a puffed-sleeve yellow dress over my swimsuit. Sadly, it’s sold out, but I found it in black here.
Dinner Cruise Look
For the steamboat dinner cruise, I wanted something breezy but elevated. This dress was perfect.
Shoes: Nike, old (and sadly no link)
Beignet, Done that
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What I Loved MOST About The Big Easy.
This city has such a unique energy. Everything feels historic, layered, and full of meaning. People often say it’s the least “American” American city, and I get it. Creole and Cajun culture is everywhere, in the music, in the food, in the way people live.
Speaking of food, I went all in. Gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, catfish, po’boys, and of course, beignets. FYI: The coffee has chicory in it, which gives it a darker, root-like flavor. Not my vibe. I basically drowned mine in milk to make it drinkable.
The ghost tour definitely spooked me, and my sister even had her cards read at night in front of St. Louis Cathedral. That was pretty surreal. Bourbon Street was exactly what you’d expect: wild, loud, non-stop. We stayed away, but since our hotel was just a block over, I still heard the chaos every night.
Fun fact: in the mornings, they wash down the streets with lemon-scented soap and water. Honestly, the whole city smelled amazing after that.
What I’ll miss the most, though? The live jazz. It’s everywhere. Walking around and hearing music spill into the streets was pure magic.
A personal highlight was visiting Napoleon House, which made my Haunted Mansion fangirl dreams come true. It’s where Ben and Alyssa meet in the movie. My sister ordered a Sazerac, we soaked up the vibe, and it was everything.
From the river cruise to the ghost tours, New Orleans gave me everything I wanted and more. I can finally say I’ve been, and while I probably won’t rush back anytime soon since I checked off my whole to-do list, I loved every moment. If it’s on your bucket list too, go. You won’t regret it.
Until the next adventure,
Ash 🤍
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