N'AWLINS

When in New Orleans, the best way to start your day is with cafe au lait and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. So that's what we did. The 4 of us easily devoured 3 orders, and the kiddos highly enjoyed dipping their french donuts into the powdered sugar after each and every bite.We contemplated splurging for a carriage ride around the French Quarter, but they were ridiculously overpriced. And they weren't even horse-drawn buggies. They were mules. Instead, we walked around and showed the kids the peddlers, and Jackson Square (of course!), then headed back toward the hotel......where the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas happened to be right next door.James was terrified of those little parakeets... Cora was fine, as long as they didn't get too close. Jay and I thought they were hilarious climbing all over us, when the only food we had to offer was on those little $1 "feed sticks". The aquarium was smaller than we remembered (we saw EVERYTHING at a toddler's pace in an hour and a half), but it was nice. And not at all crowded, which was surprising, given the holiday. It was great to get out of the 'Burg for a bit, that's for sure!