In the summer of 2017, I took my first solo trip to New Orleans and realized my own freedom. Travel began as a personal goal and quickly became a deeper exploration of autonomy, fearlessness, and what it means to live on my own terms. That trip marked the first time I understood freedom not as escape, but as a way of being and a manifestation of who I already was .

New Orleans was the first city I ever traveled to solo—that was back in 2017. I’ve been to many cities since then, but I can always make a case for New Orleans being one of the most magical cities on earth. The French Quarter, more specifically, is a neighborhood so alive and so colorful, and all those years ago, I had never seen a place like it.

When I decided that travel was going to be my biggest goal of life as a single woman, New Orleans topped my list of places in the United States. The thought that I could be caught by the surprise of live music on any street at any time or the idea that I could possibly have the best food dish I will ever have were good enough reasons to make a trip to NOLA happen.

Let’s talk about what is obviously the most important part of visiting New Orleans—the food. Aside from music, the Big Easy is known for the endless options of amazing flavor and variety. Most of the food is creole or cajun inspired—a blend of many different cultures. So, when you eat in New Orleans, you’re literally getting a taste of history.