Kara's Sights & Bites: 24 hours in New Orleans

By Kara Kimbroughis located in downtown Ne

     On paper, spending a mere 24 hours in New Orleans doesn’t compute. There’s so much to see and experience in a city filled with hundreds of restaurants, attractions, venues and one of the nation’s largest museums, The National World War II Museum. But…I’m not like most people. With a little guidance from New Orleans & Company, the city’s tourism agency, combined with a goal of going full speed to experience a lot in a short time frame, I actually sampled quite a bit of the best aspects of the city within a short time.

A hotel that checked all the boxes

   It’s rare that I find a hotel that “checks all the boxes” in terms of location, safety, amenities and in simple terms, an easy, hassle-free stay. The Higgins Hotel managed to check them all…along with a few more.

   For starters, the imposing Hilton property is literally across the street from the WWII Museum. A shared parking garage allows guests of either the hotel or museum (or both) to relax and enjoy their stay without the concerns that accompany parking in any large city. Parking in the adjacent garage and walking straight into the hotel was my first clue that “easy stay” was a box that had already been checked.

   The spacious, multi-storied lobby is filled with elegant furnishings, fixtures and touches of rich wood, glass and stone set the stage for similar luxuries in guest rooms. Upon arriving at my sixth-floor room overlooking the museum’s courtyard, I found modern furnishings and technology in the guestroom and a spacious bathroom.

The war that changed the world

   Designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States, The National WWII Museum is located on a six-acre campus occupying a sizable portion of Magazine Street in the heart of the city. Modern, soaring pavilions house thousands of historical items, interactive screens, theatres, bookstore and gift shop and two restaurants, including a WWII era-inspired Soda Shop.

    It’s challenging to see everything in one day, especially if, like me, you like to read every word, study every photograph and watch every video. However, simplifying the process is a flowing, easy-to-navigate design that allows visitors to move seamlessly from one area to the next courtesy of short hallways and connective walkways. Even better, the museum’s chronological design allows visitors to walk through an engaging, interactive history lesson that unfolds as historical events occurred.

    Exhibits begin with the years preceding the war to major WWII battles and milestones. The tour culminates with Liberation Pavilion, which explores the end of World War II, the Holocaust, postwar years and ways the war continues to impact our lives today.

   Several thousand artifacts are displayed throughout the exhibit halls, ranging from personal letters written by soldiers to loved ones, to uniforms, firearms and actual equipment, boats, vehicles and planes used in the war.

    The US Freedom Pavilion features six fully-restored iconic WWII war planes suspended from the ceiling in the George H.W. Bush Aviation Center. The 41^st president, the youngest Navy pilot at the time of his service, flew a plane similar to one located in the gallery. Visitors can more closely view the planes from an observation gallery.

   A stand-out experience was learning more about the invasion of the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor through firsthand accounts from survivors, written narratives and a plethora of photographs and video footage. It was heartbreaking to watch video footage of young soldiers on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, playing sports and attending church services prior to the devastating attack by Japan on Dec. 7, 1941, that left 2,403 dead and 1,178 wounded.

    Equally mesmerizing was the D-Day exhibit area filled with interesting narratives, letters from U.S. Gen. Dwight Eisenhower, photographs and artifacts that included sea sickness pills taken by the soldiers on the morning of the Normandy invasion  Seeing the faces of thousands of young boys in photographs taken before they boarded the boats to storm the beaches was an emotional experience.

    There are many impressive displays depicting campaigns and geographic locations of the war. However, it was one depicting life a little closer to home that touched my heartstrings. In "Salute to the Home Front," an area dedicated to the efforts of Americans doing their part for the war effort, a realistic 1940’s American kitchen is equipped with ration stamps and an “ice box” sparsely filled with the rationed food and beverages items allotted to Americans during the war.

    In the living room, the family’s radio, topped by a framed photo of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, illustrates that gathering around the radio was the primary way Americans kept up with the war. A blue star in the window and framed photos of the family’s soldiers prominently displayed on the wall and mantel are touching reminders of the personal sacrifices and losses suffered by thousands of U.S. families.

   Another can’t-miss stop on a museum tour is the Solomon Victory Theatre to watch “Beyond Our Borders.” The 4-D movie provides a moving, detailed recap of each major battle of the war. Complete with sound and motion effects that cause theatre chairs to shake as battles raged and tanks roared over cliffs, it provides an up close and personal account of each of the war’s major milestones.

   Last, seeing the walls filled with the photos of Medal of Freedom recipients was a moving experience. I was excited to learn through a database search that six Mississippians were awarded this prestigious medal for heroic acts of bravery. Finding the name “Louis Wilson” among the recipients was particularly thrilling. I previously lived near Louis Wilson Drive in Brandon and often wondered about the person for whom the road was named. The question was answered as I read about the many brave acts performed by the U.S. Marine Corps 4-Star General, along with the heroic feats of the other Mississippians.

  Touring the amazing WWI Museum is something every American should experience. I’m already planning a return trip to more thoroughly explore each of the pavilions. To learn more about the National World War II Museum, including hours of operation and ticket prices and to download sample itineraries to help plan your visit, check out the museum’s website at: nationalww2museum.org.

Memorable meals

   Last week, I described a delicious meal of shrimp remoulade, seafood gumbo and shrimp Creole that I enjoyed at New Orleans’ Galatoire’s. If you missed it, drop me an email and I’ll share the column with you.

    In addition to Galatoire’s, I was scheduled to visit Brennan’s, another iconic New Orleans restaurant, for brunch. Time issues caused me to miss my reservation (something I’ll rectify on my next visit to New Orleans), so I ventured down to the hotel’s two restaurants, Café Normandy and Café Provisions, to check out the breakfast offerings. The tasty breakfast of New Orleans coffee and an apple turnover at Provisions was the perfect caffeine and carb-loading fuel for several hours of museum exploring.

Birds-eye view of the city

     Last, I was glad I found time to venture down to the waterfront and enjoy an unbelievable experience at Vue New Orleans.

     On the ground floor, an interactive museum-quality experience highlights the city’s history, music, celebrations and rich culinary scene. Afterwards, an elevator whisked me up 34 stories. There, I enjoyed breathtaking 360-degree views of the city’s stunning architecture, wetlands and waterways from New Orleans’ only indoor and outdoor observation deck. Seeing a giant orange sun sink below the horizon from this windswept vantage point is an experience I’ll never forget.

    So yes, I actually experienced all this – and more – during my short 24-hour stay in New Orleans. Don’t let time constraints prevent you from planning a quick trip or a longer visit to this extraordinary city. It's the ultimate destination for extraordinary food, fun, shopping, and accommodations. At the top of any itinerary should be a visit to the WWII Museum. I promise you'll leave with lifetime memories and a renewed sense of pride in our Armed Forces and the United States.

Kara Kimbrough is a food and travel writer from Mississippi. Email her at [email protected].