New Orleans Vacation 2026 Day 6

Thursday, January 15th, 2026

Today was our last full day in New Orleans and we decided to focus on the waterfront. We had breakfast at Mena’s and then walked down to the waterfront. We caught the first streetcar to come along which happened to be heading toward the French Market. We got there and it was closed, so we hopped back on the streetcar and took it all the way to the other end of the riverfront line and found ourselves at the Riverview Mall, which we explored.

We left the mall and walked the riverwalk plaza back to the steamboat landing where hoped back on the streetcar and took it back to the French Market which was now open. I don’t know where I’ve seen so many street vendors and eateries in one place!

We made our way back to the Jackson Brewery building and entered the new Museum of Illusions. We were the first ones there and had the place to ourselves, which was fun!

After a rest back at the Quarter House, we left in search of a late lunch and made a beeline for Pat O’Brien’s. Amanda ordered an Old Fashioned and a sampler of gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. I ordered a hurricane and a muffuletta, which was amazing. I could only eat half and saved the rest for a late dinner in our room.

On our way back to the room we stopped at The Historic New Orleans Collection Museum which documents the history of the French Quarter. I had an interesting conversation with a docent who was telling us about the Aeolian organ installed there and how it was one of only about 6 of its size left in the U. S. Two others are in Eastman House in Rochester and Hildene, the home of Robert Todd Lincoln in New Hampshire, both of which I have seen and heard! We turned in relatively early to watch the premiere episode of the newest “Star Trek” series and to pack up our things as we had asked for a taxi pickup at 7:00 the following morning.

We made it to the airport in plenty of time the following morning. Our flight to Baltimore was uneventful. Our flight from Baltimore to Albany was delayed a bit, but otherwise also uneventful. We got home to our very welcoming cats at 11:00pm.

Step count: 11,822, or 5.46 miles