California Road Trip: Starting Our New Orleans Morning

California Road Trip: Starting Our New Orleans Morning

by | May 7, 2026 | Road Trips

Starting Our New Orleans Morning with Beignets at Café Beignet on Royal Street

One of the things we knew we had to do while visiting New Orleans was enjoy a plate of fresh beignets. The next morning, we walked over to Café Beignet on Royal Street in the heart of the French Quarter. After spending the previous evening exploring Bourbon Street and enjoying dinner at Oceana Grill, it was a wonderful way to start a new day in New Orleans.

Café Beignet is known for its traditional New Orleans-style beignets—fried squares of dough covered with a generous layer of powdered sugar. When our order arrived, the beignets were warm, light, and delicious. The powdered sugar seemed to find its way everywhere, but that’s part of the fun of eating beignets in New Orleans! Paired with a hot cup of coffee, they made for a simple but memorable breakfast.

Cafe Beignet Storefront

Cafe Beignet Door Entry

Beignet

Cafe Beignet Souvenirs

Cafe Beignet Inside

Cafe Beignet

The Royal Street location also puts you right in the middle of the French Quarter, making it easy to continue exploring after breakfast. Royal Street is filled with historic buildings, balconies, shops, galleries, restaurants, and plenty of New Orleans character. We enjoyed taking our time after breakfast and walking through the surrounding streets before continuing with our plans for the day.

Decatur St.

Hop On Hop Off Double Decker Bus Stop #1 on Decatur St.

St. Peter and Decatur St.

St. Louis Cathedral

St. Peter and Decatur St.

Hotel St. Marie Street Side

For us, stopping at Café Beignet was more than just grabbing breakfast—it was part of experiencing the culture and traditions of New Orleans. If you’re visiting the French Quarter, I would definitely recommend making time for fresh beignets. They’re an iconic New Orleans treat and a delicious way to begin a day of sightseeing. From Café Beignet, we continued on to Jackson Square before boarding the open-air, double-decker sightseeing bus to explore more of the city.

California Road Trip: French Quarter, First Night in New Orleans

California Road Trip: French Quarter, First Night in New Orleans

by | May 6, 2026 | Road Trips

Returning to New Orleans: A Relaxing Evening in the French Quarter

After a comfortable night’s stay at the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Columbus TX, we began another day on the road heading toward one of our favorite destinations—New Orleans. Before leaving Columbus, we stopped at a self-service car wash on Fannin Street to wash away the countless bugs that had accumulated on the Jeep during the previous day of driving across Texas. 

With the Jeep looking much better, our next stop was the massive Buc-ee’s in Katy, Texas. Like every Buc-ee’s we’ve visited, the location was spotless, well-organized, and offered some of the lowest fuel prices along our route. After filling the tank and picking up a few road trip snacks, we continued east on Interstate 10 toward Louisiana.

By late afternoon, we arrived at Hotel St. Marie, located on Toulouse Street in the heart of the French Quarter. If you’re driving into the French Quarter, I highly recommend this hotel, especially if you’re traveling with a lot of luggage. Instead of trying to unload on the narrow, busy street in front of the hotel, simply continue a few feet past the entrance to the convenient alleyway beside the building. A bellhop met us there, unloaded all of our luggage, and the valet parked our Jeep in the hotel’s private garage while we watched. The entire process was smooth, efficient, and stress-free. The bellhop then delivered our luggage to our fifth-floor room, making arrival incredibly easy. I happily tipped both the valet and the bellhop for their outstanding service.

Hotel St. Marie Hallway Room View

Hotel St. Marie Room View

Our Room at Hotel St. Marie

Hotel St. Marie Room Bathroom and Beverage Area

Hotel St. Marie Bathroom

Hotel St. Marie Toulouse Street View

Hotel St. Marie Room Door

Hotel St. Marie Hallway View

Hotel St. Marie Hallway View

Hotel St. Marie Hallway View

Hotel St. Marie Toulouse Street View

Hotel St. Marie Elevator Area

After settling into our room, we walked a short distance to Oceana Grill for dinner. Oceana has become one of our favorite restaurants in the French Quarter thanks to its extensive menu featuring gumbo, steaks, seafood, po’boys, fresh oysters, and other Louisiana favorites. We started with an order of delicious charbroiled oysters served with warm bread before sharing a fried oyster po’boy and a bowl of rich, flavorful gumbo. Everything was fresh, perfectly prepared, and a wonderful reminder of why New Orleans is considered one of America’s great food cities.

Oceana Grill on Conti St.

Oceana Menu

Charbroiled Oysters

Fried Louisiana Oyster Po’Boy and Gumbo Shared

After dinner, we took an evening stroll along Bourbon Street, where live music poured out of nearly every doorway and crowds filled the sidewalks enjoying the city’s famous nightlife. Debbie treated herself to a refreshing Hurricane slushie while we soaked in the lively atmosphere that makes the French Quarter unlike anywhere else. Before returning to Hotel St. Marie, we walked through St. Anthony’s Garden, a quiet and peaceful courtyard tucked away behind the bustle of the Quarter. The beautiful garden provided a calm ending to an exciting evening and was the perfect place to pause and reflect before another day on our journey home.

Wednesday Night on Bourbon Street

St. Anthony’s Garden

St. Anthony’s Garden

California Road Trip: Columbus, Texas

California Road Trip: Columbus, Texas

by | May 5, 2026 | Road Trips

From El Paso to Columbus: A Long Texas Drive with Small-Town Hospitality

Leaving El Paso behind, we began another long day on Interstate 10 heading east across the vast landscapes of West Texas. The scenery slowly transitioned from desert mountains and rocky terrain to wide open spaces and endless stretches of highway that seemed to disappear into the horizon. Texas certainly lives up to its reputation for size, and even after hours of driving, it often felt like we had barely made a dent in crossing the Lone Star State.

One memorable stop along the way was at Pecos Eastbound Rest Area just west of Fort Stockton. I had planned to grab a Monster Energy drink to help power through the miles ahead, but the vending machine was being restocked by vendors at the time. An older gentleman who was taking care of the property noticed the situation and kindly purchased the drink for me himself. It was an unexpected act of generosity that perfectly reflected the friendliness and hospitality we encountered throughout our travels. Sometimes it is these simple moments with complete strangers that become some of the most memorable parts of a road trip.

Later in the day, we stopped at a truck stop hoping to grab lunch from a Subway restaurant, but unfortunately they had run out of both mayonnaise and Swiss cheese, two ingredients that were important parts of our sandwich order. Rather than settle for something we didn’t really want, we decided to continue down the road and find another place to eat. Road trips rarely go exactly according to plan, and sometimes those small inconveniences simply become part of the adventure and another story to tell later.

Continuing east, we eventually reached San Antonio, where the busy highways and growing skyline provided a sharp contrast to the quiet highways of West Texas. After navigating through the city traffic, we continued toward our overnight destination of Columbus and checked into the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Columbus TX.

Once we had settled into the room and stretched our legs after another long day in the Jeep, we walked over to Nancy’s Steak House for dinner. The meal was a wonderful way to end the day and prepare for the final legs of our journey back toward Florida.

Nancy’s Steakhouse Outside

Nancy’s Steakhouse

Texas Steak Sandwich

California Road Trip: Dragoon and El Paso

California Road Trip: Dragoon and El Paso

by | May 4, 2026 | Road Trips

From Arizona’s Texas Canyon to an Overnight Stop in El Paso

Leaving California and continuing east on Interstate 10, one of our favorite scenic stops of the day was the Texas Canyon Rest Area near Dragoon. The rest area is surrounded by enormous granite boulders and rugged rock formations that seem to rise straight out of the desert floor. Across the highway, even more spectacular rock formations stretch across the landscape, creating one of the most unique natural scenes along I-10 in southeastern Arizona. It was the perfect place to take a break, stretch our legs, and capture a few photos of our Jeep Gladiator with the impressive boulders providing a beautiful desert backdrop.

Rock Formations

Rock Formations

Jeep Gladiator

Rock Formations

Rock Formations

Jeep Gladiator

Rock Formations

Rock Formations

Countryside

Rock Formations

Jeep Gladiator

After crossing into Texas, we arrived in El Paso and checked into the Quality Inn & Suites Airport near the airport for the night. The hotel itself was convenient for travelers making the long drive across the Southwest. During the evening, we noticed a young man sitting in his pickup truck directly outside our hotel room for several hours. While it initially caught our attention because it seemed unusual, the following morning it appeared he was part of a work crew staying at the hotel. The rest of the crew emerged from nearby rooms before everyone headed out for the day. We never experienced any problems, but seeing someone remain in a vehicle throughout the night was something we hadn’t encountered before during our trip.

Quality Inn King Room

Quality Inn King Room

Quality Inn King Room

Quality Inn King Room

Once we had settled into the hotel, we headed over to Dave & Buster’s El Paso for dinner. We kept things light with a delicious flatbread and a fresh Caesar salad, both of which were excellent after another long day on the road. Before returning to the hotel, we made one more stop at Walmart Supercenter to pick up a few supplies for the next leg of our journey. Standing in the parking lot, we were treated to a beautiful panoramic view overlooking the suburban neighborhoods of El Paso with the Franklin Mountains rising in the distance. It was a peaceful way to end another day of our cross-country adventure.

BBQ Chicken Flatbread

El Paso

Although El Paso served primarily as an overnight stop before continuing toward home, it offered a pleasant ending to a day filled with dramatic desert scenery, interesting roadside stops, and beautiful mountain views. From the incredible granite formations of Texas Canyon to the sweeping vistas overlooking El Paso, this stretch of Interstate 10 reminded us that some of the best moments on a road trip happen between the major destinations.

California Road Trip: Funny Jeep Gladiator Road Trip

California Road Trip: Funny Jeep Gladiator Road Trip

by | May 4, 2026 | Road Trips

Meet Our Silent Travel Companion

Every great road trip needs a dependable travel companion. Ours just happens to never ask for a restroom break, never complains about the music, and has absolutely no opinion on where we stop for dinner.

Meet our mannequin.

My Security Guard

My Security Guard

My Security Guard

During our cross-country road trip, our bright blue Jeep Gladiator gained an unusual passenger whenever we stayed overnight at hotels. Sitting in the driver’s seat was what looked like a person wearing a red hoodie. The “head” was actually a pillow covered by the hoodie, topped with a white mask. Behind the eye openings was reflective foil that caught any nearby light, making it look like someone was quietly watching from inside the Jeep.

It was impossible not to laugh every time we parked for the night.

People would walk by, slow down, do a double take, and then keep looking as if they were trying to figure out whether someone was actually sitting in the Jeep. Some would even glance back over their shoulder just to make sure their eyes weren’t playing tricks on them.

One evening, a hotel staff member approached us with a puzzled look and asked about the “person” sitting in the driver’s seat. They had noticed that whoever was inside hadn’t moved for quite some time and wanted to make sure everything was okay. We couldn’t help but laugh as we explained that our mysterious guest wasn’t a guest at all—it was our mannequin security guard.

My Security Guard

My Security Guard

My Security Guard

On several nights, especially in larger cities, we noticed transients walking through hotel parking lots after dark. While our Jeep was already protected with motion detection and a 24-hour dash camera, the mannequin added another layer of security—not because it could actually stop anyone, but because it created uncertainty. From a distance, it looked like someone might still be sitting inside the vehicle, making anyone thinking about snooping around pause and move on.

Was it foolproof? Of course not.

Was it entertaining? Absolutely.

Every morning we’d walk out to the parking lot wondering how many people had spent the previous evening trying to figure out whether our “driver” was asleep, waiting for someone, or simply staring into space. Judging by the number of second glances and confused expressions, our silent passenger was getting plenty of attention.

The mannequin never complained about the long miles, never needed coffee, and was always ready to stand guard while we slept. I’d say that’s a pretty good road trip companion!

Sometimes the best memories from a road trip aren’t the famous landmarks or scenic overlooks—they’re the unexpected little moments that make you laugh for years afterward. Our mysterious mannequin definitely earned its place among those unforgettable travel memories.

California Road Trip: Blythe, CA

California Road Trip: Blythe, CA

by | May 3, 2026 | Road Trips

From Campbell to Blythe: Garlic Fields, California Farmlands, and a Desert Sunset

Leaving Campbell after a wonderful weekend with family, we began the next leg of our cross-country journey back toward Florida. Our route first took us south through Gilroy, a community proudly known as the “Garlic Capital of the World.” Gilroy produces a significant portion of the garlic grown in the United States and is famous for its annual Garlic Festival, garlic-themed shops, and restaurants featuring everything from garlic fries to garlic ice cream. Even while driving through town, it’s not uncommon to catch the distinct aroma of garlic from the surrounding processing facilities and nearby fields. It was an interesting stop and a reminder of California’s rich agricultural heritage before continuing east toward the Central Valley.

From Gilroy, we followed scenic CA-152 through rolling hills and around the beautiful San Luis Reservoir before joining Interstate 5 south. The reservoir’s sparkling blue waters provided a striking contrast against the golden California hillsides, making it one of the prettiest sections of the day’s drive. Once on I-5, the scenery opened into miles upon miles of fertile farmland. Vast fields of vegetables, orchards, vineyards, and agricultural operations stretched across the San Joaquin Valley, demonstrating why California is one of the world’s leading agricultural regions. The long drive offered a fascinating look at the farms that produce so much of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

As the day continued, we passed through the greater Los Angeles area by taking Interstate 210 through Pasadena and San Bernardino before connecting with Interstate 10 east. Although traffic was heavier than the quiet roads we had traveled earlier, the route provided impressive views of Southern California’s mountain ranges surrounding the metropolitan area. Before long, the landscape began changing once again as urban neighborhoods gave way to the wide-open desert of eastern California.

Our destination for the evening was the Days Inn by Wyndham Blythe in Blythe. Situated along the Colorado River near the Arizona border, Blythe has long served as a popular overnight stop for travelers crossing the desert between California and Arizona. The hotel provided a clean, comfortable room and a welcome opportunity to relax after another long day behind the wheel.

Blythe Exit

Blythe Roads

Days Inn Backside

Days Inn Frontside

Days Inn Front Entance

Days Inn Room

Days Inn Bathroom

Days Inn

For dinner, we walked over to Garcia’s Restaurant, where we enjoyed delicious tacos and a flavorful burrito. The fresh ingredients, generous portions, and friendly service made it a perfect way to end the day before continuing our journey east the following morning.