I’ve long been told the WWII museum is a top destination in New Orleans and I can now happily report this is a shining example of a museum done well.
SEE & DO
This was partly because it was an hour or so from closing time but then my conscience got to me and I didn’t want bad karma for sneaking into a museum that supports veterans.
Before we made it all the way back to the front, we stumbled upon the victory garden where we learned some pretty cool facts about produce during the war. During that time, 40% of vegetables consumed by Americans came from their own gardens. How cool would it be if we could get back to that?
The ladies at guest services were nice as well and offered to give me the discount rate ($13) for being a teacher even though it was listed for students and military.
We quickly spotted the dress up and ran off to get our own moment as Rosie the Riveter. We practically shoved our way into the costume pile. Anything for a good photo op, right?
The nearby volunteer then insisted (seriously) that we hop onto her train experience. It wasn’t until after she showed us how to get the best photos that we understood her enthusiasm. The sweet lady told us how her parents were veterans and had the same picture taken at their wedding on the real version of this train.
We headed into the main exhibit in a hurry since we had less than an hour to explore. I don’t think I’d ever need the recommended 5 hours to explore the museum but I would definitely go back. It was the perfect balance of fun and education.
EAT & DRINK
Running through the exhibits worked up an appetite and we quickly headed off to meet friends at American Sector.
Happy hour is a fabulous way to enjoy the restaurant without breaking the bank. Not only do they feature happy hour 7 days a week(!!), but the deals are pretty good too. Drink prices range from $2-5 between 3 and 6 pm.
I was excited to eat here because Chef John Besh is known for using local foods and produce. He has quite a few well-known restaurants around town that I’d like to try. Before American Sector, I’d only been to Luke.
The cocktails list was both extensive and creative so we tried a few from there. They also have a unique line of sodas made exclusively in the restaurant with interesting flavor combinations if you decide to skip on the alcohol.
In addition to the drink specials, there is a small selection of finger foods for $0.75. They were out of duck wings so Yuko tried the meat pie and sliders. Sliders were the favorite at our table, by far. Since the finger foods all involved meat I grabbed a delicious side of fries that got an A+ for presentation.
Our server kindly offered me a vegetarian menu and despite the options, I couldn’t pass on the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Simple but delicious. Yuko selected pasta with meatballs.
For the food, I think I preferred Besh’s other restaurant Luke. But when it comes to happy hour, you can’t beat American Sector for the atmosphere and specials. And next time I think I’ll sit on their outdoor patio.
This is just one part of a fun-filled weekend staycation. You can find my full staycation itinerary here!