NEW ORLEANS, La. -- There's never a dull moment on a trip to New Orleans. There are dozens of places to see, foods to eat and people to strike up a conversation with. We had only two days in the Big Easy and we made it our mission to eat, see and soak up all we could from the deep South.

To start, we decided to book right on Bourbon Street so we're in the middle of it all. Because I'm from Louisiana, I knew of a few hotels in New Orleans to choose from. We decided to go with Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street. The location is great. You walk outside the door and there you are on Bourbon Street in the middle of all the action. The service was excellent. The hotel was very helpful and knowledgeable about the area to help you navigate your way around.

We visited New Orleans the weekend before St. Patrick's Day. Around this time of the year, it's a hit and miss with the weather. It rained the entire first day and night we were there, but with a raincoat and the right shoes, you're still fine to walk around. The temperature was in the upper 60s, with humidity. That wasn't bad at all.

The other bonus when visiting around March is it's strawberry season! Along the roads you can find fresh picked strawberries in trucks for sale. They're very sweet so it's worth buying a few baskets if you're hungry.

As for the famous crawfish, that's now all year round. So you can go to Louisiana any time and pretty much get a taste of the flavorful seafood. Be sure to add corn and potatoes with the meal. You can't beat southern cooking.

Another must try food item are beignets at Cafe Du Monde. It's a fried pastry covered with powdered sugar. I can't do it justice by trying to describe it, so you just have to take my word that it's delicious! Be careful though. Do not inhale when taking a bite. That powdered sugar might just get the best of you. The coffee at Cafe Du Monde is also a must try. Quite different from the latte you might be used to from Starbucks.

We also hit the flea market, which is a great place to bargain and get your souvenirs. From Mardi Gras beads to cajun spices, you'll find all kinds of southern treasures. Just a few blocks away is Jackson Square. In that area, there are always street performers, artists displaying their paintings, and many other one-of-a-kind entertainment to keep you occupied. It's also a great place to people watch.

If you want to walk along the River Walk area, you can get a great view of the Mississippi River. It's as dirty as ever, but if you've never seen it, that's a good place to just take a picture for memory's sake.

Right near Royal Sonesta Hotel is a restaurant called Arnaud's. It's a higher end restaurant with great southern food. There's also a jazz room with a live band for your entertainment during your meal. The oysters there are excellent. Service is very good too.

The nightlife on Bourbon Street is not to be missed. That particular weekend, there was a St. Patrick's Day parade right on Bourbon Street. It was filled with decorated floats and people in costumes. It was a smaller version of the traditional Mardi Gras parades. People still threw beads, flowers and other unique items to the crowd.

Pat O'Brien's is the famous piano bar with the Hurricane drinks. Pirate's Passion has Big Al, a great singer to get you in the festive mood. Just about anywhere you walk on Bourbon, there are usually live bands and big crowds in each of the bars. Tropical Isle is also known for its hand grenade drinks. Be careful on that one. They're stronger than you might think.

So even if you can only visit the Big Easy for a short weekend, you can still enjoy and get a taste of New Orlean's culture, sights, and good eats. Good luck and enjoy the Southern hospitality!