How We Make the Most of 36 Hours in a City

Even if our time in a city is limited, we still want to have an authentic experience and get a sense of what makes it unique. How do we make the most of our time but still stick to our limited budget? Recently, we had 36 hours in New Orleans and really maximized our time by following our tight-on-time-and-money city guide:

Prep for the day: Our first stop is Planet Fitness, where we work out and shower. It’s a great way to get our energy up and kick-start the day. Plus, no one wants to be smelly and stale when you’re touring around a new city!

Next up, meal planning: We check to see if there are any farmers markets going on; they’re a great way to sample super-local foods AND mix with the community. And, farmers markets are a great spot to pick up gifts for family/friends/future hosts!

Pick one or two things we definitely want to see: In New Orleans, that was Cafe Du Monde (in the French Quarter) and a bar that had MLB Opening Day games on! Cafe Du Monde has long been on my (Ellie’s) bucket list, and we ended up hitting it twice: once in the mid-morning and again at the end of the night (who doesn’t love a post-bar-crawl decaf and beignet?). Our day in NOLA coincided with Opening Day; being Nats fans, we researched a local bar that would have the game on. We found ourselves a TV on a balcony with the French Quarter as our backdrop! Picking just a couple of things to do sets our expectations for how much we can accomplish and takes the stress out of trying to see everything in a short amount of time.

Park 3 – 4 miles away and walk: If we’re going to be out and about for the day, we’ll pick a stealthy-camping-friendly sleeping spot 3 – 4 miles away from the things we want to check out. That way, our stroll features local shops, neighborhoods, parks, or whatever else is on the way! It also often helps us save money on parking.

Stock up at a local market: A family-owned market or bodega is a great place to stock your pantry! Often you’ll find local brands and specials that cater to the locals. And, we’re less likely to splurge on groceries than if we went out to a fancy dinner or the hottest restaurant in town. In New Orleans, a friend gave us a tip on a bodega that sells super-large, very-Cajun deli sandwiches in the back; it didn’t disappoint! In fact, it was one of the best sandwiches either of us has ever had!

Make a local coffee shop the morning bathroom stop: While we use Starbucks for lengthy coffee stops (we like their WiFi and bathrooms), we opt for local coffee shops if we’re taking something on the road. The coffee is always delicious, and their bathrooms are 9.9/10 times super clean. In New Orleans, French Truck Coffee was serving up the locals on their way to work and school. While waiting, we like to check out the community message board to get a sense of what the goings-on are!

Having a plan to maximize our time in a city ensures that we take advantage of our visit and still hold true to our goals (i.e. budgetary and experiencing authenticity). While we don’t see everything, we walk away having a sense of its unique-ness and ideas for what to see when(ever) we go back!