OT - Road trip take deux - Seeking recommendations on were to go in MS, NOLA, AR, and MO.

Sea2Ski

Some of you might remember my road-trip last year going through the mid-western and western states on my wife's quest to visit all 50 states, no matter how brief. In a few weeks we are ticking off states 41-47. I am looking for some ideas of what to see and do, and most importantly places to eat.

Our Itinerary is:
3/11 - Fly into Mobile, and drive to Biloxi, MS where we spend the evening and night. (@SGH)
3/12 - Drive to New Orleans LA (@nolaegghead)
3/13 - NOLA
3/14 - NOLA to Little Rock AR
3/15 - Little Rock to Joplin MO
3/16 - Joplin to  Kansas City MO
3/17 - Kansas City MO to Kansas City KS

The things I am looking to do most are in Biloxi and NOLA: eat real gumbo, jambalaya and cajun food and a swamp or bayou tour (air or swamp boat). Anyone have personal experience and able to make a recommendation?

Beyond that, we are passing through these places, but if there is a "must see" or taste, let me know where to go and what it is. Lots of you have provided me great recommendations in the past, so I am reaching out again.
Thank you in advance!

theyolksonyou

Must see:  @nolaegghead shop and cat collection. Oh, and food.  

saluki2007

Not sure your route from Nola to little rock, but if you are going through Memphis I would recommend interstate BBQ, central BBQ, or Gus's fried chicken (downtown) .

lousubcap

Good luck with the road trip.  One of my objectives was to always have visited more states than my age (once on my own).  I was doing quite well til I turned 47 and had 46 in the books.  I was stuck there until shortly before turning 49 when I picked up the last 4; (ND, SD, MN and WI).  Just one of those entertaining goals to achieve.
BTW- just had a couple visit a few months ago where KY marked crossing the 50 state finish-line for them.  FWIW-

Wolfpack

Q39 for bbq in Kansas City 

DoubleEgger

World War I Memorial in KC 

Wolfpack

Do the WWII museum in NOLA- really worth it. 

Biggreenpharmacist

Are you spending the night in LR?

Sea2Ski

lousubcap said:

Good luck with the road trip.  One of my objectives was to always have visited more states than my age (once on my own).  I was doing quite well til I turned 47 and had 46 in the books.  I was stuck there until shortly before turning 49 when I picked up the last 4; (ND, SD, MN and WI).  Just one of those entertaining goals to achieve.
BTW- just had a couple visit a few months ago where KY marked crossing the 50 state finish-line for them.  FWIW-

yep - that is the goal of hers....  50 by 50.  It is going to be a tight one, but I think we are going to make it - if not, we will be short by 1 state - AK.  Gonna try like hell to get there though.

Sea2Ski

Biggreenpharmacist said:

Are you spending the night in LR?

@Biggreenpharmacist Yes we are.  I do not know where right now as she is making the plans as to where we stay, but we are going to be spending the night there.  

Biggreenpharmacist

The better hotels are downtown in the rivermarket. When you decide where you will stay let me know and I’ll try to give you a few places you might try. 

Biggreenpharmacist

http://capitalhotel.com/

Has a really nice restaurant, too. 

YukonRon

R and O's in NOLA. Mom and pop place, great fried food. Get the fish platter with the soft she'll crab. WORTHY!

ksmyrl

Biloxi is one of my favorite places on the planet. I highly recommend fishing instead of an airboat trip. See the same stuff, be out for 4 hours or more, catch fish, all for roughly the same price. I have a guide I highly recommend if you are interested. He will cook the fish you catch for lunch...his folks own a water front restaurant. Also, where are you staying? I have some ideas there too...but The Palace Casino is extremely reasonable, newly rennovated, and smoke free...and there is...you know, craps. Golf? Got recommendations there too. PM me or just let me know here. If you were to extend any part of the trip, do it in Biloxi.

After all that my wifey is from Mobile, if you are going to spend anytime there I may can help. Judge Roy Bean’s is a cool little historic bar and grill, the USS Alabama is worth a visit if you are a history buff. Great golf in Mobile too. 

Have a great trip!

des76

Highway 7 from Russellville, Ar to Harrison, Ar is a beautiful, curvy road and a nice drive.  It's appropriately called Scenic 7.  From Harrison you can take Highway 65, 4-lane divided road--north to Branson, Missouri, where there's a lot of shows and music.  Another nice location in northwest Arkansas is Eureka Springs.  It's an old Ozark mining town that's been re-invented as a arts and craft village.

nolaegghead

Sent you my cell number via PM, give me a ring any time.  We'd love to have a drink, lunch or dinner.

vb4677

WWI Museum
Slaps BBQ (KC, KS) - Ribs
Joe's KC BBQ - ZMan Sammich, Burnt Ends, anything, really...
Jack Stack BBQ - Beef Ribs, Burnt Ends
Q39 - Wings, Burnt Ends, anything
CharBar - anything
Gates BBQ - Ribs, Beef on Bun
Arthur Bryant's - I love the sausage, but they originated the Burnt Ends apparently...
The Plaza
Crown Center
WestPort/Midtown
Power & Light District
Kaw Point
Harry S. Truman Museum

Sea2Ski

Guys, once again you are coming through for me and I really appreciate it. Keep the ideas coming.  I am thanking you all individually for the responses, but doing so at the same time. I will be following up with some of you once we narrow things down some more, or when We need help narrowing things down. 

nolaegghead

Plenty of incredible restaurants in NOLA.  One that's on more bucket lists than any other is Commander's Palace.  Never had a bad meal there.  Try the Jazz Brunch but dinner is great also.  They do have a dress code.  In the historic Garden District.  Been around since 1880.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander's_Palace

https://www.commanderspalace.com/

Tspud1

vb4677 said:

WWI Museum
Slaps BBQ (KC, KS) - Ribs
Joe's KC BBQ - ZMan Sammich, Burnt Ends, anything, really...
Jack Stack BBQ - Beef Ribs, Burnt Ends
Q39 - Wings, Burnt Ends, anything
CharBar - anything
Gates BBQ - Ribs, Beef on Bun
Arthur Bryant's - I love the sausage, but they originated the Burnt Ends apparently...
The Plaza
Crown Center
WestPort/Midtown
Power & Light District
Kaw Point
Harry S. Truman Museum

Is it Joe's KC BBQ or do you mean Oklahoma Joes?
Fried chicken at Stoud's is some of the best in US.

billt01

saluki2007 said:

Not sure your route from Nola to little rock, but if you are going through Memphis I would recommend interstate BBQ, central BBQ, or Gus's fried chicken (downtown) .

@saluki2007


Every had the Commisary?..IMO, much better than Interstate...the sausage is off the chizzle fo shizzle

And Gus's..

Get the "40 and a fowl" 

never mind, getting my wires crossed..

The "40 and a fowl" is at Champy's chicken in Chattanooga

saluki2007

billt01 said:

saluki2007 said:

Not sure your route from Nola to little rock, but if you are going through Memphis I would recommend interstate BBQ, central BBQ, or Gus's fried chicken (downtown) .

@saluki2007


Every had the Commisary?..IMO, much better than Interstate...the sausage is off the chizzle fo shizzle

And Gus's..

Get the "40 and a fowl" 

never mind, getting my wires crossed..

The "40 and a fowl" is at Champy's chicken in Chattanooga

@billt01

I have eaten at the Commisary several times.  I lived in Memphis for 6 years.  I suggested interstate while not quite as good as The Commisary, it is right off the interstate making it much easier place to get to while passing through.

vb4677

Tspud1 said:

vb4677 said:

WWI Museum
Slaps BBQ (KC, KS) - Ribs
Joe's KC BBQ - ZMan Sammich, Burnt Ends, anything, really...
Jack Stack BBQ - Beef Ribs, Burnt Ends
Q39 - Wings, Burnt Ends, anything
CharBar - anything
Gates BBQ - Ribs, Beef on Bun
Arthur Bryant's - I love the sausage, but they originated the Burnt Ends apparently...
The Plaza
Crown Center
WestPort/Midtown
Power & Light District
Kaw Point
Harry S. Truman Museum

Is it Joe's KC BBQ or do you mean Oklahoma Joes?
Fried chicken at Stoud's is some of the best in US.

Yeah, the opted for "KC" and dropped the "Oklahoma" a couple of years ago... 
And yeah - Stroud's and Gus's (also in Memphis) have some great yard bird, but I was sticking mostly to KC BBQ.

@Sea2Ski
Whatever you do - get you some KC Burnt Ends... and then maybe the ZMan... and then some ribs...  There's a lot of other good BBQ joints in KC - They have to be good or else they won't survive here!

Thatgrimguy

I live in Biloxi, MS - come hang out on the river with me if you would like. I'll pm my cell.  My pontoon is in the shop or I'd take you for a river cruise myself.

Mary Mahoney's is across from the Hard Rock Casino and has the most traditional Biloxi food

You will want to track down Darwells Cafe in Long beach, MS. It's a cool funky joint with a ton of traditional cajun cuisine.


On your way to NOLA from Biloxi, stop in Slidell for Cajun Encounters Tour Company for a swamp tour. Best around.

nolaegghead

Thatgrimguy said:

I live in Biloxi, MS - come hang out on the river with me if you would like. I'll pm my cell.  My pontoon is in the shop or I'd take you for a river cruise myself.

Mary Mahoney's is across from the Hard Rock Casino and has the most traditional Biloxi food

You will want to track down Darwells Cafe in Long beach, MS. It's a cool funky joint with a ton of traditional cajun cuisine.


On your way to NOLA from Biloxi, stop in Slidell for Cajun Encounters Tour Company for a swamp tour. Best around.

Avoid "The Shed" if anyone points you there.  BBQ is mediocre, nice atmosphere though.

I spent the night in Honey Island Swamp sleeping in a pile of mud and leaves when the outboard fell off the boat once and stranded us, back in the early 90s.  December, cold.

ksmyrl

Thatgrimguy said:

I live in Biloxi, MS - come hang out on the river with me if you would like. I'll pm my cell.  My pontoon is in the shop or I'd take you for a river cruise myself.

Mary Mahoney's is across from the Hard Rock Casino and has the most traditional Biloxi food

You will want to track down Darwells Cafe in Long beach, MS. It's a cool funky joint with a ton of traditional cajun cuisine.


On your way to NOLA from Biloxi, stop in Slidell for Cajun Encounters Tour Company for a swamp tour. Best around.

Were on the river in Biloxi? We meet our guide at Mikey’s on the Bayou when we are down there. I try to make it down about 4 times a year for 4 days or so each trip. Mary Mahoney’s really is good! 

lkapigian

theyolksonyou said:

Must see:  @nolaegghead shop and cat collection. Oh, and food.  

not much into cats but love to see pictures of his shop collection