Instead of birthday parties, we take trips with the boys. For now we are picking the locations, but we plan on incorporating each birthday boy in the selection and execution of their birthday trips. We chose New Orleans because we wanted somewhere we could drive but felt “European” – I have not been to Europe in over 2 years and miss it. From Central Florida, New Orleans is 9.5 hours away and, with my parents in tow, that was an easy yes! We went for a week with one night on the road on the way there. It was perfect. Although we were there New Years Eve, considering the NYE attack in New Orleans last year we decided to stay in for the night (I was actually asleep!).
JMF
P.S. Many costs were shared/split, but we paid for all the “big things” (accommodations, rental, groceries). I am not showing the cost sharing here because it doesn’t matter in the end.
P.P.S. I think I forgot to record us getting gas a few times…whoops
| Saturday, December 27 | ||
| Enterprise: Minivan Rental | ordered through our Costco membership | $508.00 |
| Drive: Oviedo to Gainesville | ~2hrs | $0.00 |
| Lunch: 4th Avenue Food Park | $81.00 | |
| Drive: Gainesville to Tallahassee | ~2.5 hours/the boys napped | $0.00 |
| Snack & Potty Break: McDonalds & walked around FSU | $8.00 | |
| Dinner: VeneBites | $86.00 | |
| Fairfield Inn & Suites | 4 adults + 2 kids/-$50 credit from travel credit card | $73.00 |
| SUBTOTAL | $756.00 | |
| Sunday, December 28 | ||
| Breakfast: leftovers/hotel breakfast & Red Eye Coffee | $15.00 | |
| Drive to Pensacola | ~3hrs/boys napped | $0.00 |
| Lunch: Jim n Nick’s BBQ | $84.00 | |
| National Naval Aviation Museum | FREE but we donated cash | $30.00 |
| Drive to New Orleans | ~2hrs/boys napped | $0.00 |
| Dinner: Phil’s Marina Cafe | the 2 year old slept through dinner | $176.00 |
| Check in to New Orleans AirBnb | $1,510.61 | |
| Grocery: Rouses Markets | $59.00 | |
| Gas | $76.00 | |
| SUBTOTAL | $1,950.61 | |
| Monday, December 29 | ||
| Breakfast: Cooked in AirBnb & Cafe Envie | $60.00 | |
| French Quarter: walked around, bought souvenirs & French Market/Mom, Dad & boys: streetcar rides | supposed to be $1.25/adult but they waived mom on so she only paid for 1 person | $69.25 |
| Lunch: Johnny Po’Boys | $90.00 | |
| Jackson Square (watched street performers) | cash donation to jazz band | $5.00 |
| Furiosi Family: Bourbon Street & Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church/Ita & Ito: took a uber home | cash donation for candle prayer | $5.00 |
| Furiosi Family: Late Afternoon Snack + Wine/Dinner for the boys): Patula | $99.00 | |
| Dinner Ito & Ita: Uber Eats | $37.00 | |
| Jess & Will: Date Night: Bar Tonique & Vampire Apothocary & Uber back home | $108.00 | |
| SUBTOTAL | $489.25 | |
| Tuesday, December 30 | ||
| Breakfast: Cooked in AirBnb | $0.00 | |
| Parking all day near Aquarium | $26.00 | |
| Will & Jess Breakfast Date: Brennan’s | 9:30am reservations | $190.00 |
| Mom, Dad & boys: Hilton Riverside | “second breakfast” & coffee | $49.00 |
| Will & Jess: WWII Museum | $76.00 | |
| Mom, Dad & boys: Audubon Aquarium & Insectarium | $169.96 | |
| Lunch: mom, dad & boys | $36.00 | |
| Streetcar to Garden District/Walk around Garden District & Afternoon Snack: The Vintage Cafe | supposed to be $1.25/adult but they waived mom on so she only paid for 2 | $38.00 |
| Dinner: Dat Dog | $118.00 | |
| SUBTOTAL | $667.96 | |
| Wednesday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve | ||
| Breakfast: Cooked in AirBnb | $0.00 | |
| Grocery: Winn-Dixie/Morning in AirBnb/Will went for a run | $195.00 | |
| Lunch: Vaucresson’s Sausage Crole Cafe & Deli | $94.00 | |
| Walked into French Quarter & Moonwalk River Levee Walking Path | $0.00 | |
| Sugar Bowl Parade & Jackson Square | 2pm through the French District | $0.00 |
| Mom & Dad: Only Coffee | $16.00 | |
| Esplanade Food Store: beer | $10.00 | |
| Dinner: making Muffulettas at home | $0.00 | |
| SUBTOTAL | $305.00 | |
| Thursday, January 1 – New Years Day/Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God | ||
| Breakfast: Cooked in AirBnb | $0.00 | |
| Jess & Will: Cafe Du Monde/Mom, Dad & boys: Jackson Square | $25.00 | |
| St. Louis Cathedral | Mass at 11 | $0.00 |
| Jess & Will: Sazerac House Tour & purchases | the tour is FREE | $182.00 |
| Lunch: leftovers in Jackson Square | $0.00 | |
| Jess & Will: walking around Bourbon Street & bar hoping/Mom, Dad & the boys: walked home/nap | Napoleon House (to-go Pims Cups) & Tropical Isle (Hand Granada) | $26.00 |
| Furiosi Family: St. Roch’s Cemetery | $0.00 | |
| Dinner: Cooked in AirBnb | Grocery shopping | $63.81 |
| Celebration in the Oaks | 6 people walking tickets | $137.00 |
| SUBTOTAL | $448.81 | |
| Thursday, January 2 | ||
| Breakfast: Cooked in AirBnb | $0.00 | |
| Drive to Pensacola | ~3hrs | $0.00 |
| Lunch: Margarita’s Fusion | $101.00 | |
| Drive to Tallahassee | ~3hrs/boys napped | $0.00 |
| Lucky Goat | $55.00 | |
| Drive to Gainesville | ~2hrs | $0.00 |
| Dinner: Satchels | $130.00 | |
| Drive to Oviedo | ~2hrs/boys in pjs asleep | $0.00 |
| SUBTOTAL | $286.00 | |
| Friday, January 3 | ||
| Enterprise: Minivan Rental | Return rental car | $0.00 |
| SUBTOTAL | $85.00 | |
| GRAND TOTAL | $4,988.63 | |
