From jazz on the Mississippi River to an unexpected meeting with an alligator...
Darcy, a resident at Gabriel Homes, packed her bags for a New Orleans trip full of fun, culture, and history. Her trip to Louisiana was possible through Loudoun County Adaptive Recreation (LCAR), which offers inclusive activities for adults with disabilities.
The first day in the city was a busy one.
Darcy and the group visited the Audubon Aquarium, walked along the French Quarter Riverwalk, and had lunch at Mother’s Restaurant, a historic eatery known for its po’ boys.
Beignets and Jazz
The adventure moved to Mardi Gras World, where the group learned how the iconic parade floats come to life. Then came a stop at Café du Monde, where Darcy enjoyed the famous beignet, a soft French doughnut with powdered sugar. The evening started with time in the heart of the city, the French Quarter, and it wrapped up listening to live jazz during a cruise on the Steamboat Natchez.
“We had something new to eat every day in New Orleans!” Darcy said. “Almost every meal had Cajun seasoning, which tasted spicy. Sugar is usually on top of desserts because Louisiana has lots of sugar mills.”
History and culture were the themes of the next day. The morning kicked off with a tour of Saint Louis Cemetery, where Darcy learned about the history of the city and the stories of famous New Orleanians buried there. The afternoon saw the group riding through the city on a double–decker bus, followed by carriage rides through the French Quarter. Ice cream and souvenir shopping closed out the day.
“I bought myself a couple of voodoo dolls at one of the gift shops, and now I wear them around my neck,” Darcy said. “They rest front and center on me, so people ask me about them when I go out.”
One of the last major events of the trip was a swamp tour in the Louisiana Bayou. The group was stunned when an alligator was in their sights. Darcy thought the gator looked scary at first, but she joked that it became her friend for the rest of the ride.
“The alligator was the coolest part of the trip. It was only scary because it was hungry from seeing our snacks. Our boat kept moving, and eventually the gator stopped following us. I never saw one so closely before!”
Travel and crafting are two of Darcy’s favorite hobbies, and now she’s added something new: dancing!
See how she’s improving her balance through ballet courses at MindShift Gym at gabrielhomes.org/stories.