I haven’t spent time in New Orleans, Louisiana, in at least twenty years, but now that I’ve moved my cystic fibrosis care to Tulane, I am being reintroduced to the city. Of course, New Orleans is home to the most well-known Mardi Gras parties and parades, but it’s truly so much more.

Although named after Athens, Greece, I do not believe that I saw anything in Athens, Texas that left me feeling transported to a far-off land, drenched in history and legends. I did however step back in time when I entered into an old 1960s home that has been repurposed as an eclectic little coffee shop with a bronze sculpture of a big hamburger sitting on the table.

Should you visit Natchez, MS? Absolutely! The rich history and heritage of one of the oldest settlements in the lower Mississippi River Valley will transport you to a different time.