Traveling with the Jones — Sharing Travel Discoveries

Mother’s Restaurant – A True New Orleans Gem

by Janis on June 13, 2013

This is a guest post by Morgan Large, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas.

Nestled among the French culture and craziness that New Orleans is known for is a little gem called Mother’s Restaurant.

Located on Poydras Street since 1938, Mother’s Restaurant has been making some of the best, if not the best, po’boys and Cajun food in town.

The original owners of the restaurant were Simon and Mary (Mother) Landry, but in 1986 Jerry and John Amato bought the restaurant from the Landry’s sons. With the changing of hands, the menu doubled offering the jambalaya and other menu items that Mother’s boasts today.

One step into Mother’s Restaurant and you feel like you have walked into another era. A true step back in time to what once was New Orleans many years ago. The building has not seemed to change much since the 1938 opening. The smells and the atmosphere draw you in. The quality and love of Mother’s food can often be gauged on how long the line down Poydras Street is getting. If you make this stop, you better get there early.

The menu goes on from po’boys to gumbo, but what must you choose?

Mother’s Restaurant is known as the place for the World’s Best Baked Ham

Trying it is a must. Watch this video for a glimpse.

Walking out of Mother’s without trying one of their po’boys would be a sin.

Seafood, baked ham, catfish, turkey and debris po’boys are some of the delicious samplings on the menu. The debris po’boy got its name when a customer asked for some of the bits of roast beef that had fallen into the gravy to be put on his sandwich. Simon Landry called the droppings the debris and the name has stuck since.

Next time you are in town, be sure to put Mother’s Restaurant on the to do list. Between the atmosphere, food, flavor, and people, you will not be disappointed.

Mother’s Restaurant is a true New Orleans gem.

Have you ever been to Mother’s Restaurant? What other restaurants do you like in New Orleans? Let us know by posting in comments below.

Morgan Large loves to explore the world. She’s traveled across the United States and to 11 countries.

Originally from Ohio, Morgan currently lives in Arkansas with her Australian Shepherd, Oxley.

A graduate student at the University of Arkansas, Morgan’s studies are focused in agricultural communications. Her blog, RazorBuck: A Midwestern girl living in a Southern world highlights her adventures in photography, cooking and travel.

Learn more about New Orleans food in these books…..

New Orleans: A Food Biography

Food Lovers’ Guide to New Orleans: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings

Good food goes with travel. Here’s some of food posts that you might enjoy:

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Top 6 Fun Things To Do in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

by Janis on June 12, 2013

This is a guest post by Taysha Ham, an agricultural communications student at New Mexico State University.

Truth or Consequences is a small city of less than 6,500 people in Sierra County, New Mexico. The city of Hot Springs changed its name to Truth or Consequences in 1950 after a popular NBC radio program hosted by Ralph Edwards.

Edwards had promised to air the program from the first town that renamed itself after the show. After Hot Springs won the contest, Edwards visited the newly-named Truth or Consequences, New Mexico during the first weekend in May for the next 50 years.

Top 6 Fun Things To Do in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

1. Take part in Fiesta Weekend – It has been a long standing tradition since the town changed its name due to the Ralph Edwards radio game show. Fiesta weekend is always held the first weekend in May. Events of fiesta include a parade down Broadway, the crowning of Miss Fiesta, junk boat races, and various events at Ralph Edwards Park. For many years Ralph Edwards would attend the Fiesta and bring celebrities into town with him.

2. Go to Elephant Butte Lake – A famous summer destination in southern New Mexico, Elephant Butte Lake is so named due to an elephant-shaped island within the lake itself. It has been said that after the lake was named, fossils of prehistoric elephants were actually discovered near the lake. The Lake is a very popular vacation spot in New Mexico, being open to swimmers, jet skis, boats, camping and fishing. There is fun for every one of all ages at the lake.

3. Hot Springs- Truth or Consequences is famous for its hot springs, which also happens to be the name of the town before it was changed. There are ten hot spring spas located right off of Broadway in the historic district in town. The water ranges from 98 to 115 degrees in temperature, has 38 different minerals but retains a pH level of 7. Most of the spas accept walk-ins, which makes a quick trip to the hot springs easy to do.

4. Float the River- The Rio Grande River flows right through town. It has become a beloved pastime to spend an afternoon floating down the river on inner tubes. There is not always enough water flowing to actually be able to float, but once more water is released, the river is full of locals as well as visitors.

5. Art Hops- Starting in 2005, art hops have been held on main street the second Saturday of every month from 6-9 in the evening. Many of the studios take part in the art hop and it has become a tradition for many. Each art hop is unique and can include food, music and if you’re lucky you may even see a horse-drawn-carriage. The town and residents make it their own each month.

6. El Cortez Movie Theater- The Theater has been around as early as 1948, before the town’s name was changed. The theater recently reopened under new management in 2007. It has only one screen, seats 120 patrons, and tickets sell at $5 for any showing. Before each show, the owner walks down to the front of the theater and welcomes everyone to the show, letting them know what movies will be coming soon. When the theater first reopened, each show was also started with the owner telling everyone to yell at the count of three. This way they got it out of their systems and would therefore not talk during the movie.

Have you been to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico? If so, what was your favorite memory from your visit? Please share in comments below.

Taysha Ham knows all about Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. It’s her home town.

A student at New Mexico State University, Taysha is majoring in agricultural communications with a minor in journalism.

This summer she is completing a social media internship for Venture Time Travel.

Other posts you may enjoy reading…..

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Is Your Dad a Traveler? 5 Father’s Day Gift Ideas

by Janis on June 11, 2013

Is your father a traveler?

Or, does he want to be?

For my dad, this week is not only Father’s Day, it’s also his birthday. A major milestone one.

So I’ve got gifts for dad on my mind. And my dad loves to travel.

Here are 5 Father’s Day Gift Ideas for the Traveling Dad:

1. Outlander Packable Lightweight Travel Backpack Daypack-Black I know my dad will like this — he borrows our similar version when he goes on a cruise. He appreciates how lightweight and compact this backpack is, while at the same time being spacious enough to carry his camera, water bottle, map, and those shopping discoveries my mother makes when in port.

2.Titanic Ship Model My dad is still a kid at heart. He would love this model ship.

3. Invicta Men’s Terra Retro Military Watch Dad’s love cool-looking watches, especially retro-military versions like this one.

4. Lipault Folding 22″ Carry On Dad needs a sturdy but lightweight roller bag that he can carry-on or check. Plus, this one comes in the manly color of chocolate brown — making it easier to find on the luggage carousel in a sea of black suitcases.

5. Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips The perfect book to inspire Dad’s next travel adventure, whether close to home or halfway around the globe.

What are you getting your traveling dad for Father’s Day?

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“Travel is refreshing and rejuvenating for me.” A Travel Chat with a University of Arkansas Grad Student

by Janis on June 10, 2013

Traveler Interview: Morgan Large

Morgan Large is an agricultural communications graduate student at the University of Arkansas. After growing up in Belmont, Ohio and graduating from The Ohio State University, Morgan packed up her bags last spring and moved west for a new adventure in Arkansas. She currently works as a graduate teaching assistant for the university while completing her degree. After graduation, Morgan hopes to find a communications job anywhere in the United States or the world with an emphasis on production agriculture.

Traveling to 11 countries with plans to add more to her list, Morgan was bit by the travel bug as soon as she graduated high school. From Europe to anywhere in the eastern United States, she has been there and tried her best to make a stop at any location. With a trip planned to this summer to visit the great American West and Scotland next summer, Morgan is always on the go wanting to see, learn about, and experience new locations.

The Jones: What inspires you to travel?

Morgan: The adventure and the opportunity to always see and experience something new inspires me to travel. Even if you have been somewhere once, there is always something new to see or do the next time you visit. That feeling of adventure and seeing what the world has to offer, keeps me going. I have to see new places and have new experiences. You only live once!

Have you always enjoyed travel? What contributed to your love of travel?

Morgan: When I was younger, we always traveled by car and at that age anywhere seems to take hours upon hours to get anywhere. I was not a big fan of traveling then, but I ultimately grew into it.

My grandmother contributed to my love of travel, and I could not thank her enough. When I was younger, she would take me on bus trips to visit the Carolinas and then on one of the biggest adventures of my life, which was traveling to Europe for three weeks after my high school graduation. It was really then when my love for travel sparked, and I do not see myself slowing down anytime soon.

You already traveled to 11 countries outside of the U.S. How has international travel influenced you?

Morgan: International travel has influenced me in the greatest way possible. It has taught me to be appreciative of both what we have here in the United States and what other countries have to offer both good and bad. Traveling to all of those countries has made me appreciate the country’s landscape, the culture, the differences, the food, and finally coming home. International travel has made me a diverse, more knowledgeable individual both in the classroom and the real world.

Lake Wakatipu, South Island, New Zealand

What is your favorite destination? Why?

Morgan: This is an easy answer, New Zealand. From the North Island to the South Island, New Zealand is my all time favorite travel destination. Its candid natural beauty, weather, wildlife, and people make for the perfect travel destination. I was able to experience sheep shearing, salmon farming, the Auckland Zoo, the pebbled beaches of the coast, whale watching, and visit famous cities like Christchurch and Rotorua. I even hope that one day I could live there for an extended period of time.

A seal on New Zealand’s South Island

What destination has surprised you the most, either good or bad?

Morgan: Mexico surprised me the most for not necessarily good or bad experience, but rather an eye opening one. I traveled to Cuernavaca in that state of Morelos in Mexico. I had never been to Mexico before so I had no preconceived notions, and Cuernavaca was not one of those beach-laden towns you think of when you hear about Mexico or crime riddled, poor one. It was a middle class town full of culture, some nightlife, excellent food, and people living their normal everyday lives. My eyes were opened to what Mexico is all about.

What was special about this experience was that I was able to live with a host mom in the town so I felt like I truly was immersed in the culture of Cuernavaca.

Morgan (left) with her Host Mom Marilu (center, right) in Cuernavaca, Mexico

Why do you consider travel important?

Morgan: Though exhausting at times, travel is refreshing and rejuvenating for me. People need to travel to value other places and locations both nationally and internationally. It is truly misfortunate to hear people say they do not want to leave the place they are currently. Travel makes us richer as individuals and impacts others around us with the cultures and experiences we share. Travel is important to remind us of where came from and where we are going.

The coastline at Nice, France

From your travels, do you have a practice or insight that makes your travel experiences more enjoyable?

Morgan: Go places that make you happy, that will inspire you, and promote growth. Everyone is different so visit and explore places you want to see and experience.

Always know that no matter how much you plan, something is bound to go wrong, but instead just go with the flow. It may lead to a great experience or interesting story in the long run.

A final insight that I have is pack for any kind of weather conditions. Even though I am quite the over packer myself, you never know what kind of weather is going to pop up so be prepared!