the boujee duck

A blog for people wanting places to go and things to do

Latest Blog

Latest post

Chargrilled Oysters: Acme vs. Drago’s—Who Really Runs NOLA’s Shell Game?

There are food debates… and then there are New Orleans food debates. Gumbo vs. étouffée. Beignets vs. donuts. But there’s one culinary standoff that’ll divide a dinner table faster than a jazz funeral can clear Bourbon Street: Acme vs. Drago’s—who…

Essence Festival 2025 Was a Hot Mess: How to Actually Plan, Pack, and Party in NOLA Without Regrets

There are travel fails… and then there’s Essence Fest 2025. I don’t know what was more disappointing: the chaotic crowd control, the lines that wrapped around the block like a Beyoncé Formation, or the lineup that felt like someone picked…

Solo Female Travel Hacks I Swear By—From TSA to Tampons

There’s a unique kind of freedom in stepping off a plane alone, tote bag slung over your shoulder, with no one to answer to but your own instincts. Solo female travel is empowering—but let’s be real, it can also come…

First Time Solo Travel: What I Wish I Knew Before My First Trip Alone

There’s something wildly freeing about booking a flight for one. No coordinating schedules. No waiting on a friend to “check their PTO.” No compromising on where to stay, what to eat, or how long to linger at a scenic overlook….

Chase Sapphire Reserve Hits Another Identity Crisis (and Our Wallets Feel It)

Whew, Chase! If your credit card were a person, it just got a designer makeover, joined a boutique gym, booked a five-star retreat… and then charged you $795 to hang out. Let’s unpack the June 2025 Chase Sapphire Reserve® overhaul…

Tasted & Rated: My Honest Review of 4 Kansas City BBQ Joints

As a North Carolina BBQ purist—born into a vinegar-based legacy—I came to Kansas City with cautious curiosity and an open appetite. The city is famous for its thick, sweet tomato-based sauces and an obsession with burnt ends, and while I’m…

Why a Turkish Bath Nearly Took My Mole (and My Modesty): Inside Istanbul’s Wildest Hamam Experience

Introduction: When I booked a Turkish bath in Istanbul, I expected steam, serenity, and maybe a soft towel turban for my hair. What I got was a full-body exfoliation that nearly scrubbed my birth year off my skin—and a surprise…

Washington D.C. Smithsonian Tour: What to Visit, See & Eat

Washington, D.C. is home to the world’s largest museum complex—the Smithsonian Institution. With 21 museums and galleries (plus the National Zoo), this cultural powerhouse offers something for everyone: American history buffs, science nerds, art lovers, and curious kids alike. Best…

Why New Bern, NC Should Be Your Next Trip—and Maybe Your Next Home

Nestled where the Trent and Neuse Rivers meet, New Bern, North Carolina, is a coastal gem brimming with Southern charm, rich history, and a lifestyle that effortlessly blends small-town tranquility with cultural sophistication. Founded in 1710, New Bern is the…

Riding New Mexico’s Sandia Peak Tramway: Longest Aerial Tram in the U.S.

Rising above Albuquerque’s rugged high desert and into the pine-topped Sandia Mountains, the Sandia Peak Tramway offers a thrilling ascent to one of the most stunning vistas in the Southwest. As the longest aerial tramway in the United States, this…