A Louisiana Weekend, Solo: Roots, Sparkle, and the Road Back to Me
There are certain seasons that live in your bones.
Even if you move away.
Even if your life changes.
Even if you build a new home somewhere else.
For me, Mardi Gras is one of those seasons.
I’ve called it my “season of sparkle” for as long as I can remember… the weeks when the world feels a little brighter, when music and color and celebration spill into everyday life, and when you’re reminded that joy isn’t something you earn… it’s something you allow.
This year, I’m going back to Louisiana for a long weekend. I’m going solo, because James is working. And while I’ll miss him, there’s something quietly powerful about taking a trip alone. Not lonely. Not dramatic. Just… intentional.
Sometimes you need a little space to hear yourself again.
And sometimes you need a hug from a grandbaby and a deep breath of Louisiana air to remember where you came from.
The Itinerary: A Little Bit of Everything I’ve Been Missing
This weekend is short, but it’s layered in the way the best getaways always are.
I’ll be flying into Baton Rouge, not because it’s the destination most people daydream about, but because it’s the gateway. The starting point. The place you land when you’re headed home to Louisiana in any form.
From there, I’ll spend a couple of nights in St. Francisville, one of my favorite small-town escapes. If you’ve never been, it’s the kind of place that slows you down without asking permission. Moss-draped trees. Historic homes. Quiet mornings. The kind of town where you can sit on a porch with coffee and feel your nervous system unclench.
And then… the grand finale.
I’ll close out my short weekend getaway at a Mardi Gras gala in New Orleans before catching a flight back to Florida.
From small-town calm to big-city sparkle… all in one trip.
It’s Louisiana in a nutshell, really: grounded and glamorous, all at once.
Why I’m Going (and Why It Matters)
There’s a version of me that will always belong to Louisiana.
Not in a nostalgic way, exactly. More like a compass. A baseline. A heartbeat.
Louisiana is where I learned to cook food that comforts people.
Where I learned that celebration can be a survival skill.
Where I learned that family is everything… whether it’s blood, chosen, or the people who show up when life gets hard.
And right now, in this season of my life, I find myself craving those roots more than ever.
I want grandbaby hugs. I want familiar voices. I want to be reminded of the version of myself who came before all the reinvention.
Because as much as I love the life I’m building: the Florida sunshine, the Maine summers, the writing projects, the quiet home routines, there is still a part of me that needs to return to where it all began.
Not to go backward.
Just to remember.
The Funny Thing About “Weekend Getaways”
Lately, I’ve been in a weekend getaway writing groove, and it’s not an accident.
I think the older I get, the more I realize that the most meaningful travel doesn’t always require a passport, a big budget, or a ten-day itinerary.
Sometimes the best kind of travel is the kind that fits into real life.
A weekend.
A quick flight.
A couple of nights somewhere that shifts your perspective.
Because life is busy. Work schedules are real. Family obligations don’t pause. And if you wait until everything is perfectly aligned to take a trip, you may be waiting forever.
So I’ve been leaning into shorter or weekend getaways. The kind that refresh you, restore you, and remind you that you are still allowed to be a person outside of your responsibilities.
And this Louisiana weekend? It’s exactly that.
If You’re Planning Your Own Weekend Escape…
If you’re in your own season of needing a reset (whether you’re dreaming of Louisiana charm, Florida sunshine, or Maine coastal calm) I’ve recently published three new weekend getaway guides over on TravelingMamas that might help you plan something wonderful.
Here they are:
- Weekend Getaway from Baton Rouge (perfect if you’re flying in, road-tripping, or looking for a quick escape that isn’t New Orleans)
- Weekend Getaways in Florida for Couples (for those weekends when you want sunshine, romance, and a little “we should do this more often”)
- Weekend Getaways in Midcoast Maine (for the traveler who wants salty air, quiet towns, and the kind of coastal beauty that makes you breathe deeper)
I’ll be honest: writing these reminded me that I don’t need to choose one place to belong to.
I can love Louisiana for my roots.
Maine for my peace.
Florida for my everyday ease.
And I can build a life that holds all three.
The Road Back to Florida (and the Next Chapter)
After New Orleans, I’ll fly back to Florida, and the timing feels perfect.
Because once I’m home, it’s going to be one of those joyful, full seasons. Friends and family will be coming into town for their own getaways. We’ll be exploring Florida together, showing them our favorite spots, and soaking up the warmth while the rest of the country is still shaking off winter.
And I love that.
I love being the one who gets to say, “Come visit. I’ll show you around.”
I love being able to create that kind of welcome.
But before all of that begins, I’m giving myself this weekend.
This solo trip.
This season of sparkle.
This return to my roots.
A Quiet Promise to Myself
As I pack my bag, I keep thinking about how travel changes meaning depending on the season you’re in.
Sometimes travel is about adventure.
Sometimes it’s about healing.
Sometimes it’s about romance.
Sometimes it’s about coming home.
And sometimes it’s about giving yourself permission to be both the person you were… and the person you are becoming.
So I’m going to Louisiana.
I’m going to soak up the sparkle.
I’m going to hug my grandbabies until my heart feels full again.
I’m going to let St. Francisville slow me down.
I’m going to let New Orleans remind me that joy is still sacred.
And then I’ll come back to Florida, ready for what’s next.
Do you have a place you return to when you need to remember who you are?