Author: Emily Gautreaux

10 Attractions To See Across The World In 2020 Travel

Who’s ready to 2020 travel? The world has so much to offer that sometimes it can be hard to figure out where to go first. Travel and Leisure compiled a list of the most popular attractions in the world, according to TripAdvisor.

While most of the top ten were in European cities, two American destinations finally made the list in addition to the Statue of Liberty. The New Orleans’ French Quarter came in at number seven and the Skydeck Chicago at the Willis Tower came in number nine. Last year, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge came in at number seven but didn’t make the list this year.

The most popular attraction for the second year in a row was the Italian landmark the Colosseum in Rome, Italy. Turns out, travelers love to feast on pasta and gelato with a side of Roman history.

If you decide to add the Colosseum to your must-see list, get the most in-depth experience without the crowds by going underground. In a blog post, TripAdvisor said “For a behind-the-scenes experience, try an underground tour to gain access to restricted parts of the Colosseum visitors can’t normally enter.”

““This was an incredible tour and I was so excited to get to places most people don’t see. We went out onto the ‘stage’ and underground was fascinating. You could really get [a] feel for how things might have worked way back in the day. After that, we walked up and around, and to my surprise, she unlocked a door and we got to go even further up than anyone else!” said one traveler about their experience on the tour.

TripAdvisor found that the top five attractions for 2020 travel included:

The Louvre Museum in Paris

“Usually younger kids may get bored easily about art and history(Even though they would be so excited at the beginning), so having an activity like treasure hunt in such a big museum would arouse their interest. My son had a great fun, and I can say it’s a big success!”

The Statue of Liberty in New York City

“History and humor told in an energetic way combined to make our day memorable. We highly recommend this day tour for seeing more than one could without a professional guide.”

The Eiffel Tower in Paris

“What a beautiful and iconic backdrop of Paris. One of the most romantic of destinations and place of most visited tourist attractions. The atmosphere at this location is just amazing and out of the world. The place is buzzing with people of all ages and nationality and the view in the evening with the sun setting and glittering lights shining on this iconic Eiffel Tower is mesmerizing!”

The Vatican Museums of Rome

“I am not Catholic or follow any religion, but enjoyed the fact that people from all around the world can come together and smile and sing together. Great experience. Guide was very good too.”

Rounding out the list are the attractions:

The Anne Frank Housein Amsterdam

The French Quarter in New Orleans

The Skydeck at the Willis Tower in Chicago

The Piazza San Marco in Venice

The Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

“Iconic and historic sites from around the world will always be popular destinations for travelers, but they’re popular for a reason,” Laurel Greatrix, a TripAdvisor spokesperson, said in a statement. “These are some of the most historic and memorable sites in the world. Whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, there are plenty of interesting ways to see these sites, like an underground tour of the Colosseum, a family treasure hunt at the Louvre, or even a prime view of the Pope’s weekly address.”

So whether you’re planning a trip to Europe or staying in the States for your 2020 travels, there are plenty of top attractions for you to explore.

For more travel related news and information, click here.

 

Louisiana Department of Education Releases 2020 Census Toolkit

On February 18, the Louisiana Department of Education and the United States Census Bureau partnered to release an online census toolkit of resources. This toolkit is designed to help teachers and families effectively communicate the importance of the 2020 Census to students and children across Louisiana.

The toolkit is available at louisianabelieves.com and includes a variety of informational resources, such as

  • Flyers
  • Statistics
  • Videos

It also includes a set of grade appropriate learning activities, from analyzing career statistics for high schoolers to counting for pre-kindergartners.

State Superintendent John White, states “We are proud to partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure every child counts in Louisiana.  complete and accurate census is critical for all communities, as the results affect various aspects of education, from offering affordable, healthy school lunch options to providing high-quality early care and education to supporting historically disadvantaged students and their families.”

Every ten years, the Constitution mandates a census – or count – of the population in the United States. This includes the population of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. Beginning in March, each home across the country will receive invitations to complete the 2020 Census. Once the invitation is received, respondents can choose to complete the Census by phone, mail, or, for the first time ever, online.

Responses from the Census are confidential and anonymous, and are not viewed or used by law enforcement or any other organization entity that is not that United States Census Bureau.

Every household should fill out the Census for a multitude of reasons:

  • It determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress.
  • The information is used to redraw district boundaries.
  • Census statistics help communities plan for resident needs, like new roads, schools, and emergency services.
  • Census data is used by businesses to find out where to open new shopping malls/locations.

Every year, the federal government releases more than $675 billion to states and communities based on the Census Bureau data. Unfortunately, Census participation has decreased overtime.

For example, in 2000, 68 percent of questionnaires were mailed back to the Census Bureau by the Louisiana households that received them. However, in 2010 that rate decreased to 65%. During that same year, no more than 75 percent of households throughout each parish mailed back their Census. Ouachita Parish had the highest rate at 74 percent and Tensas Parish had the lowest at 44 percent.

The U.S. Census Bureau is the federal government’s largest statistical agency. They are dedicated to providing current facts and figures about America’s people, places, and economy. Federal law protects the confidentiality of all individual responses the Census Bureau collects.

Census background: Thomas Jefferson directed the first decennial census in 1790. As required by the U.S. Constitution, a census has been taken every 10 years thereafter. In 1840, the Census Act authorized the establishment of a centralized Census Office. In 1902, the Census Office became a permanent organization within the Department of the Interior. A year later, it was renamed the Bureau of the Census and moved to the new Department of Commerce and Labor.

For more education related information, click here

The Best Salmon Recipes For Your Busy Week

I’m sure you’ve heard about the health benefits of salmon. Not only is this fish absolutely delicious, but it also boosts your immune system, is a great source of protein, improves brain function, increase your heart health, aid in weight loss, strengthen your bones, and help with inflammation, among other things. So the real question is – why haven’t you incorporated salmon in your diet sooner? Below is a list of some delicious salmon recipes that are sure to get your family’s approval and help you get healthier.

Pan Seared Salmon Recipe

“Simply seasoned with salt and pepper, these salmon fillets are pan seared with capers, and garnished with slices of lemon.”

Grilled Salmon with Avocado Dip

“This dip fits perfectly with grilled salmon. Serve with rice. Greek style yogurt is a bit more sour than regular plain yogurt.”

Chef John’s Salmon

“I love the combination of tarragon and Italian parsley, but I’ve used herbs like basil and thyme, which worked wonderfully as well. As far as the fish goes, a center-cut salmon filet is a perfect thickness for this, but other similarly shaped seafood will work.”

Sesame Grilled Salmon Recipe

“Delicious grilled salmon. A very flavorful main dish. Great when served with grilled yellow bell peppers, green beans, and wild rice with herbs.”

Baked Dijon Salmon

“This is a wonderful way to prepare fresh salmon fillets in the oven. Be sure to make extra, your family will be begging for more!”

Lemon Dill Salmon with Garlic, White Wine, and Butter Sauce

“I had a craving for fresh fish and dill, so I played around and came up with this. It’s been rated one of my greatest hits! Great with rice or potatoes and steamed green beans.”

Citrus Baked Fish

“Salmon works best in this citrus-flavored dish.”

Smokey Salmon

“Salmon grilled with a light seasoning of spices with the sweetness of maple syrup! I served it with rice and baby carrots.”

Paleo Pecan-Maple Salmon

“This recipe is not only easy but healthy and tasty! Paleo, gluten-free and dairy-free!”

Lemon Pepper Salmon

“Simple, tasty and fast! Salmon is sauteed with all ingredients at once, and served over couscous. Great with a spinach salad.”

Pepper-Honey Cedar Plank Salmon

“I live in Alaska and have 3 sons that love to fish. I have had to come up with some pretty creative ways to prepare salmon, this is by far my family and friends favorite way to eat fresh salmon. I soak an untreated cedar plank in water and bourbon while they are out fishing for the day and fix the barbeque sauce so that it is ready to get grilling…..”

Alaska Salmon Bake with Pecan Crunch Coating

“I am completely addicted to this! I used already prepared honey mustard (I bought from tastefully simple), mixed the bread crumbs in with the mustard mixture it was FANTASTIC! Thank goodness my Dad goes Salmon fishing & shares his catch with me (it’s best with fresh Salmon).”

For more delicious recipes, click here.

Tulane University Reaches Record Early Decision Applications

Tulane University has become the preferred university for a rising number of the United State’s top students. Since the program was launched in 2016, Early Decision admissions applications have risen 35% of the last year and have doubled since the program launch according to undergraduate admissions data.

Tulane President Mike Fitts said. “Tulane’s growing academic reputation, its innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum, its world-class faculty, its unique academic structure and its location in one of the nation’s most culturally rich cities are some of the many reasons that Tulane is becoming the first-choice, dream school for so many students. We’re also ‘right-sized.’ We’re large enough to support a major research mission, yet small enough to foster one-on-one mentor relationships between students and faculty.”

Tulane’s vice president of enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admission, Satyajit Dattagupta, projects that in 2024, about half the class of the first-year students this fall, will be Early Decision applicants. If a student is accepted as an Early Decision applicant, they agree to enroll in the school they were accepted, which means turning down any offers from other universities.

“Tulane is a brand that is recognized nationally and worldwide. It’s one of the best investments students can make, because the return is exponentially higher than the investment.” said Satyajit Dattagupta.

He also stated that today’s students require a higher level of standard from their preferred colleges and universities. Students who excelled in school have more options for their higher education, and want to be sure that universities live up to their projected standard. Of the accepted Early Decision applicants, about 10% will be international students, which demonstrates another area of growth for the university.

“It’s not surprising, but very reassuring to see that students consider Tulane as their first preference,” he added.

Overall, Tulane has seen a rise in undergraduate applications, with more than 43,000 applications for the incoming fall semester. This is up from 41,365 from last year. Dattagupta projects that the number of students accepted into Tulane compared to the number of who applied to the university will be around 12 percent.

Last year, Tulane was ranked in number 40 in the country’s top national universities in the most recent edition of the U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings, which was released in September of 2019. U.S. News and World Report also ranked the university’s undergraduate business program 43rd in the nation, and ranked Tulane in 3rd place in Service Learning, number 18 for best college for veterans, and number 42 for most innovative schools.

“There’s no ‘perfect’ university, but there are certain institutions that can be a ‘perfect’ fit for some students. The transformational journey that Tulane provides is unparalleled: academic flexibility, excellence [and] access — combined with our commitment to community service, in the most interesting city in the whole world — I think that message has resonated with our students.”” Dattagupta added.

For more education related information, click here.

 

Eight Cheap and Easy Dinner Recipes

Sometimes it can be hard to find recipes for delicious meals that won’t break the bank. A simple trick to reduce the price at the end of your receipt is to choose cheaper protein options like ground beef, chicken, or using beans in place of meat.  Regardless of your diet, check out these great-tasting, cheap and easy dinner recipes from Delish that will make you want to never eat out again (or for a while, at least)!

Tex-Mex Balls

Delicious on a sub, over spaghetti, or by themselves!

“It was perfect on hero bread and the sauce was AMAZING. I’m sure it would taste delish over spaghetti as well. This is a keeper in my house.”

Classic Calzones

This recipe is perfect for getting the whole family involved in making dinner. Just set out the ingredients, then pop in the oven when everyone is done. Easy, fun, and yummy!

“My daughter and I made the pepperoni calzones and I must say it was very easy and very tasty.”

Cilantro Lime Chicken

Cilantro and lime are the perfect pair, especially in this easy chicken dish. Pair with a side of roasted veggies or mashed potatoes for a well-rounded meal!

“One of our favorite recipes. Easy to double but I do have to cook it in two batches, so takes a bit longer. I do sometimes add more lime and cilantro than the recipe calls for because we love the combo.”

Better-Than-Takeout Beef and Broccoli

Once you try this dish, you’ll never crave take-out again!

“Very tasty and easy to make.  It was a hit in my house and the leftovers heated up quite well.”

Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp

Get ready to pull out your air fryer for this perfectly crispy shrimp that pairs well with spicy mayo. Best. Shrimp. Ever.

“This was so delicious! I did have to adjust the time to about 7 minutes as the first batch was just a little over done. Thanks for the recipe.”

Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken

This pretzel coated chicken recipe leaves you with perfectly crunchy chicken that only gets better when dipped in honey mustard. It’s the best of both worlds!

“Truly delish!”

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Who wants an easy and cheap alternative to taco Tuesdays? For this recipe, all you have to do is combine everything in one pot and set it to cook for the day. Easiest dinner ever!

“This is by far the best chicken tortilla soup I have ever had! My husband and I both absolutely loved it and I am going shopping today for ingredients to make it again. My mouth is watering just thinking about it!”

Easy Cajun Jambalaya

Get ready to be transported to Louisiana because this Jambalaya has all the key elements of true Creole cuisine!

“This turned out great! Followed the recipe and it came out perfect. Super easy to make and full of flavor. Will definitely make this again.”

For more delicious recipes, click here.

 

Things to do in Ascension Parish

It seems like everyone knows about Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but what about what is in between them? Ascension Parish is the perfect melting pot of Native American, Spanish, French, German, Italian, English, African, and Acadian cultures. You’ll find a place where 500 years of history, culture, and tradition have mingled and thrived, leaving unbelievable sights, traditions, and experiences.

Louisiana Travel created a list of the best things to do in Ascension Parish that let every visitor get a taste of its unique culture and culinary traditions.

The Crown Jewel of Louisiana’s River Road

Experience life on a sugarcane plantation in the 1800s at the Houmas House and Gardens. You’ll find a mansion that’s been restored to the antebellum era, which reflects the wealth of the sugarcane farm in its youth. Take a guided mansion tour to explore its 250-year history and learn about the evolution of the structures and style of the mansion, as well as how it became a grand estate. Artwork around the house reflects the plantation life.

Aside from being the oldest and most beautiful estate in the South, Houmas House and Gardens is home to Latil’s Landing Restaurant, The Carriage House Restaurant, and Cafe Burnside. The chef, Jeremy Langlois, has mastered the art of creating delicious recipes utilizing the freshest local ingredients and giving his guests an unforgettable culinary experience.

Donaldsonville’s Historic Portal to the Past

Prefer to explore on your own terms? No problem at all. Experience a blast to the past in Donaldsonville at your own pace by visiting this portal map where you can find seven self-guided portals in the Historic District. You can start anywhere you like, and the route is about 2.5 miles. You can walk, bike, or explore by car! Learn more about Donaldsonville!

Louisiana’s First State Capitol

Donaldsonville, which served as Louisiana’s first state capital from 1829-1831, is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Head to the Historic District to learn about the diverse histories of past Donaldsonville occupants that deserve to be heard. The River Road African American Museum, located on Railroad Avenue, is the perfect place to start. This museum preserves, collects, and exhibits all types of art, artifacts, and buildings as they relate to the history and culture of the African American communities along the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans.

Head to Farmer Dave’s Frame Shop to see and purchase the art of a local Donaldsonville artist, Alvin Batiste, who focuses his art on life along the Mississippi.

Find the Jambalaya Capital of the World

Jambalaya is a Cajun or Creole dish (depending on the ingredients you use) that is a combination of various meat, rice, vegetables, and seasonings all combined into one pot to make a delicious meal.

Sound yummy? You can head to Gonzalez, Louisiana and eat your way through the annual Jambalaya Festival and World Champion Jambalaya Cooking Contest. Louisianan’s pride themselves on their culinary skills that pay tribute to their culture and heritage, so be prepared for Jambalaya cooked to perfection.

For more Louisiana related articles, click here.