Rural Mardi Gras AND Our Australian TV Debut!

Don't get us wrong - we LOVE New Orleans.

But the thought of wading into a Big Easy Mardi Gras is something better left to young whippersnappers. We took the rural route and learned about the wonderful goings-on in Cajun Country - what they call the REAL Mardi Gras!

Courir de Mardi Gras involves costumed men dancing on horseback, begging, and chicken chasing!

La Grande Boucherie des Cajuns A tradition older than Mardi Gras, is a communal hog butcher and meat fest.

Fais do-do See what Cajuns do once the kids go to bed... CONTINUE READING >>

Also on GypsyNester.com this week:

Our Australian TV Debut!

We were surprised by a TV crew on Valentines Day after  our maiden skydive in Queensland, Australia! We were totally thrown off guard – proven by how completely wind-blown we are!… Enlarge video and leave us a comment >>

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Pumped for Pumpkin Fest

It's small town America at her best - The Sycamore Pumpkin Fest! This little town's population doubles each year - and rightly so - as they roll out the Halloween red carpet.

Join us as we attend the pumpkin weigh-in, get scared snotless while playing Zombie Miniature Golf, take in a great parade, and listen to spooky stories in a cemetery! And get awesome ideas for YOUR jack-o'-lantern at the humongous display on the courthouse lawn.

Oh - and watch what happens when Veronica enters the pie eating contest... CONTINUE READING >>

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A Renewed Faith in Humanity From a Simple Gesture

Have you ever found the PERFECT Birthday Card? The absolute ONLY one that will make the receiver's day?

We had been carting this card around with us for quite some time - months. That's what we do, when we find the ideal card for one of our family or friends we buy it, no matter how long it may be until the occasion that it celebrates. This one was perfect for our oldest, The notoriously carrot-hating Piglet.

Flash forward to a sunny, wildly windy day in Lafayette, Louisiana, a parade of dogs and a birthday card for our eldest to be mailed. What a pretty picture. And it was, until I noticed that the card was no longer in my coat pocket... CONTINUE READING >>

12 Must-See Festivals in the US

We LOVE a festival! Tag the word "fest" on the end of anything and we're there!

Here are 12 of the wildest, wackiest, over-the-top or just plain fabulous celebrations that we've seen!...
CONTINUE READING >> 

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Swept off Our Feet at the Broom Corn Festival

Driving through the middle of America in early autumn meant we were bound to stumble upon some sort of fair or festival.

But we never expected to find one dedicated to something that we had never heard of... CONTINUE READING >> 

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Navel Gazing in Cusco, Peru

Dubbed the Navel of the World, Cusco is an amazing blend of the very-old and the not-as-old.

Join your GypsyNesters as we see the sights (and sights) - see ancient ruins, a street festival with an ornery llama, crossing guards that threaten you with whips  and the weirdest rendition of The Last Supper you'll ever experience.

At over 11,000 feet above sea level, flying in takes steely reserve and handling the altitude takes native remedies... CONTINUE READING >> 

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A Renewed Faith in Humanity From a Simple Gesture

Have you ever found the PERFECT Birthday Card? The absolute ONLY one that will make the receiver's day?

We had been carting this card around with us for quite some time - months. That's what we do, when we find the ideal card for one of our family or friends we buy it, no matter how long it may be until the occasion that it celebrates. This one was perfect for our oldest, The notoriously carrot-hating Piglet.

Flash forward to a sunny, wildly windy day in Lafayette, Louisiana, a parade of dogs and a birthday card for our eldest to be mailed. What a pretty picture. And it was, until I noticed that the card was no longer in my coat pocket... CONTINUE READING >>

Finding Gullah

The day of the Hilton Head Island Gullah Celebration dawned blustery, but we were not to be deterred. We drove through the precipitation to the prescribed point, only to find that the Freedom Day Parade was not only deterred, but detoured, deferred, delayed, diverted, disassembled, and finally... CONTINUE READING >>

The World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade

The town really decks out, dying the famous fountains of healing waters kelly green. Historic Bridge Street, the shortest street in America in daily use, is cordoned off. The entire route covers a mere ninety-eight feet.

Each year a fabulous celebrity Grand Marshal is chosen. This year Bo Derek showed everyone... CONTINUE READING >> 

To Bean or Not to Bean, Is That Even a Question?

As the leaves begin to turn red and gold deep in the Ozarks, excitement starts to build. Competitors check and double check recipes. Others put the final tweaks on their racing machines. Before long, the aroma of beans and outhouses fill the mountain air -- it's time for the Annual Arkansas Bean Fest and Great Championship Outhouse Races. This fest had GypsyNester written all over it. How could we possibly resist?

The festivities, as with... CONTINUE READING >>

The Big Easy Street Theater

Every visitor with a soul develops a soft spot for New Orleans. The charm, history, music, food and mischief that define The Big Easy make it impossible not to be captivated.

As we always do, we began the day at Cafe Du Monde. Megadoses of sugar, grease and caffeine -- what more could we need to fuel the day's explorations? Beignets devoured and coffee swilled, we proceeded to take on the town.

Admittedly, some of the French Quarter's appeal isn't as ...  read more

The Celebrated Oysterfest of Fulton, Texas

We didn't head for the Gulf of Mexico with oysters on the brain. In fact, we had no idea Oysterfest was about to kick off until after we arrived. We just heard the sound of the sea and followed it. The rest was good old-fashioned dumb luck. When it comes to finding fests, we seem to have a lot of that sort of good fortune.

But first, we wanted to see the “real”...  read more