Closing Night in New Orleans: Mardi Gras World and a Week Well Spent

There's no better way to end a conference than among giants. Our farewell evening took us to Mardi Gras World, where the parade floats live between celebrations — jesters and queens, dragons and skeletons, all painted in colors loud enough to match the city itself.

I walked among them with beads around my neck and thought about what this week really gave me: new tools to explore, new colleagues who love this work as much as I do, and a fresh reminder that the best trips aren't just itineraries. They're the moments that surprise you — a workshop conversation that turns into a friendship, a city that greets you with music and color at every turn.

New Orleans, you were a delight. If this city is on your list, let's talk — I'll get back to you promptly and help you see it the way it deserves to be seen.

— Vickie Johnson, Kokopelli Travel