Getting There Is Part Of The Fun
If you’ve never taken an Amtrak trip before, it’s worth adding to your travel bucket list. Comfortable, scenic, and budget-friendly, the train ride became part of the adventure. A train ride to Nawlins (New Orleans) is one way to begin the Essence Festival with a bang. I hopped aboard Amtrak for the 7-hour ride to share with you the pros and the cons. Check them out below.
Pros
- Spacious seats: More legroom than a commercial flight and reclining chairs that feel like La-Z-Boy. Perfect for catching some Zs.
- Privacy & comfort: Pull the curtain or pack a sleeping mask if you’re serious about your nap.
- Bring your own food & drinks: Yes, even adult beverages.
- Roomier bathrooms: No airplane shuffle here.
- Stay charged: Outlets are right next to your seat.
- Affordable fares: Book in advance and you’ll save big. My round-trip ticket was only $34!
- Generous baggage policy: Carry what you need without stressing about extra fees.
Cons
- Cold cars: Pack layers or bring a blanket because it can feel like a freezer.
- Delays: Amtrak is known for being late—so plan accordingly.
- Weak WiFi: Don’t rely on it for work or streaming.
- Limited stops: Great if you’re cruising straight through, not so great if you want frequent breaks.
- No smoking: Strictly enforced—keep that in mind if you’re a smoker.
Arriving in New Orleans by train added an extra layer of excitement to my Essence Festival weekend. There’s something about pulling into the station and stepping right into the heartbeat of the city—music, food, culture, and celebration waiting for you at every corner.
Ain’t No Experience Like It
New Orleans is in a class all by itself. The culture, cuisine, people, streetcars, art, St. Charles Avenue, the French Quarter, the Riverwalk, the music, live bands, hospitality, and restaurants—there’s no place quite like it. That’s precisely why the Essence Festival has returned every year since 1995.
If you’ve never been to Essence Fest, here’s the secret: it’s not just a music festival. The real magic unfolds during the day inside the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Imagine the pages of Essence magazine brought to life: fashion, music, arts, culture, finance, wellness, travel, education, giveaways, line dancing, multiple DJs, games, surprise guests, invaluable advice, food, and so much more.
Essence Festival by Day & Night
- Convention Center (Daytime): Friday through Sunday, doors open at 10 AM and close at 6 PM. The energy is electric—workshops, celebrity panels, shopping, and cultural showcases happening all at once.
- Concerts (Nighttime): After 6 PM, the spotlight shifts to the Superdome for unforgettable live performances from top artists.
- Beyond the Festival: Day parties, boat cruises, and legendary all-white parties keep the city buzzing late into the night.
The festival is massive, and without a plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The key? Decide what interests you most before you arrive.
How to Navigate Essence Festival Like a Pro
- Download the Essence Festival App. It’s the best way to schedule the events, forums, and concerts that matter most to you.
- Plan Around Your Priorities. Whether it’s music, fashion, wellness, finance, or entrepreneurship, focus on what excites you.
- Leave Room for Surprises. Some of the best moments are the ones you stumble into—like pop-up performances, giveaways, or celebrity drop-ins.
For me, it was all about personal finance and entrepreneurship (no surprise there!). But that’s the beauty of Essence—you can curate your own experience.
About The Coin
“Your plans will fall apart right in front of you if you fail to get good advice. But if you seek out multiple counselors, you’ll watch your plans succeed.”
— Proverbs 16:22 TPT
One of the best parts of Essence Festival was soaking up wisdom at the Global Black Economic Forum. Yes, I celebrated 50 years of Hip-Hop (and the concerts were amazing), but the real wealth was found in the advice, strategies, and connections shared by podcast hosts, entrepreneurs, multimillionaires, government officials, financial advisors, coaches, and consultants.
While those Hip-Hop legends have their coin, I was laser-focused on my rich, haute housewife coin. The session that spoke to me most was “Expanding Access to Capital for Minority and Female Entrepreneurs.”
Nicholas Perkins—CEO of Fuddruckers and Perkins Management Services Company, and a former SBA 8(a) program participant—sat on the panel. He made history as the first Black person to own a national burger company. His story was powerful, especially when he explained how subsidies and government programs help open doors for minority-owned businesses. It was a reminder that access to capital is a game-changer, and that the right opportunities paired with the right mindset can transform not just a business, but a life.
At the Global Black Economic Forum, I found myself in close proximity to greatness, excellence, and wealth—exactly where I love to be. Please, rub off on me.
Stephanie (Senior Advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris and Deputy Assistant to President Biden) and other government leaders broke down key resources for minority and female entrepreneurs:
This forum was a wake-up call. If you want to benefit from these programs, you can’t afford to operate casually—you need to organize your business legally. Structure creates opportunity.
We also heard from Stephanie Young, the Senior Advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris and Deputy Assistant to President Biden.
Black Culture Thermostat
On day one of Essence Festival, you got to see the one and only Opraaaahhhhhh Winfreyyyyyy. She was there to promote The Color Purple musical with Fantasia, Taraji, Angie, and the director. Auntie Oprah even joked that there should be nothing purple left in American stores by then.
But it wouldn’t be Oprah if she didn’t leave you with gems of wisdom. She’s the ultimate life coach—born into poverty, skipped the middle class, and rose to billionaire status. What she knows for sure is this:
- Any question you have about life is already inside of you.
- You only find the answer by being still.
- If you don’t know what to do, do nothing until the answer rises within.
- Always check your intention—the motivation behind the action.
- Because your intention will always determine your outcome.
For me, the motivating factor behind my actions is clear:
- I AM a rich haute housewife.
- I live a lavish, leisure, luxury lifestyle.
- I don’t trade time for money.
- Most importantly, I break the generational curse of poverty.
Black Culture Abroad
The Essence Festival even focused on black culture abroad. There was a forum on global expansion from a place that is dear to my heart—Ghana, my husband’s homeland.
The panelists, a mix of Africans and African Americans, discussed Ghana’s thriving tourism and film industries. The numbers are impressive: more than 950,000 people visited in 2018 and 1.1 million in 2019. By 2025, projections expect 2 million visitors. I was blessed to be among those visitors in 2019, and I can tell you firsthand—it’s life-changing.
If you’ve never been to Ghana—or Africa at all—you should seriously consider it. Ghana isn’t just a destination—it’s an experience that will transform the way you see culture, history, and yourself. From the castles of Cape Coast to the bustling streets of Accra, every moment is an opportunity to learn, connect, and grow.
With my personalized travel planning services, you’ll have an itinerary crafted around your interests—history, culture, fashion, food, or adventure—so you don’t just visit Ghana, you experience it.
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