Here's some proof that we actually went out of town, specifically to the French Quarter. Our travel plans changed when Amtrak called the day before our planned departure to say that no trains could get through the 8' snow drifts in Iowa. We booked a rental (a Nice! Nissan Altima) and drove. This was the closest we came to meandering that we have come on any of our vacations. It was so nice to be out on the plains and drive through east Texas. We got acquainted with New Orleans and since we weren't mugged, we plan to go back sometime and do some more exploring.