Ohio to New Orleans to Texas to Grand Canyon etc

You didn't say when you were going, but Mardi Gras in New Orleans is Feb 17th in 2015. That's the end of a 10 day party in the streets. I loved it, but I was a lot younger then and I had a place to stay. An aircraft carrier parked at the foot of Canal Street. I was in the Navy then and our carrier served as sleeping quarters for all the marching bands in the parades. 2,000 cots set up in the hangar bay. N'awlins sure knows how to have a good time.