French Quarter

The French Quarter of New Orleans is what most tourists come to see when they visit the city. Set along a bend on the Mississippi River, the main attraction here is the architecture, but it is also a great area for dining and entertainment. The old buildings, some of which date back 300 years, show French influences, with arcades, wrought iron balconies, red-tiled roofs, and picturesque courtyards. Many of these buildings now contain hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, galleries, and a profusion of jazz spots with entertainment of varying quality.

The most famous street in the French Quarter is Bourbon Street, but it is not necessarily the highlight of the area. This street is relatively benign by day but at night transforms into a loud and boisterous pedestrian area that may not always feel safe. Royal Street offers a great mix of history, fine cuisine, and unique shopping opportunities, with some higher end stores, galleries, and hotels. One of the notable buildings on Royal Street is the Court of Two Sisters (1832), now a restaurant known for its jazz brunch. To hear some quality musicians playing traditional jazz music, Frenchmen Street is the place to go. Good restaurants can also be found along here, and artists frequent the area.

Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is New Orleans’ signature event, with celebrations that span a two-week period, ending with the finale on shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Celebrations include almost daily parades and all kinds of entertainment and festivities that increase in intensity as the event draws closer to the end. Onlookers crowd the balconies and sidewalks to watch the parades and catch strings of beaded necklaces tossed from the outrageously decorated floats. Bourbon Street is one of the main areas where people congregate, but the whole French Quarter is generally packed. The tradition was introduced to the city by French settlers and became particularly popular by the end of the 19th century.

Jackson Square

Jackson Square is the main square in the heart of the French Quarter, originally known as Place d’Armes. In the center of the square, surrounded by trees and greenery, is an equestrian statue (1856) of General Andrew Jackson. Standing prominently at one end of the square is the landmark St. Louis Cathedral, with its white façade and cone shaped spires. Also in the vicinity of the cathedral are the Presbytere and Cabildo, both Louisiana State Museums. The area in front of the cathedral, along the iron fence that surrounds the square, has long been an artist’s hang out, and nearby are shops and restaurants, making it a popular spot for tourists.

Preservation Hall

Preservation Hall is an unassuming old building that has long been an institution in New Orleans known for jazz music. The historic hall still features traditional jazz by local artists. The building is small, creating an intimate setting, and seating is limited. Opening times and events are listed on the door each day, so if you are walking past in the afternoon you can see what’s happening in the evening.

St Louis Cathedral

On the north side of Jackson Square is the St Louis Cathedral, a landmark structure in New Orleans. It was built in 1794 on the site of two earlier churches and is known for being the United States’ oldest cathedral in continuous use. Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in 1987. The church was built through contributions from Don Andres Almonester de Roxas, a Frenchman who spent money from his fortune to rebuild New Orleans after the second great fire.

Louisiana State Museum at the Cabildo

The Cabildo, to the left of St. Louis Cathedral, was built in 1795 as the residence of the Spanish governor. It is noteworthy both as a historic building and for the museum and its outstanding collection. The first town council met here in 1799, and the Louisiana Purchase was agreed to here in 1803. It was at one time the Louisiana Supreme Court, but today the Cabildo houses the Louisiana State Museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum’s collections focus largely on the history of New Orleans and Louisiana, particularly the people of Louisiana and the many ethnic groups that make up the population today.

Garden District

The Garden District is a prosperous residential area with lovely mansions, mature trees, and lush gardens, and is probably, in some respects, the stereotypical image many foreigners have of the Deep South. The area can be easily explored on foot and some companies offer guided tours, which can be a good way to learn the history and see the sights. First Street, Camp Street, and Prytania Street are some good places to see large, elegant 19th-century houses with extensive grounds. Some famous celebrities have homes in this area. Most visitors come to enjoy the tranquil environment and see the houses, but there are also boutiques and coffee shops in the area, although they are spread out, and finding a lunch spot may be more difficult than expected.

Steamboat Natchez

A cruise on the paddle steamer Steamboat Natchez is a wonderful way to experience the Mississippi River and a unique way to see and learn about the city. The harbor cruises take about two hours and provide narration on the sites, with an optional lunch of creole cuisine. The dinner cruise features a live jazz band, buffet-style dinner, and of course, wonderful views of New Orleans.

Mardi Gras World

New Orleans is world famous for its elaborate Mardi Gras celebrations, drawing people from all over the world who come to enjoy the festivities that consume the city during this time period. For a glimpse of what’s involved behind the scenes in this huge event, visitors can take a Mardi Gras World tour to see working studios. The Blaine Kern Studios is one of the leading producers of floats in the world and is highly involved in the Mardi Gras Parade in New Orleans each year. Visitors can see sculptured props, huge floats, outrageous costumes, and all kinds of figures. This is a great way to gain a good sense of the size, color, and imagination that goes into the floats and the parade. Guided tours are offered regularly each day through the workshops where artists and sculptors work.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Along the waterfront in downtown New Orleans, within walking distance of the French Quarter, the aquarium focuses on species found in North, Central, and South America. Beginning in the north, visitors can learn about creatures that lurk below the surface of the nearby surrounding waters, with exhibits that highlight freshwater fish of the Mississippi River and marine life from the Gulf of Mexico. This includes everything from sharks and stingrays to sea turtles. The Great Maya Reef can be viewed from a 30-foot-long walk-through tunnel and is designed to look like a sunken Maya city, with fish swimming among the ruins. The Amazon Rainforest offers a look at the colorful birds, exotic fish, and even the snakes of this region of South America.

Audubon Zoo

The Audubon Zoo is a fun escape from the busy city, with lush grounds and a good selection of domestic and exotic animals. Located in Uptown New Orleans, the zoo is a fair distance from the French Quarter but provides a good excuse to see this part of the city. Some of the most popular residents of the zoo are the giraffes, jaguars, leopards, orangutans, elephants, rhinos, lemurs, and alligators (including the rare white alligator) just to name a few..During the summer months, the zoo offers a chance to cool off in the splash park, known as the Cool Zoo.

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve consists of six physically separate sites in southeastern Louisiana. Two of these sites are in the New Orleans area and are well worth a visit. The Barataria Preserve offers a chance to see some of Louisiana’s natural treasures. The preserve consists of natural levee forests, bayous, swamps, and marshes. Archeological sites here have been found to contain remnants of the ancient Troyville, Marksville, and Tchefuncte cultures.