my friends and i are bringing our younger siblings who are still in high school to new orleans for spring break on the first of april and i want to know what it is they will be able to do outside of the french quarter.
There is a common belief the French Quarter is an adults-only area but that isn’t true. The strip clubs on Bourbon Street (the first 5 blocks starting at Canal Street) have outdoor advetising that is very risque’, but the rest of the FQ is fine. The FQ is a neighborhood (about 90 blocks in size) and there are actually quite a few family-friendly things to do in the FQ and around New Orleans.
There are many tours offered and examples are:
www.graylineneworleans.com
www.hauntedhistorytours.com
http://www.saveourcemeteries.org/tours/index.htm
Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year: www.nola.com/festivals
The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a "tourist attraction" in its own right. It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines: www.norta.com
Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions).
There are many tours, and an example is: http://www.graylineneworleans.com/
Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park).
The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com). The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.). Magazine Street is a miles-long shopping district: www.magazinestreet.com
Louisiana is the only US state that offers tax-free shopping for international visitors: http://www.louisianataxfree.com/
The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com).
Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome: www.preservationhall.com
New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre:
www.nobadance.com
www.neworleansopera.org
www.lpomusic.com
www.lepetittheatre.com
There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_street_ferry
The Aquarium, and Audubon Zoo are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. The Zoo is several miles from downtown. You can drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter.
The Louisiana State Museum is in the French Quarter: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/ New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking. Go to www.neworleansmuseums.com for info on more museums.
New Orleans City Park has a variety of attractions, including golf and an amusement park with rides and attractions for children + free parking.
Check www.frenchquarter.com and http://www.nola.com/visitor/ for ideas about other things to do.
A few restaurant suggestions:
Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn’t miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d’Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry.
The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and offers traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to sometime in August each year.
Maximo’s Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, (504) 586-8883.
All of the famous restaurants (Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends.
Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices: www.tujaguesrestaurant.com
Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635).
The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: www.napoleonhouse.com
The weekly newspaper “Gambit” has a dining guide: http://bestofneworleans.com/gyrobase/
More restaurant suggestions:
http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Restaurants/
———————————————–
Things for adults to do in New Orleans:
There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music.
Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set " of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell - not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can’t be any confusion at the end of the evening.
An incomplete guide to bars & clubs:
www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com
http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Nightlife/
About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.
Harrah’s Casino is in the Central Business District: www.harrahs.com (age 21 required for entry)
I hope you have a great time!
my friends and i are bringing our younger siblings who are still in high school to new orleans for spring break on the first of april and i want to know what it is they will be able to do outside of the french quarter.
There is a common belief the French Quarter is an adults-only area but that isn’t true. The strip clubs on Bourbon Street (the first 5 blocks starting at Canal Street) have outdoor advetising that is very risque’, but the rest of the FQ is fine. The FQ is a neighborhood (about 90 blocks in size) and there are actually quite a few family-friendly things to do in the FQ and around New Orleans.
There are many tours offered and examples are:
www.graylineneworleans.com
www.hauntedhistorytours.com
http://www.saveourcemeteries.org/tours/index.htm
Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year: www.nola.com/festivals
The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a "tourist attraction" in its own right. It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines: www.norta.com
Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions).
There are many tours, and an example is: http://www.graylineneworleans.com/
Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park).
The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com). The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.). Magazine Street is a miles-long shopping district: www.magazinestreet.com
Louisiana is the only US state that offers tax-free shopping for international visitors: http://www.louisianataxfree.com/
The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com).
Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome: www.preservationhall.com
New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre:
www.nobadance.com
www.neworleansopera.org
www.lpomusic.com
www.lepetittheatre.com
There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_street_ferry
The Aquarium, and Audubon Zoo are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. The Zoo is several miles from downtown. You can drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter.
The Louisiana State Museum is in the French Quarter: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/ New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking. Go to www.neworleansmuseums.com for info on more museums.
New Orleans City Park has a variety of attractions, including golf and an amusement park with rides and attractions for children + free parking.
Check www.frenchquarter.com and http://www.nola.com/visitor/ for ideas about other things to do.
A few restaurant suggestions:
Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn’t miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d’Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry.
The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and offers traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to sometime in August each year.
Maximo’s Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, (504) 586-8883.
All of the famous restaurants (Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends.
Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices: www.tujaguesrestaurant.com
Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635).
The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: www.napoleonhouse.com
The weekly newspaper “Gambit” has a dining guide: http://bestofneworleans.com/gyrobase/
More restaurant suggestions:
http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Restaurants/
———————————————–
Things for adults to do in New Orleans:
There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music.
Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set " of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell - not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can’t be any confusion at the end of the evening.
An incomplete guide to bars & clubs:
www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com
http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Nightlife/
About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.
Harrah’s Casino is in the Central Business District: www.harrahs.com (age 21 required for entry)
I hope you have a great time!
I am going this Friday and want to go on the tour that is the best with Haunted History tours. I love Anne Rice’s Vampire stories, but I’m sure I can find the movie and book sites on my own. Is the Vampire tour more than this? I want the most bang for my buck.
vampire tour is great..but the ghost tour is more realistic. i got way more freaked out from ghost than vampire.
I’m very proud of my state’s beauty and culture. Sometimes the way Louisiana is portrayed on the big screen is irritating but funny at times, such as ‘ Water Boy ‘. But as far as that, Louisiana has unique foods (Crawfish , boudin, Gumbos,very big on seafood, Love lots of flavor and spice, One of the national famous Louisiana Hot sauces is manufactured in Avery Island,30 mins from my residence ,etc) , Culture (Cajun & Creole French culture, Acadian) , Festivities (Festival International, Mardi Gras, etc)
Beautiful Sceneries, such as the Bayous, Swamps, Cypress trees, historic houses and towns ex., New orleans, New Iberia,etc.
Just to give you a little mental tour, but I would love to know what others think! : ) !
laissez les bons temps roulez !! Let the good time roll!!
Yes I want honest answers, as someone asked earlier. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I asked the question, so answer it. This little detail is just to the people who thinks they’re offending me. I take the igonorance with the intelligence : )
I’m from NJ originally (don’t live there now) my wife is from LA,and I like it. Though I can’t go there in the summer because of the red bugs.What I like best are the people there.We’ll be going down there in Feb or March.
I am going this Friday and want to go on the tour that is the best with Haunted History tours. I love Anne Rice’s Vampire stories, but I’m sure I can find the movie and book sites on my own. Is the Vampire tour more than this? I want the most bang for my buck.
vampire tour is great..but the ghost tour is more realistic. i got way more freaked out from ghost than vampire.
I’m very proud of my state’s beauty and culture. Sometimes the way Louisiana is portrayed on the big screen is irritating but funny at times, such as ‘ Water Boy ‘. But as far as that, Louisiana has unique foods (Crawfish , boudin, Gumbos,very big on seafood, Love lots of flavor and spice, One of the national famous Louisiana Hot sauces is manufactured in Avery Island,30 mins from my residence ,etc) , Culture (Cajun & Creole French culture, Acadian) , Festivities (Festival International, Mardi Gras, etc)
Beautiful Sceneries, such as the Bayous, Swamps, Cypress trees, historic houses and towns ex., New orleans, New Iberia,etc.
Just to give you a little mental tour, but I would love to know what others think! : ) !
laissez les bons temps roulez !! Let the good time roll!!
Yes I want honest answers, as someone asked earlier. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I asked the question, so answer it. This little detail is just to the people who thinks they’re offending me. I take the igonorance with the intelligence : )
I’m from NJ originally (don’t live there now) my wife is from LA,and I like it. Though I can’t go there in the summer because of the red bugs.What I like best are the people there.We’ll be going down there in Feb or March.
I am wondering which hotel I should stay at during Mardi Gras? Did you stay there? Is it nice? How far from Bourbon St? Was it an expensive hotel? Also if you know a hotel I should avoid, please let me know and explain your experience at that hotel. Thanks
The best areas to stay in for Mardi Gras are the French Quarter, Central Business District and Warehouse District (best is the FQ). That way you can use your hotel as a base and enjoy the almost 24/7 street party that is Mardi Gras for the last 5 days of the celebrations. Note that Mardi Gras Day is February 16th in 2010, and MGD is the LAST day of Carnival - not the first or only day.
"Cheap" is probably not realistic. Check the travel sites (expedia, travelocity, etc.) and also check the hotel websites. Go to www.frenchquarterhotels.com for some non-chain hotels in the FQ. Many hotels have a multi-night minimum stay during the last 5 days of Carnival, so call the hotel and talk to a human if you have problems booking online. DON’T try to stay way outside the city to save money, assuming you can drive downtown every day. Traffic & parking are the worst problems during Carnival and it’s a recipe for having your car towed away for a violation.
The only hotel I know of in the city center that you should avoid is the Canal Street Hotel at 1630 Canal Street. It used to be a Day’s Inn and has fallen on hard times since it stopped being part of the national chain.
Go to www.mardigras.com and www.mardigrasguide.com for more info, and the FAQ section may be particularly useful.
Regarding safety, it is a myth that violent crime increases during Carnival in New Orleans. The crowds become very, very thick and there is a chance of being the victim of a pick-pocket (no one I actually know has ever had a problem), so keep ID, cash, & credit cards in a front pocket rather than in a wallet (or purse).
The main danger in New Orleans during Carnival (apart from hangovers) is being towed by Parking Control. You do not need a car to get around downtown New Orleans anytime, and especially not during Carnival. If you drive to NOLA, park your car in a lot or garage and leave it there until it’s time to go.
It is traditional and fun to wear a costume on Mardi Gras Day, so consider bringing one. Anything is OK and it’s fine to recycle an old Halloween or NYE costume.
I hope you have a great time!
I am wondering which hotel I should stay at during Mardi Gras? Did you stay there? Is it nice? How far from Bourbon St? Was it an expensive hotel? Also if you know a hotel I should avoid, please let me know and explain your experience at that hotel. Thanks
The best areas to stay in for Mardi Gras are the French Quarter, Central Business District and Warehouse District (best is the FQ). That way you can use your hotel as a base and enjoy the almost 24/7 street party that is Mardi Gras for the last 5 days of the celebrations. Note that Mardi Gras Day is February 16th in 2010, and MGD is the LAST day of Carnival - not the first or only day.
"Cheap" is probably not realistic. Check the travel sites (expedia, travelocity, etc.) and also check the hotel websites. Go to www.frenchquarterhotels.com for some non-chain hotels in the FQ. Many hotels have a multi-night minimum stay during the last 5 days of Carnival, so call the hotel and talk to a human if you have problems booking online. DON’T try to stay way outside the city to save money, assuming you can drive downtown every day. Traffic & parking are the worst problems during Carnival and it’s a recipe for having your car towed away for a violation.
The only hotel I know of in the city center that you should avoid is the Canal Street Hotel at 1630 Canal Street. It used to be a Day’s Inn and has fallen on hard times since it stopped being part of the national chain.
Go to www.mardigras.com and www.mardigrasguide.com for more info, and the FAQ section may be particularly useful.
Regarding safety, it is a myth that violent crime increases during Carnival in New Orleans. The crowds become very, very thick and there is a chance of being the victim of a pick-pocket (no one I actually know has ever had a problem), so keep ID, cash, & credit cards in a front pocket rather than in a wallet (or purse).
The main danger in New Orleans during Carnival (apart from hangovers) is being towed by Parking Control. You do not need a car to get around downtown New Orleans anytime, and especially not during Carnival. If you drive to NOLA, park your car in a lot or garage and leave it there until it’s time to go.
It is traditional and fun to wear a costume on Mardi Gras Day, so consider bringing one. Anything is OK and it’s fine to recycle an old Halloween or NYE costume.
I hope you have a great time!
I have a friend coming to visit and am interested in any special events happening the weekend of January 21-24th, 2010. Also, any suggestions for fun nightlife locations? Fun places to go on Bourbon Street? My friend does not eat seafood even though New Orleans is famous for it.. any suggestions for some great non-seafood dining?
Thanks!
I can’t think of any special events arond then, but check the paper when the dates approach:
http://www.nola.com/entertainment/
The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and offers traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about mid-July 25th to sometime in August each year: http://www.palmcourtjazzcafe.com/
Maximo’s Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, (504) 586-8883. www.maximosgrill.com
Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices: www.tujaguesrestaurant.com
Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635). www.cafedegas.com
The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: www.napoleonhouse.com
More restaurant suggestions: http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Restaurants/
There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music.
Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set" of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell - not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can’t be any confusion at the end of the evening.
An incomplete guide to bars & clubs:
http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Nightlife/
www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com
About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.
I hope you have a great time!
I have a friend coming to visit and am interested in any special events happening the weekend of January 21-24th, 2010. Also, any suggestions for fun nightlife locations? Fun places to go on Bourbon Street? My friend does not eat seafood even though New Orleans is famous for it.. any suggestions for some great non-seafood dining?
Thanks!
I can’t think of any special events arond then, but check the paper when the dates approach:
http://www.nola.com/entertainment/
The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and offers traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about mid-July 25th to sometime in August each year: http://www.palmcourtjazzcafe.com/
Maximo’s Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, (504) 586-8883. www.maximosgrill.com
Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices: www.tujaguesrestaurant.com
Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635). www.cafedegas.com
The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: www.napoleonhouse.com
More restaurant suggestions: http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Restaurants/
There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music.
Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set" of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell - not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can’t be any confusion at the end of the evening.
An incomplete guide to bars & clubs:
http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Nightlife/
www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com
About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.
I hope you have a great time!