New Orleans

Things to do in New Orleans

French Quarter

From Royal to Bourbon, saunter the banquettes of the French Quarter as your guide tells histories and legends of the people that settled this area in the early 1700s and of those that live there today.
Named after the saints and sinners of New Orleans's European past, the streets of the French Quarter tell the stories of the Creole people who walked them long ago. Follow in the footsteps of Jean Lafitte, William Faulkner, and Tennessee Williams en route from Washington Artillery Park and the Moonwalk located along the mighty Mississippi to Jackson Square (need to see St. Louis Cathedral and famous statue of General Andrew Jackson on his horse tipping his hat) in the heart of "The Quarter."
Visit the Ursuline Convent—the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley, and the amazing herb garden that provides the Bella Luna restaurant with fresh herbs. The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, constructed in 1823 for the first licensed pharmacists, houses remedies of the times including live leeches, leech jars, "blood letting" devices, "gris-gris" potions used by Voodoo practitioners, and rare patent medicines. The newly renovated courtyard contains an herb garden that showcases the traditional uses of the plants for medical purposes.

*Beauregard-Keyes House – built in 1826.

Address: 1113 Chartres St.,at Ursulines St.

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-3pm, closed Sun,

Cost: admission $5, $2

Old Ursuline Convent

Address: 1110 Chartres St.,Ursulines St. Near Archbishop Antoine Memorial in the walking tour.

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm.

*The old U.S Mint **(kids)

Has collection of pictures, musical instruments and other jazz stuff

Address: 400 Esplanade Ave., at N. Peters St

Hours: Tue-Sun 9am-5pm

Cost: Admission $6.

*Historic French Market

Also visit the flea market, a bit farther down from farmers market.

The 1850 House – built in 1849.

Address: 523 St.Ann St, Jackson Sq. near Poltalba Buildings in the walking tour.

Hours: Tue-Sun 9am-5pm

Cost: admission $3

*The Presbytere

Mardi gras museum.

Address: 751 Chartres St., Jackson Sq.

Hour: Tue-Sun 9am-5pm

Cost: $6

*St Louis Cathedral

The centerpiece of Jackson Square.

Address: 615 Pere Antoine Alley

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 9am-2pm

Cost: free

*The Cabildo

Museum, history of Louisiana (including Napoleon’s death mask)

Address: 701 Chartres St

Hours: Tue-Sun 9am-5pm.

Cost: $6

Hermann-Grima House

Georgian-style house built in 1831.

Address: 820 St. Louis., French quarter

Cost: $6.

Woldenberg Riverfront Park

It has Holocaust memorial, Moonwalk – a paved pedestrian along the river, really nice place.

Audubon Aquarium, IMAX

Address: Canal Street at the River #1 Canal Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

Phone: 1-800-774-7394

Audubon Insectarium

Museum of bugs

Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-5pm.

*Preservation Hall

Great place (but very small) to hear Jazz music (come early)

Address: 726 St. Peter St. Jazz shows.

Hours: Shows stat at 8:00pm

Musee Conti Wax Museum –

Address: 917 Conti St.

Hours: open Monday and Friday 10am-4pm

A Ferry ride to Algeris

 

Blain Kern's Mardi Gras World (see how they make the sculptures)

All tours include King Cake and Coffee. Nice attraction for adults and kids.

Hours: Daily 9:30 am-4:30 pm.

Phone: 1-800-307-7026.

Web:  information visit: http://www.mardigrasworld.com/

New Orleans Cemeteries

The above-ground cemeteries in New Orleans have been a must-see for visitors to New Orleans for the past 100 years. Called the "Cities of the Dead," their hauntingly beautiful tree-lined streets and incredible architecture provides a unique experience:
St. Louis Cemetery Number 3 is the most accessible of the St. Louis Cemetery group, and the easiest to get to by car, taxi, or bus. It is located at 3421 Esplanade Avenue.

City Park in New Orleans

To reach the beginning of the walking tour need to either walk up Esplande Ave or to catch a bus on Esplanade at the French Quarter toward the park to the starting point. City Park in New Orleans is a 1300 acre park in the heart of the city. A natural bayou runs through it and at its edge. With an antique carousel and miniature train, it's a great place for kids. City Park also encompasses the

New Orleans Museum of Art

Hours: The museum is open five days a week, Wednesday, 12 p.m.-8 p.m. and Thursday - Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: Admission: $8,$4

Bestoff Sculpture Garden

One of the largest stands of live oak trees in the world.

Hours: Wed-Sun 10am-4:45pm

Cost: free

Botanical Gardens

Hours: Tue-Sun 10am-4:30pm $6,$3

2 miniature trains and Children’s Storyland

Hours: Tue-Fri 10am-3pm

Cost: $3

An amusement area, including fairy-tale figures.

Hours: closed in mid week – the trains only run on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm

Cost: admission $5,$2.

There is also a Train Garden (1300 feet of track)

Location: The gardens are located in Pavilions of Two Sisters on Victory Ave in the park.

The Garden District

The Garden District - (by streetcar: take the St. Charles streetcar (from Bourbon street) to Washington Avenue – stop no. 16, walk one block toward the river to: Garden District Book Shop) Walking through the Garden District with its gracious mansions and Magnolia trees is a great way to spend a spring day. Built by the Americans who moved into New Orleans after the Louisiana Purchase, this neighborhood is 10 minutes, but worlds apart, from the French Quarter.
Must see on first visit.

Louisiana Children’s Museum

Address: 420 Julia St., at Tchoupitoulas St. - Located in the Central Business District (CBD).

Hours: Tue-Sat 9:30am-4:30pm.

Cost: $7.5 per person.

Steam Boat Tour

Steamboat Natchez, Enjoy a two-hour cruise by day from the heart of the French Quarter aboard the Steamboat NATCHEZ ... including Calliope concert!

Hours: Departs daily from the Toulouse Street Wharf behind Jax Brewery. - Boarding 11:00am;Cruising 11:30am - 1:30pm or Boarding 2:00pm;Cruising 2:30pm - 4:30pm.

Cost: Children under 6 cruise free with paid adult. - Cruise Only: $24.50, $12.25, Cruise & Lunch $34.50, $20.25, $8.

CBD – Central Business District

New Orleans school of Glassworks and Printmaking Studio – fun family stop

Address: 727 Magazine St.

Hours: weekday 10-5:30.

Audubon Park & Zoo (Uptown)

Take the scenic route on the St. Charles streetcar. Exit at Audubon Park and then board the Free Zoo Shuttle to and from the Zoo.

Address: 6500 Magazine Street in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Parking: Parking is free!

Note: The shuttle runs between the Audubon Park Entrance on St Charles Avenue and the front gates of the Zoo.

Restaurants

Places to eat are easy to find in Fodor’s book

·         Best for kids: Café du Monde (French Qtr) – Must place to be in. 800 Decatur St. (there are street performers around), Powdery doughnuts and views of Jackson Sqr.Open 24 hours a day.

·         Jacques-Imo’s Café (Uptown)- (Cajun/Creole) Dinner 8324 Oak St. North of the Zoo, 504-861-0886, 5:30-10pm.

·         Commander’s Palace (Garden District) – (Creole)1403 Washington Ave, 504-899-8221 Mon-Fri 11:30am-2pm, 6:30-9:30pm (Foie Gras)

·         Luke (***CBD) (Cajun)– 333 St. Charles Ave 7am-11pm, 504-378-2840.

·         Tommy’s Cuisine (**CBD) – (Italian/French), Dinner: best duck dish. 746 Tchoupitoulas St. 504-581-1103, 5:30-10pm.

·         Mother’s (**CBD) – (po’boys) – always has line. 401 Poydras St. 504-523-9656. 7:30am-8pm.

·         Ralph’s on the Park (Mid-City, near City park) – 900 City Park, 504-488-1000 (Foie gras) Dinner (Sunday - Thursday) 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Lunch (Friday) 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

·         Herbsaint (**CBD)- (southern) 701 St. Charles Ave 11:30am-1:30pm, 5:30-10pm, 504-524-4114.

·         Elizabeth’s (Bywater): Great for lunch Tue-Fri 11am-2:30pm, dinner 6pm-10pm. 601 Gallier St. (closed Mon & Tue).