New Orleans

Hazys

Just booked a trip to New Orleans for Presidents Day Weekend...just missing out on Mardi Gras. New Orleans looks like an extremely intriguing place from Jazz to Voodoo but honestly I don't know where to start outside of Bourbon Street.

So I'm trying to figure out a plan. In terms of drinking, we'll defly spend a night or two on Bourbon Street, but NO looks to have some really cool places to drink with really unique dive and really swanky cocktail bars, any recommendations?

Any restaurant or tourist sites that are worth doing?

InTheTrees

Its a beautiful City. If you're only there for the weekend the French Quarter will probably keep you occupied, but there's also the Garden District thats worth walking around.

Make sure to go to Cafe Du Monde. Its by the water in front of the cathedral. They make a particular kind of doughnut there and its The Place to get them:

http://www.cafedumonde.com

ProudDUB

Beignets. They're called beignets. Pronounced Ben-Yay. Don't wear black if you are eating them.

Missing out on Mardi Gras is not a bad thing. It can get very, very messy. I know its what New Orleans is most famous for, but it's not something I recommend for the first time visitor.

If you're only going to be there for the weekend, there is plenty around Bourbon St and the French Quarter to keep you occupied. A nice afternoon excursion is to take the Garden District trolley car to the end of the line (or as far as the entrance to Tulane University) and walk back the way you came, and check out the beautiful French Colonial Architecture. There's a beautiful park there too.

Doing a bayou tour in a swamp buggy to see the 'gators, is a lot of fun. So a trip to see old plantations along the Mississippi, if you are into that kind of thing. But they are full day trips, they aren't things you would do in a couple of hours.

stargazer 68

We are taking in New Orleans as part of our Honeymoon in August. Wil definitely be doing a swamp tour. Will add some of your suggestions to the list too!

InTheTrees

Canal Street is a main street that is the boundary between the French Quarter and the warehouse/business district. Get a hotel there and it will be a lot cheaper and its right next door to the french quarter.

Remember its a city know for its crime. Stay in tourist areas, be careful at night. etc etc.

Hazys

Thanks guys, were are staying in the French Quarter alright so hopefully we'll be close to everything

Fr Tod Umptious

Hazys wrote: »

Thanks guys, were are staying in the French Quarter alright so hopefully we'll be close to everything

You will be close to all the eating and drinking you need in the French Quarter.

Its been a good while since I was there but at the time there was a casino boat on the shore of Lake Pauchoutrain (sp), that might be worth a look if you are looking for something different for an evening.

FatherTed

I was there 2 years ago for a weekend, love it. As well as the suggestions made already, we took a tour of the lower ninth ward where Katrina did the most damage. They're still rebuilding but the tour guide was adamant the levees were intentionally blown up to save downtown.

ProudDUB

Not to be a killjoy or anything, but a lot of people in New Orelans are very uncomfortable with the 9th Ward becoming a tourist attraction. A lot of lives were lost there & homes destroyed. If you are intent on visiting, be respectful of what happened. Also, try to give your business to a local & not one of the big corporate tour groups. Try out some of the local eateries too. It won't be fancy fare, but it will be more truely authentic southern soul food, than any of the mass produced gumbos and jambalayas served up to you in Pat O'Briens. They'll really appreciate the business too.

billy few mates

I was there last Easter, it's an interesting place with lots to see and do but Bourbon Street is just like Temple Bar with older American drunks instead of teenagers like you'd see here. There are police on every corner so it's quite safe but you do see an awful lot of down and outs and homeless people sleeping in doorways. Plenty of good tours to take you to the places you want to see, The Garden District, the French Quarter, the Cemeteries (yes they're worth a visit), the Lower 9th Ward and the other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.