New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana! The name conjures images of Mardi Gras, beads, and beignets – and so much more. Whether you’re traveling to New Orleans for business or for the culture, be sure to research how to get the most out of your stay. Regardless of how long you stay, whether a night, a weekend, a week, or a month, there are some attractions you must see in the “Big Easy,” one of the city’s many nicknames.

A little background about this historic city: New Orleans was named for France’s Duke of Orleans. Located in Louisiana on the Mississippi River near the Gulf of Mexico, the city is also nicknamed “Crescent City” because of the shape the river takes as it runs around and through the city. French settlers established La Nouvelle-Orléans in 1718. Spain controlled the area for a long time. Nearly all of the famous 18^th century architecture in the French Quarter dates from the Spanish period. As a port city, its multicultural roots are still evident in a multitude of ways, especially in the cuisine and music.

What are some things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana?

Some of the top things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana include its many festivals. With roughly 130 festivals held annually, New Orleans is often called the “Festival Capital of the World.” In other words, this is Party Central. Some of the more famous festivals include:

• Mardi Gras is the city’s most famous. Mardi Gras, which is French for “Fat Tuesday,” is a carnival celebration with roots in religion. It begins on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany and ends on the day before Ash Wednesday. The Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans is world-famous and attracts thousands of visitors. Even Mark Twain wrote about it in Life on the Mississippi, saying, “an American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardi Gras in New Orleans.” Why are so many people adding Mardi Gras to their bucket lists? Because the parades, king cakes, and costumes are legendary.
• New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival attracts some of the biggest names in entertainment. Headliners have included the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Gladys Knight and the Pips, B.B. King, Tina Turner, Ray Charles, The Neville Brothers, and Bob Dylan, Jimmy Buffett, and Bruce Springsteen. Other familiar faces included Little Feat, Ziggy Marley, Linda Ronstadt, Los Lobos, Leon Russell, Tony Bennett, ZZ Top, and Joan Baez. The line-up any given year is worth the trip for any serious music lover.

More Famous Festivals

• Tennessee Williams Literary Festival is a celebration of the city’s inspiration for writers. It is typically held around March 26, the birth date of Williams. Join more than 100 writers, actors, scholars, and musicians for five days of revelry in New Orleans.
• Essence Festival is a 4^th of July gathering inside the Superdome. Essence magazine presents live music and comedy. The festival also promotes wellness, fashion, and beauty exhibits and numerous conferences, including the Global Black Economic Forum and the Power Conference. Former First Lady Michelle Obama headlined the festival in 2019.
• Voodoo Music & Arts Experience is held over Halloween weekend. City Park is the site for costumed revelers enjoying music, carnival rides, food, and vibe.
• French Quarter Festival is 100% free and offers 23 stages throughout the French Quarter presenting all genres of music over 4 days. This is one of the largest free music festivals in the country. There is just one catch: you need to purchase your food and beverages within the festival perimeters. However, since this features some of the top chefs in New Orleans, no problem!
• New Orleans Film Festival is relatively new to the city and showcases the relationship New Orleans established with Hollywood as a top destination for filmmaking. For 30+ years, the festival has been held every October. They show 230+ movies, throw plenty of parties, and host lots of Q&A sessions with actors, directors, and producers. No wonder New Orleans newest nickname is “Hollywood South.”

There are many more festivals you should consider: St. Patrick’s Day, Bayou Boogaloo, New Orleans Food and Wine Experience, Tales of the Cocktail, Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival, Satchmo Summerfest, Coolinary New Orleans, and at least a hundred more!

What should I not miss in New Orleans, Louisiana?

Some of the best things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana are world-famous, others not quite so well-known. But to have the most fun possible, some of the must do attractions in the Crescent City include:

• French Quarter – The city’s oldest and most famous neighborhood is much more than Bourbon Street. Although, let’s be honest, Bourbon Street is a destination unto itself. But the French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré, has been the heartbeat of the city for 300 years. The architecture is postcard perfect, and you’ll find shops, galleries, music, restaurants, the St. Louis Cathedral, and even the Voodoo Museum. Mosey through Jackson Square, and pop into Preservation Hall for some hole-in-the-wall jazz or sample oysters Rockefeller at Antoine’s where they were invented.
• Marigny is a music lover’s dream. This neighborhood is located east of the French Quarter and is known for its all-night music clubs. Pop in at The Spotted Cat, Café Negril, Snug Harbor, d.b.a., or The Blue Nile. Don’t worry, the restaurants stay open, too.
• National WWII Museum – You may not expect to find a museum about the second World War in New Orleans, but you’ll be impressed by this world-class museum established in 2000. The flat-bottomed Higgins boats that stormed the beaches of Normandy were invented by a New Orleans resident, Andrew Higgins. The museum’s collection includes uniforms, weapons, documents and more, and the 4-D theatre brings the past to life with gunfire and explosions. You’ll recognize the narrator’s voice: Tom Hanks. On Saturdays, a restored patrol-torpedo boat offers 90-minute rides on Lake Pontchartrain. History buffs can’t miss this museum.

And there’s more…

• City Park offers 1,300 manicured acres of nature and culture. It was established in 1854 and is the site of numerous festivals. You can also visit the New Orleans Art Museum, which features 19^th– and early 20^th-century French paintings, including those of Edgar Degas who resided in the area during the 1870s. Or, visit the Louisiana Children’s Museum, which is dubbed “the world’s biggest classroom.” Both museums are located within the park. Don’t miss the renowned Dueling Oaks. This historic site is where disagreements were once settled with pistols or swords.
• New Orleans Jazz Museum is located in the historic Old Mint building and houses the largest collection of jazz exhibits in the world. Don’t miss Louis Armstrong’s first cornet and a 1917 recording disc of the first jazz record ever made. This is an active museum with performances and musician interviews.
• Magazine Street is a shopper’s paradise. Located in the Lower Garden District, you’ll find boutiques, galleries, spas, costume shops, and great eateries. There are also special events in Magazine Street if you plan accordingly.
• Garden District is pure charm! Explore these 134 acres of oak-lined streets and beautiful homes – everything from cottages to mansions. Don’t forget to meander through Lafayette Cemetery. A stroll through the Garden District is almost like time-traveling.
• New Orleans Saints football has become a passion of the city. If you time your visit accordingly, you may get to see your favorite NHL team play the Saints – unless you decide to cheer for the home team! The fans’ costumes are worth the price of admission, not to mention the tailgate parties. You’ll wonder if you’ve stumbled into a Mardi Gras parade or a Jimmy Buffett concert.
• Harrah’s Casino is open for business if you want to try your hand with lady luck.

What are the best places to eat in New Orleans?

This is a tough question to answer, but not because of a shortage of good eats. Just the opposite – there are so many good restaurants in New Orleans, you’ll just have to prioritize. Good food is right up there with good music in the Big Easy!

Café du Monde is a must. Located in the French Quarter, they are known for their café au lait and beignets. This open-air eatery is open 24/7, so you have no excuse not to go! Other eateries we highly recommend include:

• Brigsten’s Restaurant
• Barrow’s Catfish
• Piece of Meat
• Addis Nola
• Gabrielle Restaurant
• Dooky Chase’s Restaurant
• Gris-Gris
• Killer PoBoys
• Bourbon House
• GW Fins
• Central Grocery Co.

Of course, plenty of refreshment establishments are known more for their alcohol ingredients and party atmosphere. The Hurricane rum drink was invented at Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans during WWII, and the World Famous Cat’s Meow is known as “the best karaoke bar in the world.” We’re pretty sure it’s 5 o’clock somewhere!

Where are the best places to stay in New Orleans, Louisiana?

This is a tough one. If you like the party vibe, you’ll likely want a spot in or near the French Quarter. If you prefer quiet and historic charm, check out the options in the Garden District. New Orleans offers a wide selection of upscale luxury hotels, family-friendly choices with amenities for the kids, hundreds of private house rentals, and plenty of historic sites that can really set the tone for your trip. Here are some of our favorites:

• Quarter House
• The Roosevelt New Orleans (Waldorf Astoria)
• Royal Sonesta
• Olivier House Hotel
• Hotel Monteleone
• Hotel Provincial
• Place d’Armes Hotel
• The Pontchartrain Hotel
• The Higgins Hotel

Haunted New Orleans

Yes, the ghost tours and haunted spots are a favorite with tourists and a good way to pick up some interesting history of the city. You’ll enjoy LaLaurie Mansion, The Gardette La Prete House (nicknamed the Sultan’s Palace), and Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, all located in the French Quarter, and the historic cemeteries. Of course, one place you can’t miss is Muriel’s Restaurant on Jackson’s Square where diners often report ghostly activity. Haunted walking tours are a great way to learn some of the spooky history of New Orleans’s famous residents, like Marie Laveau, the city’s most famous practitioner of voodoo. Go ahead, enjoy being a tourist in NOLA! A walking tour also gives you the best photo ops. Check out these haunts:

• The Mortuary Haunted House
• Haunted History Tours
• The Haunted Hotel
• Beauregard-Keyes House
• St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

Flights to New Orleans, Louisiana

There are lots of options for flying into New Orleans. If you plan ahead, you can find cheap airfare, although you may not get a direct flight. Of course, nonstop flights are typically more expensive, whether you fly Southwest or Delta. Epic Airways offers surprisingly affordable aircraft charter service to New Orleans whether you book right now and plan well in advance or book your ticket last minute. Take a private plane with posh leather seats and all the comforts you can imagine.

We will fly you straight to an FBO at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport where you can grab a cab or rental car to take you to your final destination. We can fly you straight out of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Or, if you prefer, we can pick you up in Sanford or Orlando or whatever is convenient. When you fly with Epic Airways, you can always expect lagniappe.

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• Bourbon Street

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