We’ve been to the Big Easy twice – once on our own for a long weekend, and once with our daughters. Originally, the trip with the girls was planned to include the Jazz Fest, which was rescheduled twice due to Covid. Ultimately, the rescheduled date took place after we left the U.S. and we were unable to attend, but we opted to go back with our kids before we moved abroad so they could experience the city as well. The info provided here is from both trips.
New Orleans is unlike anywhere else in the states – it’s where the American South meets the Caribbean, and it has a vibe all its own. The food, music and energy are so much fun to experience; add a dash of pirates and voodoo, and you’ve got a city with crazy history and even crazier characters.
Our first time in NoLa, we stayed at the Merchant Lofts by Hosteeva near Harrah’s and just outside of the French Quarter. A comfortable one-bedroom apartments with easy access to the hot spots.
For our second visit, we rented a lovely, updated shotgun house just off St. Charles Avenue and a short walk to the tram station.
Things To Do & See
Where to start?! The city is full of tours, adventures and historical locations. Add in food and drink options, and you could stay for weeks and still have new thigs to explore. Here are some highlights of things we experienced, as well as a couple of highly-rated activities we wished we had more time for.
It goes without saying that the French Quarter is a place you have to explore when you visit the city. Famous for its cast-iron balconies and colorful buildings, the oldest neighborhood in the city includes places like the French Market, Bourbon Street and Jackson Square & St. Louis Cathedral, the city’s beautiful, iconic church and its square in the heart of the quarter.
We especially enjoyed Royal Street, a great spot for shopping, antique stores and street musicians; we liked it better than its more popular neighbor (that would be Bourbon Street). The street musicians are incredible; they often randomly combine to create unique sounds like we heard from Superband in 2018.
Not to say that Bourbon isn’t fascinating; it’s super fun to people-watch, even if you don’t feel like getting plastered on Hurricanes and Hand Grenades.
We’d recommend a river tour on a steamboat; we’ve experienced the Steamboat Natchez and the Creole Queen. It’s pretty amazing to see the city and the Mighty Mississippi from the deck of the steam boats and get a glimpse of the river’s importance to the city and region.
Also a must is an evening or night-time walking tour – try this Adults-Only guided tour and learn about the spooky history of voodoo, ghosts and crimes that have taken place in and near the French Quarter. Especially creepy is the LaLaurie Mansion, which you’ll likely see on every tour available (of which there are a ton).
New Orleans is a little macabre, evident by the popularity of places like the Historic Voodoo Museum and St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, final resting place of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau and other notable historic figures. Tours are required; you can either see it as a part of a private tour, or you can join other visitors at the cemetery entrance.
If you have time for a museum stop (or need an activity for a rainy day, which we also experienced), stop by the New Orleans Jazz Museum – two museums in one, featuring the history of Jazz as well as the U.S. Mint museum. And though we didn’t take the time to visit, every list and article recommends a stop at the National WWII Museum.
Worth the drive is a unique experience at Barn Hill Preserve, a very cool animal sanctuary in Ethel, Louisiana, just outside Baton Rouge. Featuring animal encounter experiences, you can interact with kangaroos and sloths, and even swim with otters, and the grounds serve as a zoo featuring exotic animals surrendered to the sanctuary.
Eats
New Orleans is known for its endless supply of delicious foods and drink. Here are some of our favorites:
- Drago’s – stop here and eat all the char-broiled oysters you possibly can; our favorite in the city.
- Café Du Monde – an absolute institution, at least two trips are required when we visit. The beignets are historic for a reason, and the café au lait and chicory coffee are the bomb.
- Ruby Slipper Café – with several locations in and around New Orleans, this place has a great breakfast. Visit the website ahead of time to be added to the waitlist.
- Pat O’Brien’s – “Having Fun Since 1933”: you don’t go there for the food, but it’s an absolute must to have a Hurricane. Plus, their patio is amazing and the piano bar is a ton of fun.
- Market Café – great breakfast in a central location. Shrimp & Grits was good, the N’awlins omelet was even better.
- Willa Jean – excellent food with large portions – we couldn’t stop eating.
- Arnaud’s Jazz Bistro – romantic dinner setting with live jazz since 1918.
- Brennan’s – landmark eatery and reportedly the creators of Bananas Foster.
- Palace Café – great food and outstanding service in a historic building on Canal Street.
- Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar – reputed to be the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States, Lafitte’s (named after renowned privateer John Lafitte), it’s known for the Voodoo Daquiri, a.k.a. The Purple Drank
For more recommendations of things to do and where to eat in New Orleans, visit our TripAdvisor page for reviews and pics.
