New Orleans, NOLA, the Big Easy… Whatever you want to call it, this intriguing city finds itself on travel bucket lists for a reason. Filled with Creole and Cajun food and culture, live jazz, history, gorgeous architecture and colors, New Orleans has an appreciation for all the good things in life.

The city was famously destroyed in 2006 during Hurricane Katrina, but the resilient community bounced back. The city was cleaned up, with many areas of the city bursting with new life, reborn. Now, New Orleans has retained all of its former shine, plus the added character of having gone through a rough stage. It makes this city all the more easy to appreciate.

New Orleans is a city with soul. It has embraced a zest for life and laid-back attitude that is infectious to anyone who travels there. The energy, food, and music scene make New Orleans one of the most eclectic and vibrant cities in the United States — if not the world. To book a trip, contact us at travelsbydonna@knology.net.

Explore the French Quarter

Possibly the top of any New Orleans to-do list, the famous French Quarter is where you’ll see the city’s iconic wrought-iron balconies and 18th century French-style homes. The area was settled by the French in 1718, and that influence has survived all these centuries.

The area is now a treasure trove for New Orleans culture. Drink like a local at one of the bars or jazz clubs on Bourbon Street, shop for antiques on Royal Street, and certainly be sure to try some of the best Cajun food in the city. Also in the French Quarter lies Jackson Square and the oldest cathedral in the country, St. Louis Cathedral, dating back to 1789.

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Wander Through the Garden District

A favorite of New Orleans, the Garden District is home to large and ornate historic homes, as well as some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. Quiet and more relaxed than the French Quarter, it was developed in 1832 for the wealthy Americans who settled in the city. The French Creoles didn’t want the Americans in the French Quarter and, through some clever marketing about how the nouveau riche should build large homes, convinced them to move here, to this area. Spend a few hours wandering the streets, seeing the old mansions, and visiting famous cemeteries like Lafayette Cemetery #1 in the center of the district.

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Visit the Arts/Warehouse District

Right between the French Quarter and the Garden District, this area has seen an impressive revitalization over the last few years. Old, empty warehouses leftover from its 19th century industrial settlement have been turned into shops, art galleries, new apartments, and trendy restaurants. Meander through the cobblestone streets, indulge in art galleries, and walk along the Mississippi river.

While here, be sure to visit Mardi Gras World. It’s a massive warehouse where most of the floats for New Orleans’ famous Mardi Gras parade are made. The festival, one of the biggest and best festivals in the world, includes floats that take almost an entire year to build.

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Take a Voodoo or ghost tour

New Orleans is considered one of the most haunted cities in the country. New Orleans voodoo is a set of religious practices carried to America after the 1791 Haiti slave revolt sent followers fleeing to New Orleans. Voodoo and the occult are synonymous with New Orleans. From stories of ghosts to Marie Laveau (the city’s historic and most famous voodoo practitioner), these practices and legends have become an important part of New Orleans culture.

Photo Courtesy of Visit New Orleans

Relax in Audubon Park or City Park

While New Orleans is often sought after for its nightlife and architecture, it is home to two beautiful parks as well. Audubon Park covers over 350 acres, while City Park is a massive green space, spanning over 1,300 acres, being one of the biggest parks in the country. They both have ponds, walking trails, trees, and plenty of space to relax with a book or a picnic. They’re a wonderful place to relax when the weather gets too hot and you want to relax in some shade or rest your feet after walking all day.

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Listen to Music on Frenchman Street

From jazz halls to street performers, New Orleans has music in its DNA. End a long day by listening to some of New Orlean’s quintessential tunes on Frenchman Street. It is famous for its collection of jazz bars, but you can also find lots of bookstores, record shops, cafes, and bars in this neighborhood. Because of this, it stands as one of the most popular areas in the city after Bourbon Street.

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Don’t Miss Out on Magazine Street

Stretching parallel to the Mississippi River, from Canal Street to Audubon Park, Magazine Street connects the Central Business District with the Warehouse Arts District, travelling through the Garden District and Uptown. In other words, Magazine Street provides a unique vantage point to see what all the city has to offer. Originally named for a warehouse that was built to house tobacco and other exports, it now operates as a delightful retail street. Clusters of shops selling anything from vintage clothing or pottery, to soap or toys, are interspersed with charming homes. It is the ideal spot for a leisurely walk, with plenty of unique coffee shops and restaurants to use as a pit stop along the way.

Photo courtesy of onlyinyourstate.com

Take a Bayou Tour

Take a tour around the bayou and explore the swamps filled with alligators and Spanish moss-covered trees. The bayou, a swampy section of a slow-moving river, provided early settlers with trees for homes, fish for eating, and waterways for commerce. It remains as part of the lifeblood of the region, and an important facet of its culture. Spend your morning in this beautiful and relaxing area by getting back to nature.

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