Last February I had the pleasure of exploring New Orleans! New Orleans is known for its never-ending nightlife, live music, and delicious food. The “Big Easy” is perfect for a long weekend! Live music streams out from every restaurant and bar as you walk down the street.
I recommend staying at the Hotel St. Marie in the French Quarter. It is a gorgeous French Quarter style building lined with wrought iron balconies and is budget friendly.
Of course, food and drink are a must in the city! New Orleans has a huge selection of restaurants and bars. Read my 3-day New Orleans itinerary to see my favorite restaurant and bars.
Some of my must-see highlights include the French Market, Jackson Square, Café du Monde, Bourbon Street, the Garden District, Audubon Park and Zoo, Ferry to Algiers Point, and a haunted ghost tour. If you have extra time, I would venture out along Great River Road and visit New Orleans’ top plantations. Click here for amazing attractions just an hour away!
Table of Contents
The French Market
The French Market is a market and commercial building that stretches 6 blocks in the French Quarter. There are stalls selling clothes, jewelry, food, and everything alligator related. This is a fun place to buy presents for your friends and family, or for yourself!
Jackson Square
Jackson Square is a historical park in the French Quarter. The statue of Andrew Jackson sits in the center with St. Louis Cathedral in the background. Chartres St, which runs between Jackson Square and the Cathedral, features local artists and street performers entertaining tourists. The views of Jackson Square are spectacular from across the way at Washington Artillery Park.
Café du Monde
These tasty beignets are a must when in New Orleans! They were brought over in the 18th century by the French colonists and are a delight to eat from morning til night. There is a take-out window near the back if you don’t want to wait to be served!
Bourbon Street
When you think of New Orleans the first thought that comes to your mind is Bourbon Street. This street is the never-ending party street. During the day, Bourbon Street looks like any other street with the gorgeous rod iron balconies and the cascading greenery. At night it comes alive with people flooding the streets. Even if Bourbon Street is not your cup of tea, you at least must experience it once.
Garden District
This is the most beautiful area of New Orleans! Charming homes with shaded oak trees line the street. Taking the St. Charles streetcar is the easiest way to see the Garden District. This streetcar will travel all the way down St. Charles Street to the Audubon Park and Zoo. The streetcar is $1.25 one-way and the best way to travel through the city.
I would get off the streetcar at Washington Ave and walk down to the Lafayette Cemetery, across the street from Commander’s Palace. Explore the cemetery on your way down to Magazine Street. Magazine Street hosts a ton of shops and restaurants to explore, including a low-key Irish pub called Tracey’s.
Audubon Park and Zoo
The Audubon Park and Zoo is a beautiful area to visit if you need to get away from the French Quarter. Audubon Park is along the St. Charles streetcar line and is across the street from Tulane University. The park has a 2-mile jogging path and acres of gorgeous live oak trees. The zoo is located in the middle of the Audubon Park and is worth the admission price!
Ferry to Algiers Point
A fun attraction most people forget about is taking the ferry over the Mississippi River to Algiers Point! The ferry departs from Canal Street and only costs $2. Algiers Point is a suburb that contains art galleries, small businesses, and quaint pubs.
Take a Haunted Ghost Tour
New Orleans claims to be the most haunted city in America, so there are plenty of opportunities to take a nightly haunted ghost tour. Not only are they fun but they also give plenty of history and facts as you walk around the city. I really enjoyed the Voodoo Bone Lady’s “Ultimate 5-in-1 Haunted Tour Experience”. There are plenty of haunted ghost tours and cemetery tours for your choosing!
Until next time,
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