New Orleans: Not just Bourbon Street & Beignets

There is no place is quite like New Orleans.  From it's rich history to it's unique cuisine, from the southern mansions of the Garden District to the elaborate ironwork of the Spanish balconies in the French Quarter - The diversity of the city means that there truly is something for everyone.  

When most people think of New Orleans the first thing that comes to mind is Bourbon Street.  This famous French Quarter street is the perfect place to host your bachelor party, birthday or a girls getaway.  Yes, it’s the most iconic street in the city, but let’s be honest it can get old real quick.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s kinda fun to see once but if you spend all your time here and think this is what the city is all about, you’re wrong.

Frenchman Street is just a few short blocks from Bourbon and the French Quarter. Its most popular section is a two-block stretch between Royal and Decatur which is known for its wide variety of live music.  Frenchman has a more mature, laid back, jazz vibe than the drunken debauchery of Bourbon Street.  If you want to get a more authentic New Orleans experience, skip Bourbon Street and head straight for Frenchman Street, and never look back!

Just two blocks from Bourbon Street is one of the most photographed buildings in New Orleans, St. Louis Cathedral. This iconic cathedral is open for self-guided tours daily and group tours by appointment.  It's located next to Jackson Square facing the Mississippi River.  Take a walk around the Square, snap a few photos, listen to music from street performers, and check out the local art on the fence. One of the best vantage points for getting a picture is on the river platform on the other side of the street from the cathedral. Walk up the ramp next to Cafe du Monde, you’ll see the canon and have views of the Mississippi River on one side and the cathedral on the other.  

The National WWII Museum is a can’t miss.  Full of powerful images, unique interactive exhibits and extraordinary artifacts, the museum brings to life courage, teamwork and sacrifice of the brave men and women of WWII. One experience that you must make time for is the 4D film  “Beyond all Boundaries”, narrated by Tom Hanks.  This moving film provides first person insight from the 1930s prelude to war to a global tour of what it took to fight the war both at home and abroad.  This is an experience that that everyone needs to see as it truly puts the events of WWII into prospective.  Some of the images are graphic representations of the horror of war and may not be suitable for all ages.

If you can't make it to NOLA for Mardi Gras, don’t worry visit Mardi Gras World.  Located just south of the convention center and cruise terminal, here you can enjoy the magic and pageantry of Mardi Gras everyday.  During the tour, visitors learn about the many traditions surrounding Mardi Gras parades, balls and music, as well as the intricacies of float designing and building.  Tours run every 30 minutes, last about an hour and are great for all ages.

New Orleans is considered one of the most haunted cities in America and with almost 300 years of history it's easy to understand why.  While there are dozens of tour operators, we opted for Haunted History Tours.  They offer a variety of options so whether your looking for ghosts, vampires, voodoo, or cemeteries, they have something to stir your senses.

Step outside the French Quarter and take the St Charles Streetcar Line, the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world, on a tour through the Garden District.  Enjoy a leisurely ride taking in the stately mansions and travel from Downtown and the Business District, through the Arts & Warehouse, Garden District, past Loyola and Tulane Universities and to the Audubon Park & Zoo.  The St. Charles line was listed by the National Park Service as a National Historic Landmark in 2014.  The streetcars are both an attraction and unique form of public transportation with an 24 hour pass costing only $3.00 and stops all over the city.

Nothing says New Orleans like the paddlewheel riverboats.  There are two wildly popular cruise lines that offer daytime cruises as well as dinner Jazz Cruises, The Steamboat Natchez and the Creole Queen.  A tour aboard an authentic 19th century riverboat is, for many, the highlight of their New Orleans experience.

Whether you're going up the Mississippi on a steamboat cruise or down to the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, with six different cruise lines sailing out of the Port of New Orleans, this is an excellent option to extend your vacation!  With the port less than one mile from the French Quarter and a number of hotels offer pre- & post-cruise rates consider this as two vacations in one. 

The Food!  The city's Creole, Cajun and French signature dishes are just the tip of the menu. While exploring New Orleans' culinary wonders, which infuse traditional preparation with an amazing array of South Louisiana spices, produce and seafood, here are a few that we recommend checking out:

• Beignets.  These square French -style doughnuts, lavishly covered with powdered sugar are served all over New Orleans but Cafe du Monde is widely known as the best place around and I couldn’t agree more (as a public service announcement, don’t wear black as you will find yourself covered in powder sugar).
• Jambalaya. While ingredients may vary to include chicken, sausage, seafood and combination of these, one thing is for sure – you won’t be able to get enough of this tasty rice dish.
• Muffaletta. Go to Central Grocery and get a muffaletta. This cold, meat sandwich with olive salad is a classic. It’s sold by the quarter, half or full sandwich. A half is big enough to split with two to three mildly hungry people. The quarter is good for individuals. Go early because Central Grocery often sells outs. There’s usually a line, but it moves pretty quickly.

The People! We found that New Orlean has been some of the most genuinely welcoming people around.  Almost everyone that we came in contact with was quick with a "Hello" and more than willing to offer directions and recommendations.