I'm going to New Orleans in 1 week! Please advise!?

Question

I'm going to be going to New Orleans to do the tourist thing starting on the 31st, and coming back the 4th. I'm looking for things to do.

I'm 19, and have never been before. I know that I'm going to the art museum, the zoo, aquarium, and the WW2 museum, but I'm not sure what else to do with my time. Especially at night, since I'm not 21 and I'm not really into the club scene.

I've looked on the main sites about New Orleans, and the ones specifically for tourists, but I can't seem to find anything besides what I mentioned.

Does anyone have any advice as to what I should see and do (money is no object) while I'm there?

Thanks mucho!

Answer 1

Well, I would say good choice for the main things (zoo, aquarium, etc.) I would also recommend going to the Riverwalk also. Its a little shopping center with a food court right next to the aquarium. Also by the aquarium is the Jax Brewery. They have some shops in there, and a Ripley's Believe it or Not (quite entertaining.) You might also want to go to the French Market.

For night, I would reccomend walking around and looking for a little outdoor coffee shop. Cafe Du Mond is nice. A lot of the time they will have a live band playing. Or you could go to Harrah's Casino. It's pretty nice.

Hope you have fun! I was just there today!

PS - Don't listen to Kiko. She's exagerating everything. The French Quarter/Downtown area was virtually untouched by Katrina. There really isn't that much crime (well, not more that usual) and you most certainly won't get arrested for going to the cemetary. =)

Answer 2

new orleans is a great city.. even after the hurricane. .. ! so
there is much to do...

you can still go to the French Quarter .. without having to drink or party.. its very nice during the day... theres the French Market.. with an outside cafe right next to it.. and they always play live jazz music. Theres many many shops.. or you could go on a carriage ride while having the history of the city told. you can go get your fortune told by one of the tarot card readers.. go have some gumbo for lunch.. then eat some good beignets and coffee and Cafe Do Monde. the quarter also has beautiful architecture, great for taking pictures.

there are some GREAT tours giving by a shop in the french quarter called Reverande Zombies Voodoo Shop.. their webpage is hauntedhistorytours.com. you can take a 2hr Cemetary tour which is VERY INTERTESTING.. visit voodoo queen Marie Laveaus grave .. make a wish rub her tomb.. heh.. and hear all the other fasinating stories of past well known people from New Orleans.. ..

They also give a GREAT haunted tour.. its cool to go to at night.. they give one at 8:00 pm for 2 hours... touring the French Quarter and some of the haunted buildings and being told the stories behind them... from over 200 year ago. this tour was my fav..

if you re not quite interested in that..
theres also a 2 hour river boat cruise... you can tour the Mississippi .. while eating cajun food and listen to a live band..

there are many tours to chose from.. if you go to neworleans.com and click on "101 cool things" then on the top left click on "tours" theres a huge list..

hope you have a good time..
new orleans has an endless things to do


oh yea.. if you do any tours.. make sure you call 'em to confirm the times and dates you pick .. so not to have any probs through their webpages

Answer 3

Sunday morning brunch at Brennans. I like the poached eggs. Reservation required.
Monday is Red Beans and rice day.
Tuesday lunch at Cafe Maspero, I like the calamari.
Wednesday evening take a walk and get a burger at Port of Call. Biggest baddest burger on planet.
Thursday Get a muffalata from Central Grocery...It's the original, and best in the world.
Friday It's a sin not to eat seafood, literally. I recommend the Napoleon House. Have you ever had an Oyster Po-boy?
Saturday Start a diet, have your cholesterol checked.

Thank You for visiting our fair city, we need everyone to come visit.

Answer 4

New Orleans isn't the "maximum deadly city" interior the U. S., even with the call of the record on the information superhighway web site. New Orleans did make the #a million spot for the homicide cost in 2008. however, almost ninety 8% of murders & shootings in New Orleans take position interior the unlawful drug community (specially crack cocaine) and the different 2% are spouse and toddlers incidents. that would not make the crimes ok, however the ordinary resident or shopper would not ought to agonize about it. different crime in NOLA is at or less than the nationwide ordinary. also, the Census Bureau those days presented they'd grossly underestimated th inhabitants of recent Orleans of their 2006 positioned up-Katrina survey, and the incorrectly low inhabitants estimate is in part why the homicide cost (cost = inhabitants divided by using crimes) went by ability of the roof. satisfied you had relaxing!

Answer 5

Walk down Bourbon street, it's a must, just to see the sights. Shop in the French Quarter, although I'm not sure how it is after Katrina. There is a FANTASTIC little place that I believe is called "Port-a-Call". They have the best hamburgers and a really cool atmosphere. Check out the above ground graveyards, too, and maybe take a haunted house tour.

Answer 6

Oh boy. Let me just warn you that New Orleans is not what it used to be. I know no one talks about it anymore, so people assume they have recovered, but they haven't. Many places still need help, many still don't have electricity or homes. There is a lot of crime, and just be careful. You could just drive around and look at the houses that are still destroyed, but if you do that, please, be discreat about it. The residents don't like it when people just drive around and gawk at them, but it is worth seeing. Just be careful, and try to say with someone, especially at night. Have a good trip.

Oh, and do not check out the above ground graveyards (crips). They are cool looking, but one of the most dangerous places. There are a lot of people living in them now since they don't have homes, and the police will arrest you for going in there in some cases. Look, but do NOT go in there.

Answer 7

Make sure you go to PJ's coffee. (there's on on the corner of the D-Day museum) Shop magazine street. Take a trail ride through Audobon Park with Cascade Stables (1-504-891-2246 Tuesday thru Sunday 9-5) Be careful if you want to go to the French Quarter at night, but don't be afraid to, have fun!

Answer 8

New Orleans is contradictory. There are creeps. And there are some of the most amazing people you will ever meet. There is richness. There is poverty. There is crime. There is hospitality. There is beautiful tourist places. There is destroyed neighborhoods. Tourists. Volunteers. I definitely think you'll enjoy going. Do be careful, don't wander around at night. Meet the people, they are beautiful. Spend your money to help them earn money. And avoid bourbon street; it's stinks, quite literally, and is so dirty!! :)

Answer 9

How about a horse carriage ride around the quarter? You can hang out at Cafe Du Monde and people-watch. Check out the "Haunted New Orleans" tour.

Answer 10

Well first off, let me say that I am glad you picked to visit New Orleans. There are tons of thigns to do here, and its not a complete reck like some people say. If you are staying downtown/frenchquarter area, that was a wise choice. Everything here is back to normal with the exception that lots of places are short staffed....
Now as far as things to do , you can always walk down Bourbon Street in the evening , i mean I would at least go and check it out even if the club thing isnt your thing. Its fun to listen to the different types of music, and on Sunday Nights this zydeco band plays at Tropical Isle on Bourbon , sometimes i just go there to chill out and listen to them ... and they never ID people to just go in and sit .
You can take tours, which i recomend unless you want to do a self guided tour, which is the most cost efficient way to check out the sights.... Carriage rides are pretty cool, but the run about $40 but they take you all over and you can see several places of the quarter and city with out having to walk all over the place. The Aquarium is open, as well as the Zoo, but you prob want to check the dates on it. Dont bother going shopping at the Riverwalk, there arent many good stores open there. YOU MUST have beignets at Cafe Du'Monde on Decatur street. Mmmmm they are a new orleans tradition and make a good breakfast, or snack. The street car is only running from Canal Street to City Park, in CP you can see the Museum of Art which is alright, and you can walk around in some oak trees, there is not a whole lot going on out there right now. Unfortunately , the street car is not running down St. Charles ave... but if you can make your way out there.. its worth it. You can get a cab to drop you off , or even take a carriage ride out to the garden district, its beautiful out there.. its just a few min from down town. Its has some of the most gorgeous old homes and oak trees, as well as a cemetary cafe's and local stores. If you like shopping, Royal Street in the quarter, or Magazine street has great lil stores to check out and spend time. I really wouldnt bother going out to the lake front, there isnt a whole lot to see except damaged homes and open water. If you are interested in seeing areas that were victim to the stom, and i mean really... then there are tours for that through Gray Line located on the corner of Tolouse and Decatur. As far as food, this could go on for days. It really depends on what you like, some places are excellent and cheap, and others are just tourist traps. Port of Call IS a really cool place. They make really good hamburgers and baked potatoes, however you depending on where your hotel is, you might have to take a cab, its a good walk from canal street. They make a drink called a Monsoon... mmmmmmmmmm. but i didnt say that since your not 21. I could probably go on and on to tell you things to do... let me know if you need more advice. You can also ask the concierge if there is one at the hotel or the front desk.