Dear NEXT TRAVELER to The Big Easy – New Orleans, Louisiana!
Highlights/Recommendations:
1. The Food: Oceana Restaurant, Felixs, Coterie
2. French Quarter
3. Jackson Square
4. Cafe du Monde
5. Mississippi Riverwalk
6. French Market
7. Garden District
8. Streetcars
9. NOPD
10. Cemeteries
11. Audubon Aquarium
12. Audubon Zoo

We have lived for over 15 years in Mississippi, a couple hours north of New Orleans. I had never been to New Orleans prior to our move to Mississippi. The first time I visited the city, I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard all kinds of stories. Our first trip was with my husband’s company for a large convention. It was definitely a big city, with lots of sights, noises and smells. At the end of two days, I realized New Orleans was a place I would want to visit again!

Probably my most favorite part of New Orleans is the cajun food. I grew up in a beach town and fresh seafood was expected. I have always loved oysters, shrimp and fish. However, the seasonings and sauces used in New Orleans was another layer of delicious I had not experienced before. I was hooked.

Food. Oceana is our favorite restaurant in New Orleans. We have never had a bad meal there. It’s always delicious with amazing variety that is a good representation of cajun and seafood. My favorite are their crabcakes and their French toast and of course, they have the best oysters! The staff are always accommodating and kind. It has a great New Orleans vibe and is on the corner Bourbon & Conti Streets in the French Quarter. When we visit New Orleans, we typically stay at The Royal Sonesta. Oceana is across the street. It’s very convenient. Sometimes if Oceana’s is full, we’ll eat at Mambos. Mambos is the sister restaurant to Oceana. Their menu is a little different from Mambos and it’s almost as good. We just really like the vibe in Oceana’s. If you’re looking for a nicer restaurant with some distance from Bourbon Street, Coterie NOLA is amazing. The food is delicious in a little more refined atmosphere. If you just need some oysters and drinks, Felix’s is always a good choice. We recently discovered Canal Street Burger Bar when we were staying at the Marriott and their burgers were fantastic.

The French Quarter. “The Quarter” is made up of 70-80 city blocks in the heart of New Orleans. There are restaurants, hotels, clothing shops, city buildings, antique stores, grocery stores, souvenir shops, churches, and more – all within the French Quarter. Bourbon Street is the most famous street, mostly because of its wild side. It definitely comes alive on the weekend nights. It’s mostly mild during the day. There are a few places that have nude and racy photos in the front of their entrances, but most of that can be avoided. It definitely smells better during the day after the streets have been washed down beginning at 5:00 am. There is so much history, beautiful buildings and amazing food in the French Quarter.

Jackson Square. The grand features of Jackson Square are a statue of Andrew Jackson on a horse that was erected in 1856 and St. Louis Cathedral which was founded in 1720 and has been reconstructed several times. The current Cathedral was completed in 1850 and Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral in September 1987. The square is named for Andrew Jackson, who was credited with victory in the 1815 Battle of New Orleans and later became the 7th president of the United States. I always visit the Cathedral when I’m in Jackson Square. It’s beautiful inside with stained glass, wooden pews and ornate religious decor. I try to plan to be in the Cathedral in the heat of the day, especially in the summer. It’s always a nice place to sit, find peace, and cool down. There are always street artists selling their art all along the gates of the garden of Jackson Square, street performers, palm readers, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a large variety of singers & bands. Some bands are children with buckets as their instruments. A word of caution – If you take a picture with a street performer, be prepared to pay. I have been chased down by a performer to pay for the photo.

Cafe du Monde. Across the street from Jackson Square is Cafe du Monde. They are famous for their beignets. Beignets are airy donuts covered in powdered sugar. Be prepared to wait on the weekends. The lines are long but move pretty fast. Sometimes you can find a seat in their dining area, but often it’s standing room only. There is powdered sugar everywhere and if you eat one the correct way, you’ll be covered in powdered sugar.

Riverwalk. Just behind Cafe du Monde and across from Jackson Square is the Mississippi Riverwalk. The riverwalk is actually built on top of one of the city’s many levees. There’s a fantastic photo op at the top of the stairs on the boardwalk. You can get the St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square on one side and the Riverwalk on the other. The riverwalk runs the length of just below the French Market to the Shops at Jackson Brewery.

French Market. An open-air shopping and food area, the French Market is six blocks running along the river. Its history is interesting, it was started as a Native American trading post and is the oldest market of this kind in the United States. You can buy food, including meats & seafood, crepes, ice cream, and fudge. You can also buy souvenirs, tshirts, jewelry, and clothing.

Garden District. This upscale neighborhood is considered one of the best-preserved collections of historic mansions in the South. I love to catch the streetcar on Canal Street and ride it down St. Charles Avenue. There are beautiful houses, shops, and restaurants. You can usually spot lots of mardi gras beads hanging in the oak tree branches. Some of the famous houses include (1) 2707 Coliseum Street, featured in the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2) Buckner Mansion, 1410 Jackson Avenue, a 1856 mansion featured in American Horror Story: Coven (3) Gilmour–Parker House, 1520 Prytania Street, erected in 1853. John M. Parker Jr., lived here and later served as Governor of Louisiana in the 1920s. Magazine Street is famous and has a great mixture of shopping, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries.

Streetcars. The streetcars are always a great part of visiting New Orleans. They are historic, interesting to ride in and help reduce the amount of time walking especially in the garden district and around the cemeteries. The St. Charles Streetcar Line has been running since 1835, it is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. This line is my favorite because it takes you past entrances to Audubon Park, Tulane University and Loyola University New Orleans, continues through the Garden District, and ends at Canal Street just before the French Quarter. A single ride fare is $1.25. You can get a 1-day unlimited Jazzy pass for $3.00. If I’m just going to be in New Orleans for the weekend, I’ll usually only spend part of a day in the Garden District and usually purchase a 1-day pass.

NOPD. New Orleans Police Department is located in the middle of the French Quarter at 300 Royal Street. You can walk inside the lobby of the police department and buy a NOPD t-shirt from the vending machines.

Cemeteries. There are over 40 historic cemeteries throughout New Orleans. Because New Orleans is at or below sea level, if someone is buried in the ground in New Orleans, there is risk of the coffin becoming water-logged or even not staying buried in the ground. Because of this, the people of New Orleans have generally been placed in above-ground tombs. These above-ground tombs and wall vaults are often laid out in rows and patterns. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest and among the most famous cemeteries, it was opened in 1789. Beginning in 2025, because of the rise of vandalism, you now have to pay to enter and visit this cemetery. Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, 1420 Washington Avenue, was established in 1833. The cemetery contains many historic tombs. Be sure to check for opening and closing times for each cemetery.

Audubon Aquarium. The New Orleans aquarium is fantastic. It’s located on the Mississippi River and is consistently top ranked among aquariums. The Aquarium includes exhibits from the Caribbean, the Amazon Rainforest, the Mississippi River and the Gulf of America. There are over 3,600 animals from more than 250 species, including endangered African penguins and rare white alligators. Ticket prices range from $40-$45. When you buy a ticket to the Aquarium, entrance to the Audubon Insectarium is now included with your Audubon Aquarium admission. There is also a combination ticket for the Aquarium, Insectarium & Zoo for $60.

Audubon Zoo. The New Orleans zoo has exotic and endangered animals from around the world. The Audubon Zoo is consistently one of the country’s top-ranked zoos. There are so many animals to see, kids play areas and several food options including jambalaya and snowballs. The zoo has wonderful oak trees throughout the park that provide much needed shade in the summer.

This is just a small sampling of all the things to do in The Big Easy! It’s vibrant, fun, full of good food and plenty of entertainment and excitement.