New Orleans is one unique city, it’s the dirty south mixed in with classy southern style if that is even possible. Spending a weekend in NOLA was just the right amount of time exploring this distinct city.
How to get there from the airport: Once you get there, there are many ways to get into the city, Hotel Shuttle, Taxi, Lyft, or Uber. It's about a 25-30 minute drive from the airport. The taxi was a $36 flat rate to Central Business District (CBD) or French Quarter for two people, more than two people have an additional fee. Uber/Lyft will cost you a lot less but we didn’t have it on our phone.
Accommodations: There are plenty of hotels around the French Quarter to stay at: Harrah, Marriott’s, Hyatt’s, all the big brand hotels are located by Canal Street which is right next to famous Bourbon Street. We stayed at the JW Marriott New Orleans on Canal Street, walking distance from Bourbon Street. This hotel has a gym, pool, two restaurants, and a lobby bar. Rooms were modern and clean, big bathroom, sitting area, comfortable beds, and a beautiful view of the city.
How to get around: The NOLA streets are full of taxis, Uber, and Lyft drivers for your drunken nights out. The French Quarter is also a very walkable city, flat, rarely any hills and all the restaurants and bars are close proximity to one another. There is also the hop-on-hop-off trolley for $1.50 for the entire day.
Things To Do:
Walking/Partying/Drinking Around French Quarters- Tourists from all over the world crowd this street for a bite to eat, to listen to good music, and of course drink! One of the things you can do in the French Quarter but rarely anywhere else in the United States are drinking on the streets. One drink that you must get is the Hand Grenade but share with a friend unless you want a nice hangover in the morning. If Hand Grenades aren’t your thing, there are plenty of beers to drink.
Go on a Ghost Tour Free Tours by Foot: How this tour company works is that pay what you think your tour guide deserves. They do offer other types of tours such as walking tours of the French Quarters and Voodoo Tours, you have to check on their websites for times and dates. We took the Ghost tour with Daniel and he was the best guide, with lots of interesting and spooky information. Tour is bout 1.5 hours long and you walk about a mile. Free Tour on Foot: Ghost Tour
Swamp Tour- The swamp isn’t too bad, it’s actually pretty peaceful. What is it? A boat ride through the New Orleans bayou where you search for gators and pigs. This is actually an educational experience, we learned so much about swamp life. There are many different companies that offer swamp tours but we choose Cajun Encounters Tour Company for a couple of reasons, one being the early morning tours. We were told the best time to go to the swamp is the morning so it won't be too hot when we were on the boat. The second reason is hotel pick up, they had a hotel pick close by the hotel we are staying at.
Visit a Cemetery: The oldest cemetery in New Orleans the St. Louis #1, ‘The City of the Dead’, is located just blocks away from the French Quarter. We used Free Tours by Foot again for this tour because you’ll have to go with a permitted tour group to enter the cemetery. How much? $2 cemetery preservation fee upfront that is paid upfront to the tour guide and then the tip at the end of the tour depending on what you think the tour is worth. FYI Nicholas Cage's future tomb is there, take a visit. Free Tour on Foot: Cemetery Tour
Listen to Music on Frenchman Street- Everyone talks about music on Bourbon Street but walks from the center of the French Quarter to Frenchman street. Located in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood is a three-block section filled with some of the best music, food, and drinks in NOLA. Just like Bourbon Street, every night is a busy night, we went on a Tuesday night and the streets were packed with music and people.
Where to eat?
Café Du Monte has been serving coffee and beignets since 1892. Café Du Monde is an open-aired restaurant that is open 24 hour hours, seven days a week. Order a Beignets and an Iced Cafe Au Lait for an afternoon snack. Love their beignets and coffee, you can buy beignet pix and coffee beans to bring home. This place is CASH ONLY. Kid-Friendly: Yes! No Kids Menu, High Chairs are available (wipe them down, they get sticky), no stroller space in the inside area but stroller space in the outside seating area, and no room for changing a baby in the bathroom.
Gumbo Shop: Open in 1976, the Gumbo Shop is a staple in the French Quarters. Its award-winning gumbo has been winning “Best of New Orleans” for the last 20 years. The Gumbo here is flavorful with a little bit of spice. Reservations are not taken at the Gumbo Shop, fall in line outside and wait there until a table is ready. Order their seafood gumbo it's delicious! Also, they make their own hot sauce, if you like it, it's for sale!
Drago’s: Visit the place that invented the Char-Broiled Oyster—Drago's Seafood Restaurant at Hilton New Orleans Riverside. These little oysters are grilled up drenched with butter and covered in garlic and Parmesan cheese. These oysters are so addicting that one dozen probably isn’t enough we suggest ordering two dozen just in case.
Where to Drink?
Carousel Bar: Each NOLA bar is famous for some fancy cocktail. We tried to find them all but we only made it to one lol the Carousel Bar is located in the Hotel Monteleone. Not only can you have tasty drinks and live music at a bar, but the Carousel Bar also moves slowly around while you enjoy your drink. The drink of choice is the Vieux Carré Cocktail.
What to Expect?
It is humid, dress accordingly. We went in May and June and it was still humid walking around, also bring an umbrella, there are some occasional rainstorms.
Everyone goes during Mardi Gras but we think you should experience New Orleans NOT during Mardi Gras, fewer people and less craziness, so you can enjoy the culture
If you are expecting a crawfish boil, crawfish is in season from January to July
Stay aware of your surroundings, especially at night, always travel in pairs or a group
If you are eating/drinking in the French Quarters, your restaurant could be haunted...
Drinking on the street is allowed in the French Quarters, just as long as it's not in a glass cup/bottle. Most bars in the French Quarters will ask you if you want your drink in a to-go cup
Always wear closed-toe shoes in Bourbon Street...
Bring cash, some of the bars/restaurants are cash only in the French Quarters.
You don't really have to rent a car, everything is within walking distance
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