New Orleans, Louisiana.

(Celebration of the 300th year of Mardi Gras)

What is there to do in New Orleans?

Bourbon Street- This is a street in the heart of New Orleans & oldest neighborhood. Here you'll find all the bars, clubs, parades, and pretty much everything you want to see or do located on this street.
Hotel Monteleone- Has a moving carousel bar in the lobby.
Jackson Square- Has great art, street performers and the St. Louis Cathedral.
The French Market- Great food & flea market shopping.
Frenchman Street- Live music, lots of culture, & art exhibits.
Madame Delphine LaLaurie House from American Horror Story- 1140 Royal Street. Its a about two blocks down from Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop!
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop- Oldest continually operated bar in America since the 1700's!
Swamp Tours -If you don't book in advance don't worry there are many tour agents located on Bourbon Street if you change your mind!
Haunted History tours- If you don't book in advance don't worry there are many tour agents located on Bourbon Street if you change your mind!
Marie Laeau's House of Voodoo
The Old US Mint- Used to be a US Mint
The National WWII Museum
Lake Pontchartrain- Here you'll be able to spot a swamp, a light house and even go fishing.
New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
Museum of Death
The Mississippi River- Check out Mississippis waterfront down on the broad walk. Its the perfect little getaway from the crazy scene from Bourbon street if your looking for a romantic getaway.
Confederate Memorial Hall
Preservation Hall-Preservation Hall was established in 1961 to preserve, perpetuate, and protect traditional New Orleans Jazz.
Mardi Gras World- A museum warehouse where floats are made for Mardi Gras parades in.
Mardi Gras
Jazz Fest
Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium- Its completely free

Where to stay in New Orleans?

French Quarter- NOLA's oldest and most famous neighborhood. The French Quarter is an ideal neighborhood if your here to celebrate festivals. Everything thing you need or want to do is all in walking distance. Its very young and live here but families are welcome!
Central Business District- Boarding the French Quarter this neighborhood is know for its hub for sports, gaming, shopping, theatre, and family-friendly activities.
Arts District/ Warehouse District- If your looking for a local stay and an art scene, the art district is where you want to stay. You'll find amazing assortment of galleries, boutiques, modern structures of steel and glass housing large-scale cultural institutions of national prominence.
Garden District- If your looking for a quite southern stay, check out the Garden district. In the Garden district you'll find Spanish moss, a wealth of beautiful churches and many more architectural marvels.
Faubourg Marigny & Bywater- The French Quarter isn't the only neighborhood to party in. If you want a less of a tourist scene and some southern hospitality check It out!

What language is spoken in New Orleans?

New Orleans is a melting pot of various immigrant cultures – French, Spanish, German, African and Irish. Although New Orleans has various immigrated cultures, English is the main language spoken here.

Currency?

USD$ Dollar

(Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, the oldest continually operated bar in America since the 1700's!)

How to get to your destination from the airport?

Tip: It's about a 20-30 minute ride to the airport. If your traveling to New Orleans for events such as Mardi Gras/Jazz Fest, give your self enough travel time in case of traffic. There are tons of parades thats take place through out the day and which many street will be blocked off.

Taxi - A taxi ride to and from the airport to the Central Business District (CBD) is $33 for one or two people, $14 for each additional person. For events such as Mardi Gras, taxis can charge up to 75$ one way! Arriving early in the morning or late at night will avoid these high fees.
Airport shuttle- The airport shuttle is $38 per person round trip or $20 one way.
Uber/Lyft- Mobile app transportations will be no different to on call taxis in New Orleans. The only difference between an on call taxi and an Uber here is that you won't get charged for additional people in the car. A ride to and from the airport to the Central Business District (CBD) is about $33. For events such as Mardi Gras/Jazz Fest, taxis can charge up to 75$ one way! Arriving early in the morning or late at night will avoid these high fees.

How to get around New Orleans?

Taxi & Uber/Lyft- Taxis & Ubers are most common transportion getting around if your not in the French Quarter. The rides are also priced the same if you take an Uber or an on call taxi.
Walking- Using your own two feet is a common transportation you'll use if you stay in the French Quarter! Deciding to stay in the French Quarter is ideal if you don't want to deal with figuring out on how to get around town. Everything you need or want to do in located in the French Quarter.
Bike - Renting a bike is probably one of the most funnest ways to get around New Orleans since everything is close in distance!
Street cars or bicycle taxi- Priced at $10-15USD. An Uber would probably cost less to get around but not as fun as a plain old Uber ride.
Rental car- Renting a car is always an option but it might not be the best option. Here in New Orleans, trying to find parking is a disaster. If your visiting New Olreans during a festival time, you'll find that you won't find close parking or street parking won't be aloud during this time. This means you'll have to find parking else, which normally results in a far walk from the events and your hotel. If your staying in the French Quarter it would be a waste of money, since everything is in walking distance or a short cab ride away.

When to travel to New Orleans?

The best time to visit New Orleans is from February to May. The temperature ranges from 60℉ to 70℉ degrees and the celebrations are in full swing. Mardi Gras date moves around and can be anywhere from Feb. 3 and March 9. Jazz Fest is the end of April to early May.

To save money on room rates, travel in the fall or summer. In the summer the temperature can range in the high 80℉ degrees.

(Beignets from Cafe Du Monde-picture1; Jambalaya and chicken & waffles from Creole Cuisine Restaurant- picture2)

Where to eat in New Orleans?

The options on where to eat are endless in New Orleans. Here are just a few of good eats around town!

Stanley Restaurant- Modern Louisiana fare & all-day breakfasts.
Cafe Beignet- Authentic Cajun food, beignets & café au. This spot is perfect for breakfast and lunch.
NOLA- Serves authentic modern Louisianan food and great PoBoys. This is a great spot for lunch and dinner.
Johnnys Po-boys- A Classic Creole cuisine that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The roast beef is traditional!
Cafe Du Monde- An iconic New Orleans cafe known for café au laits, chicory coffee & beignets since 1862. The lines can get pretty hectic. You can skip an hour wait if you go earlier in the morning, before 12 noon. Just don't forget to bring cash because its a CASH ONLY restaurant!
Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts- Authentic Creole cuisine. Creole Cuisine was one of my favorite restaurants while visiting New Orleans. If I lived here I think I would dine here almost every other day. Try the jambalaya and chicken & waffles. You won't regret it!
Arnauds- Famous for their shrimp remoulade. They also have a Mardi Gras museum upstairs!
Antoine's- If you want to dine in history, Antonie's offers lots of history here. Just ask the waiters! There are hidden rooms from prohibition days, old jail cells, crazy painted rooms, and mardi gras exhibitions. Its also one of the oldest family run restaurants in the US.
Mothers- Great food & fried chicken.
Laura's Pralines and Candies- New Orleans oldest candy store.
Tujagues's (pronounced 2-jacks)- Used to be a Spanish Armory. Don't forget to take a picture in the crown royal chair. Also try the red beans and rice. Its delicious.
Court of Two Sisters- Great for a jazz brunch
Acme Oyster House- A very famous restaurant in New Orleans. There will be a line!
Felix's- Felix's is right across the street from Acme with the same food but less of a line.
Tropical Isle- Home of the hand grenades!
Port O' Call- You have to uber here but they have great Monsoons in a go cup. BEWARE DRINK ONLY ONE. These Monsoons are surely made with love!
Pat O Brien's- They have a piano bar, and famous for their hurricane drink. If you tell them you want a to go cup, you'll save $3 but you won't get the fancy glass.

Things you should know when traveling to New Orleans?

Yes, you can drink in the streets. The city allows for the possession and consumption of alcohol in public areas such as the French Quarter.
Many local delicacies that New Orleans is know for is beignets, alligator, and turtle soup.
Leave your heels and good shoes at home! You won't need them here. You'll do ALOT of walking if your visiting for a festival. There also so many people parading around, your shoes are bound to be stepped on or scuffed up from walk.
New Orleans is the birthplace of jazz! Fun fact!
New Orleans can't actually take credit for the birth of Mardi Gras. The annual celebration originated in Mobile, Alabama in 1703. Fun fact!

(Children street performers)

Is New Orleans kid friendly? Things to do with kids?

You’ll hear many mix options on if New Orleans is kid friendly or not, especially for festive times. Most of the options that told me New Orleans is not kid friendly during the festival times, were mostly people that never visited NOLA. My husband and I left our daughter at home with her grandmother this trip but not because it wasn’t kid friendly but for mommy and daddy time! In fact, once we arrived I regretted not bringing our daughter, Amiyah. The kids love the parades, elaborate floats, pounding music, and cool stuff that flies through the air! Many kids were even street performs. There were even times where we would make a crowded circle around kids and have dance battles! Everyone from and visiting NOLA has the most respect for kids. You'll find that people will make open paths for families and strollers. Besides the partying won’t stop just because theres kids in town.