What To Do In New Orleans: Our Guide For Everything NOLA
Welcome to “The Big Easy”!
A place we hold near and dear to our hearts, we are always on board for a trip to this lively, mystical, magical, soulful city. From history, cocktails, music, art, sports, parades, and food – The Big Easy has a lil sumpin’ to offer everyone. As veterans to visiting the city here is what we think you should know when you visit.
“When you go to New Orleans, you’re not just going to a city, you’re going to an entire culture.”
Lay of the Land
When booking a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb or Vrbo consider the following:
What activities are you wanting to partake in — nightlife, historic sites, local cuisine?
What is your budget?
What are your hotel preferences? New Orleans offers a variety of modern, historic, and boutique style accommodations.
Having visited a number of different neighborhoods we have stayed in numerous hotels and Airbnbs we have found that the cost and location really varies on time of year and number of beds needed. Depending on the number of people you are traveling with, price out both hotels and Airbnbs. Usually what it comes down to for us when planning is our budget and how far we’re willing to walk.
New Orleans Neighborhoods
Here is a high level overview of the neighborhoods in New Orleans and what you’ll find in each area.
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Bourbon Street
Street performers
Royal Street Shopping
Jackson Square
Café du Monde
Pat O’Brien’s
French Market
The Carousel Bar & Lounge
Popular for a number of movies and TV shows like Interview with a Vampire, The Originals, and Bar Rescue
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St. Charles Streetcar access
Magazine Street (Shopping and good eats)
Colleges and Universities
Historic mansions and tree-lined streets
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Residential area
Oldest African American neighborhood
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Art galleries and museums
Industrial warehouses
Trendy restaurants
Ideal or art enthursiasts and foodies
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Frenchman Street live jazz music
St. Claude Arts District
Typical colorful shotgun homes and Creole Cottages
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Sports arenas like the Super Dome and Smoothie King Arena
Business epicenter
Modern upscale hotels
Easy access to the French Quarter
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Canal Streetcar access
Above Ground Cemeteries
Museums of Art & Sculpture Gardens
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Victorian Cottages
Historic
Residential area
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Residential area
Cute neighborhood restaurants
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Waterfront Views
Residential area
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Jazz Fest
Multicultural Community
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River View
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Barataria Preserve
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New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Saints Training Facility
Popular Streets
Bourbon Street 13 blocks in length, this famous street is known for its bars. Lined with neon lights, Bourbon is the mecca for party animals. The constant celebration draws thousands of travelers to visit, especially during carnival season, better known as Mardi Gras. Have your beads ready because travelers can visit and enjoy the balconies of Bourbon year round.
Bars on Bourbon we recommend:
Pat O’Brien’s - Try a Hurricane!
The Old Absinthe House
Tropical Isle
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar - Known for it’s dimly lit atmosphere, it’s one of the oldest buildings in the U.S.A. dating back to the 1700s.
The Cat’s Meow - If you enjoy karaoke this bar is the place for you!
The Swamp
Fun Fact: You'll only ever see locals on Bourbon on Sundays. Know why? This is the day tourists usually leave, which means the residents get their city to enjoy for a brief second during the changing of the tourists.
Frenchmen Street is where you will find endless hours of live music almost any hour of the day. If you are hanging out in the French Quarter we would recommend grabbing a Frozen Irish Coffee from Molly’s at the Market, walking down Decatur and doing a little shopping on your way to Frenchmen. It's about a mile walk but very flat and easy.
Bars on Frenchman we recommend:
The Spotted Cat
Three Muses
The Maison
The Blue Nile
Frenchmen Art Market
Dat Dog
Canal Street is a major shopping drag that flows through the French Quarter. Lined with delicious eateries, you'll find most of the major hotel chains around here. Canal serves as the main parade route for celebrations and is the most notable road connecting downtown to uptown.
Here are some spots to checkout:
The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans a luxurious hotel.
Canal Place an upscale shopping center.
The Roosevelt New Orleans historic hotel and Sazerac Bar. The cocktails, especially the espresso martini are incredible at the Sazerac!
Harrah’s Casino to try your luck!
St. Claude Avenue is where you go when you're ready to hang with the locals. Here is where you'll find colorful murals and unique attractions. Known for it’s artsy vibe, St. Claude runs through Marigny and Bywater to the Ninth Ward.
What to see:
St. Roch Market Food Hall
The Music Box Village
AllWays Lounge & Cabaret has the best live performances!
It's All About the Food (& Drinks)
Celebrated far and wide for its vibrant culinary scene, which includes iconic Creole dishes and a range of diverse drink offerings, here are some must-try foods and drinks and where to find them.
New Orleans Dishes
Beignets: deep-fried slices of heaven, these dough squares are heavily covered in powdered sugar.
Crawfish Étouffée: crawfish smothered in sauce with local spices, served over rice
Po’ Boys: sandwich served on French bread, filled with fried seafood, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise.
Jambalaya: rich in flavor and usually very hearty, this dish of rice is coked with sausage, chicken, seafood, vegetables and spices.
Gumbo: a stew made with roux base, contains shellfish or meat, bell peppers, celery, and onions.
Restaurants
Café du Monde: Try the beignets with a café au lait, coffee-with-chicory that is equal parts hot milk.
How to Get Around
Navigating New Orleans is extremely easy. There are so many different methods of transportation you can use! If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, hop on a streetcar and travel through the historic neighborhoods, or stroll through the French Quarter on foot. Things like taxis, ride-sharing services, and bike rentals are available for longer distances, but we recommend walking when you can.
Best Time of Year to Visit
New Orleans is a great place to visit at any point in time, but what it boils down to is your personal preferences. The event calendar for NOLA is full! Here is a breakdown of the seasons.
Spring: Mild in temperature, March to May is when Jazz Fest and the French Quarter Festival take place.
Summer: Hot and humid come to mind for the months of June through August. It’s not uncommon for thunderstorms during this time either.
Fall: From September to November the weather starts to cool and there are typically fewer tourists. Experiencing Halloween in NOLA with the locals can be a real treat!
Winter: The December chill in the air does not stop visitors from experiencing the holiday decorations around town. January officially kicks off the start of Mardi Gras and parades run into the month of February!
Did You Know...
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