New Orleans has a fantastic combination of partying, history and excellent food. For a friend’s 30th birthday we decided to go big and live it up in New Orleans. What better place to usher in your Dirty Thirties? There is something for everyone, which is good because our tour group consisted of 9 people. We stayed in a nice shotgun-style house we found on AirBnB. (A shotgun house is a style of house where you can stand at the front door, fire a shotgun into the house and the pellets would go out the back door. Basically, a house that is really long and not very wide.) We also had the fortune of sightseeing with someone who had lived in New Orleans, which took a lot of the guesswork out of making an itinerary. Below are some of the attractions I would recommend when visiting NOLA.
The French Quarter
The French Quarter is like taking a stroll through the past. It’s easy to get lost in the architecture and seemingly untouched history of the 1800’s. The streets are mostly empty in the morning, probably due to people sleeping off their Bourbon Street hangovers. So rise with the sun and stop to take in sights around you.
Jackson Square
Jackson Square is located in the epicenter of the French Quarter. It has a Disneyland-esque atmosphere with the jazz in the air and busy artists all over the streets. The centerpiece of Jackson Square is the St. Louis Cathedral. The church still does mass and weddings but is free to tour when not in use. Jackson Square is also the most crowded place in the French Quarter during the day so check it out early morning or in the evening to avoid people. There is also an artist market on Saturday’s so you can walk around and check out the local art scene.
Cafe Du Monde
The greatest attraction to New Orleans is the food. Everything is delicious from Alligator to Shrimp Po Boys, you will not be disappointed. One food, however, brings tourists from all over to taste Louisiana’s favorite sweet treat, Beignets. Deep Fried and smothered in powder sugar, these are not only delicious but fun to watch people eat. Pro tip: When eating Beignets don’t inhale when you go to take a bite. Your lungs won’t like being caked with sugar.
The best place to get these tasty French delicacies is Cafe Du Monde. Built-in 1862 they are open 24/7 and only serve two things Coffee and Beignets. Don’t bother waiting for a table because they are always full, instead go around back and get your order to go. It’s a much faster line so you can quickly get breakfast and go back to sightseeing. They only accept cash and the line moves quickly so be ready and knows what want before you get to the front.
New Orleans Graveyards
New Orleans has a rich history accompanied by a dark past. That dark past has led to many homes and businesses being inhabited by ghosts. In fact, many of the houses built in the French Quarter were built over graveyards. Bones are still being found during new construction. Recently a family who was building a swimming pool in their backyard unearthed a massive pile of bones. Yet they moved the bones out to complete the pool and now the ghosts have a refreshing place to take a swim. A lot of the draw to New Orleans is exactly this type of strange and fascinating history. Voodoo which is actually a religion and not a form of witchcraft brings droves of curious tourists to the graveyards of NOLA.
If you are looking to get into some of the more storied graveyards you will need to be accompanied by a tour guide. The Infamous City of the Dead Cemetery Tour with The Voodoo Bone Lady will give you access to one of the most historic graveyards in Louisiana. On the tour, you will see the St Louis Cemetery #1 which houses the second most visited grave in the united states, Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau. Many believers will make the pilgrimage to the grave and present an offering to the priestess in exchange for love, money or revenge. And as Voodoo commands remember to walk out of the cemetery backward so the spirits don’t hitch a ride!
Mardi Gras World
New Orleans may best be known for its elaborate celebration of Mardi Gras. But have you ever wondered who makes all the colorfully detailed floats, masks, and parade props? Well, the folks at Mardi Gras World can give you a sneak preview of what will be rolling down the streets of New Orleans in February. Take the tour they offer and watch the props come to life right before your eyes as they are painted and carved from giant foam blocks. Take a walk through the warehouse where they store the floats for the 50+ parades they hold each year. The colors are astounding. Everywhere you turn is full of vibrant and eccentric sculptures. All the props have a similar look and feel because they are carved by the same artists but no two are the same. If you can’t actually be there during the Mardi Gras Parades this is a great substitute to visit any time of the year.
Conclusion
New Orleans has a fascinating history and great food. Traveling with a local allowed us to eat and drink like we knew what we are doing. But I also think New Orleans is a great place to be a tourist. We plan to go back and do more of the touristy things such as ghost tours, ride airboats on the swampy bayou and spend some nights on Frenchman street but in the short time we had we got a good taste of the cajun life.
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Chad can be summed up by his idea of a perfect day: Waking up early to watch the sunrise over the mountains, warm cup of coffee in hand then grabbing his camera and fly rod, hitting the trail to explore some uncharted territory followed by cold beers and campfire steaks. Chad is often joined on his adventures by his wife, Tori, and their dog, Kona.
