A Few Tourist Questions!

[tarheelmjfan]

We're considering a trip to NOLA in the summer. I have a few questions, & hope some of you may be able to answer them for me.

-We're tied to our DS' high school schedule. He gets out June 4th & returns Aug. 18th. Taking that into consideration, when would be the best time to visit.

-Can we expect the same NOLA we saw pre-Katrina? We visited the FQ, Business(?), & Garden Districts, & plan to do the same next time. Have those places recovered?

-Disclaimer: I know this is probably a dumb question, & may just be a made for Hollywood stereotype, but I'm going to ask anyway. :blush: The one thing I really want to do this time is take a bayou tour. I'm only interested in seeing the lifestyle of those living there (think Waterboy). Does that even exist?

-On our last visit, we bought an Entertainment book. It was the best ent. book I've ever purchased. Do they not offer one for NOLA anymore?

I'm sure there will be more questions, especially about seeing live music w/ a 16 yo., but I'll save those for later. Thanks in advance for your help. :)

[Ms Marigny]

We're considering a trip to NOLA in the summer. I have a few questions, & hope some of you may be able to answer them for me.

-We're tied to our DS' high school schedule. He gets out June 4th & returns Aug. 18th. Taking that into consideration, when would be the best time to visit.

-Can we expect the same NOLA we saw pre-Katrina? We visited the FQ, Business(?), & Garden Districts, & plan to do the same next time. Have those places recovered?

-Disclaimer: I know this is probably a dumb question, & may just be a made for Hollywood stereotype, but I'm going to ask anyway. :blush: The one thing I really want to do this time is take a bayou tour. I'm only interested in seeing the lifestyle of those living there (think Waterboy). Does that even exist?

-On our last visit, we bought an Entertainment book. It was the best ent. book I've ever purchased. Do they not offer one for NOLA anymore?

I'm sure there will be more questions, especially about seeing live music w/ a 16 yo., but I'll save those for later. Thanks in advance for your help. :)

I think, based on the heat, it would be better to visit in June. The heat in July and August can be unpleasant for outside excursions. There is also the occasional odd hurricane in July and early August which could hinder your plans.

The areas which you speak of (FQ, CBD, Garden District) for the most part are the same as pre-K because they did not get the flooding the other areas got. If you venture out of those areas though, you will see a very different NOLA. :guilty:

There are swamp tours available and are lots of fun! I think this is the closest to the Waterboy-esque lifestyle of which you speak. :rotfl:

I'm not sure about the Entertainment book- maybe someone else can answer that. (any other NOLA Diser's out there lurking?)

Good luck planning and thanks for soming on down! :)

[tarheelmjfan]

Good luck planning and thanks for soming on down! :)
We'll be coming over & up (from Tampa), but thanks for the welcome. :)

I think, based on the heat, it would be better to visit in June. The heat in July and August can be unpleasant for outside excursions. There is also the occasional odd hurricane in July and early August which could hinder your plans.
The last time we visited we were there in July. The weather didn't really bother us, because we're used to it. I can see how it would be more enjoyable visiting in June though. We'll most likely do that, unless there's a special event in July or August that we find out about later.

The areas which you speak of (FQ, CBD, Garden District) for the most part are the same as pre-K because they did not get the flooding the other areas got. If you venture out of those areas though, you will see a very different NOLA. :guilty:
I've been reading about Katrina tours. Do you know if those take us into areas damaged in the storm? I'm sure the aftermath in many places is heartbreaking still.

There are swamp tours available and are lots of fun! I think this is the closest to the Waterboy-esque lifestyle of which you speak. :rotfl:
So, are there families that live in the bayou/swamp that we could see on a tour? We've been in the Everglades & wouldn't go on another swamp tour just to see the wildlife. However, we really enjoy learning about other cultures, & would love a tour that shared cajun history with us.

Thanks again for all your help.

[Ms Marigny]

Yes, the Katrina tours take you through the areas most affected by the storm, most likely the ninth ward and lakeview. I've seen them driving through my neighborhood also (it did flood here) and through City Park.

As for the swamp tours, they do focus on Louisiana wildlife and often go through wildlife reserves. But there are many, many swamp tours offered, so some may differ as to how much Cajun culture they cover. People do live on the Bayous, but I'm not sure which tours would cover that. I would suggest doing a bit of research to find out which tour would work for you.

I see these tour buses quite a bit:
http://www.toursbyisabelle.com/tours.html

as well as these:
http://www.bigeasytours.us/tours/tourDetail.cfm?tour_id=1353

I just googled "cajun tours" and a ton of sites came up- have fun looking!

[cajunmommy]

Should I give you my Dsis & BIL's address? I could hook you up with a personalized tour, but there's no promise you'll return from that kind of swamp tour, especially if you mention the Waterboy comment!

On the serious side, do you remember the LA couple that was on one of the Wife Swap shows a couple of years ago? They operate a swamp tour company called Zam's. It's just shy of an hour's drive from NOLA (I think). Good family (my DNephews attend the same school as the son), good cultural ambassadors (although the accents are a little thick). I'm not sure how much culture they include in their tours, however. It may be just a swamp expedition. I'll try to do some digging and see if there are some others I can recommend.

How far are you willing to travel outside of the city to get that bayou Cajun culture experience? This is about an hour away....http://www.nps.gov/jela/wetlands-acadian-cultural-center.htm

I have a current Entertainment book for Baton Rouge that has some NOLA attractions in it. Try going to the main website - I believe you can get info on the major cities. If there's a specific coupon or discount you're looking for, I may be able to forward it.

[tarheelmjfan]

Yes, the Katrina tours take you through the areas most affected by the storm, most likely the ninth ward and lakeview. I've seen them driving through my neighborhood also (it did flood here) and through City Park.

As for the swamp tours, they do focus on Louisiana wildlife and often go through wildlife reserves. But there are many, many swamp tours offered, so some may differ as to how much Cajun culture they cover. People do live on the Bayous, but I'm not sure which tours would cover that. I would suggest doing a bit of research to find out which tour would work for you.

I see these tour buses quite a bit:
http://www.toursbyisabelle.com/tours.html

as well as these:
http://www.bigeasytours.us/tours/tourDetail.cfm?tour_id=1353

I just googled "cajun tours" and a ton of sites came up- have fun looking!

Thanks again for the info & links. You've been very helpful.

Should I give you my Dsis & BIL's address? I could hook you up with a personalized tour, but there's no promise you'll return from that kind of swamp tour, especially if you mention the Waterboy comment!

On the serious side, do you remember the LA couple that was on one of the Wife Swap shows a couple of years ago? They operate a swamp tour company called Zam's. It's just shy of an hour's drive from NOLA (I think). Good family (my DNephews attend the same school as the son), good cultural ambassadors (although the accents are a little thick). I'm not sure how much culture they include in their tours, however. It may be just a swamp expedition. I'll try to do some digging and see if there are some others I can recommend.

How far are you willing to travel outside of the city to get that bayou Cajun culture experience? This is about an hour away....http://www.nps.gov/jela/wetlands-acadian-cultural-center.htm

I have a current Entertainment book for Baton Rouge that has some NOLA attractions in it. Try going to the main website - I believe you can get info on the major cities. If there's a specific coupon or discount you're looking for, I may be able to forward it.


I don't watch Wife Swap, so I don't know who you're referring to. Too bad I missed that. :guilty:

I hope I didn't offend anyone with the Waterboy comment. That wasn't my intention. I just didn't know another way to describe the tour we wanted that would make sense. We're not interested in a tour that promotes sterotypes. We like an authentic experience, & are willing to travel in order to get that. I'll check out the link you provided also. It sounds like what we're looking for.

I did check Entertainment.com for a NOLA book, & didn't see one. The last time we visited we paid full price for very little. Most everything, restaurants, tours, etc., were BOGO thanks to the entertainment book. That was really nice. I'm not far enough in my planning to know where we want to eat & what we want to do yet. When I come up with a list, I'll let you know. Thanks for the offer.

[bluerendezvous]

You said that you're coming up from Tampa... I'd like to encourage you to stay a night or two with us here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We have some pretty great things to offer here too. Casinos, golf, and a variety of tours including a shrimping tour. Maybe we could be your stop along the way!

[cajunmommy]

I don't watch Wife Swap, so I don't know who you're referring to. Too bad I missed that. :guilty:
It's OK - I didn't see the entire show myself. I don't care for those types of programs, and only turned it on to see how badly our locals would be stereotyped. I just used it as a reference because I knew it had aired nationally.

I hope I didn't offend anyone with the Waterboy comment. That wasn't my intention. I just didn't know another way to describe the tour we wanted that would make sense. We're not interested in a tour that promotes sterotypes. We like an authentic experience, & are willing to travel in order to get that. I'll check out the link you provided also. It sounds like what we're looking for.
Don't worry - no offense taken here! Because our culture is so unique there have been very few instances that Hollywood has done it right. Let me know if the Wetlands Center in Thibodaux interests you. I grew up 15 minutes from there, most of my family still resides in Lafourche Parish, and I may be able to provide you with some additional information on other cultural experiences in that immediate area (like a tour of a working sugar plantation).

I did check Entertainment.com for a NOLA book, & didn't see one. The last time we visited we paid full price for very little. Most everything, restaurants, tours, etc., were BOGO thanks to the entertainment book. That was really nice. I'm not far enough in my planning to know where we want to eat & what we want to do yet. When I come up with a list, I'll let you know. Thanks for the offer.

Sorry you struck out on the Entertainment.com. I do know there used to be a couple of tour group companies in NOLA that would put together combo coupon booklets / city maps / city guides that were available all over the city. Maybe one of our NOLA group can say if they're being printed again.

[nataliela]

We're considering a trip to NOLA in the summer. I have a few questions, & hope some of you may be able to answer them for me.


-Disclaimer: I know this is probably a dumb question, & may just be a made for Hollywood stereotype, but I'm going to ask anyway. :blush: The one thing I really want to do this time is take a bayou tour. I'm only interested in seeing the lifestyle of those living there (think Waterboy). Does that even exist?



:scared: ouch!!!!!

Just kidding

I definitely suggest Zam’s. I think it runs out of their house, which is pretty cajun. Or you could come spend some time with my in-laws! No, they aren’t that bad.

I would also suggest doing a Katrina tour…The images on TV don’t do the damage justice. I try to ride through Lakeview every couple of months to see the progress.

[tarheelmjfan]

You said that you're coming up from Tampa... I'd like to encourage you to stay a night or two with us here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We have some pretty great things to offer here too. Casinos, golf, and a variety of tours including a shrimping tour. Maybe we could be your stop along the way!

Thanks for the suggestion. We want to stop 1 or 2 days on the way to NOLA & the same on the way back. My DH wants to go to the beach in the Panhandle, since it's pretty much the only area of Florida we haven't visited. After I get all the NOLA info figured out, I'll research more into Mississippi for the other stop. I'm sure I'll be back with questions soon.

Sorry you struck out on the Entertainment.com. I do know there used to be a couple of tour group companies in NOLA that would put together combo coupon booklets / city maps / city guides that were available all over the city. Maybe one of our NOLA group can say if they're being printed again.

I checked your link & that looks like a great place to visit. I'll get back to you soon on that one. Right now, my mind's in planning overload. :crazy: Really, I love it! :teeth:

:scared: ouch!!!!!

Just kidding

I definitely suggest Zam’s. I think it runs out of their house, which is pretty cajun. Or you could come spend some time with my in-laws! No, they aren’t that bad.

I would also suggest doing a Katrina tour…The images on TV don’t do the damage justice. I try to ride through Lakeview every couple of months to see the progress.

Oops! :blush: I really should have thought of a better way to explain the type of tour I'm looking for. :o I'm not expecting to see people eating snakes, & calling people the "debil". ;) I would like to take a tour that features people living in the bayou, if anyone still lives there. Again, I really didn't mean to offend anyone. Please, forgive me! :flower3: BTW, we're definitely going to take a Katrina tour.

[nataliela]

Oops! :blush: I really should have thought of a better way to explain the type of tour I'm looking for. :o I'm not expecting to see people eating snakes, & calling people the "debil". ;) I would like to take a tour that features people living in the bayou, if anyone still lives there. Again, I really didn't mean to offend anyone. Please, forgive me! :flower3: BTW, we're definitely going to take a Katrina tour.

None taken! I really do know some people who talk to where you can't understand a word their are saying...and we really do eat gator! (well...no me personally, but my husband does)


A review on Zam's
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/map/la.html


Zam's Swamp Tours
Kraemer, Louisiana

The town of Kraemer is so small and so poor, it had to buy a used drawbridge when its old one collapsed into the Lac des Allemands bayou. This fascinating fact is one of many that you'll learn when you take Zam's Bayou Swamp Tour, the best of the dozen-or-so swamp excursions that encircle New Orleans.

Kraemer is out in the middle of nowhere and Zam's is its principal industry. The rickety signs lining Highway 307 trumpet Zam's tours, but most of its money is made wholesaling alligator skulls -- 10,000 last year -- which are then resold by nearly every gift shop in New Orleans. What doesn't go to the big city ends up in Zam's gift shop, filling the walls floor-to-ceiling and stacked on every available flat surface. Even the fences that surround Zam's property are studded with the toothy skulls, drying in the delta sun.

Mr. Zam is of undetermined age and yearns to retire, so he's turned the tour side of the business over his son, "Wild Bill" Tregle. Wild Bill freely admits that he doesn't want this responsibility, but he needs the money to pay for his Corvette, his beer, and his party-hearty lifestyle with his motorcycle gang buddies. Capt. Wild Bill is in his mid-forties but, he reflects, he's in no hurry to grow up.

Since you'll probably be the only person on the tour, Wild Bill feels free to ignore nature and talks instead about his drinking, his run-ins with the police, and his quirky bayou neighbors. This, as it turns out, makes for an entirely satisfactory swamp tour, as there is otherwise very little to spark conversation out here besides basking turtles and an occasional undulating water snake.

"See that shack over there?" Capt. Wild Bill asks, pointing to a shanty half-hidden in the cypress. "No running water. The woman who lives there is ninety-five and she has to shower out of a bucket."

"Why doesn't someone connect her to a water main?"

"You don't want to help that lady. She's a WITCH!"

Wild Bill's tours last an hour, but budget some extra time to tour Zam's "zoo" (where every exhibit ends up in the processing plant) and Edwina's Cookin' Cajun Cafe (whose dishes specialize in skull-less alligators).

To cap off your visit, tip Wild Bill enough to buy a six-pack and he'll drag gators and loggerheads out of their display pits and pose for novelty snapshots. "This turtle is 126 years old and can BITE YOUR LEG OFF

[cajunmommy]

I know you're swamped with planning (OK- groan - sorry for the pun!),
but if the Wetlands center & Zam's both pique your interest, you'll be happy to know that they're really only about a 20 minute scenic drive apart from each other.

Any other planning questions, fire away! Chances are we've been there or know the owners!

[YesMickey]

We're considering a trip to NOLA in the summer. I have a few questions, & hope some of you may be able to answer them for me.

-We're tied to our DS' high school schedule. He gets out June 4th & returns Aug. 18th. Taking that into consideration, when would be the best time to visit.

-Can we expect the same NOLA we saw pre-Katrina? We visited the FQ, Business(?), & Garden Districts, & plan to do the same next time. Have those places recovered?

-Disclaimer: I know this is probably a dumb question, & may just be a made for Hollywood stereotype, but I'm going to ask anyway. :blush: The one thing I really want to do this time is take a bayou tour. I'm only interested in seeing the lifestyle of those living there (think Waterboy). Does that even exist?

-On our last visit, we bought an Entertainment book. It was the best ent. book I've ever purchased. Do they not offer one for NOLA anymore?

I'm sure there will be more questions, especially about seeing live music w/ a 16 yo., but I'll save those for later. Thanks in advance for your help. :)

Try this link for a tourist bookhttp://www.neworleansonline.com/tools/signup.php

and for a true bayou tour you would be better off driving to the bayou. South of New Iberia etc. Go see the Tabasco plant on Avery Island. It is a 7 mile drive through the bayou from New Iberia. The French Quarter is the cleanist I have ever seen it. Wife and I went a few months ago. Tip. Take a cab at night. You still don't want to walk through at night. During the day is the best time to see the quarter anyway. Stay at the Hilton Riverside and eat some charbroiled oysters at Dragos with a crabmeat stuffed lobster. MMM!

[LuvsTinker]

Welcome!

There is a tour booth located on the river in the Fr. Quarter (close to the Aquarium) where they sell the river tours - it also offers the hurricane bus tours and some swamp tours.

Happy touring!

[cajunmommy]

and for a true bayou tour you would be better off driving to the bayou. South of New Iberia etc. Go see the Tabasco plant on Avery Island. It is a 7 mile drive through the bayou from New Iberia.


Tabasco / Avery Island is a good idea. It's a great example of bayou scenery, and the Tabasco plant tour is great for your sinuses! ;) However, it's at least a 2.5hr drive from NOLA. The tour & drive nataliela & I have recommended are much closer, and are no less a "true bayou tour."

As a matter of fact, the Wetlands Center is located on the banks of Bayou Lafourche, once an active tributary of the Mississippi River, and identified as the "longest Main Street in America" because of the homes, businesses & fishing camps that line its banks from Donaldsonville (where it branches off the River) all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.

tarheelmjfan - try googling Houma or Thibodaux if you want more info on the heart of Bayou country.

YesMickey - Please don't think I'm being argumentative. I grew up in the area, all my family still resides there, and I am passionate about sharing it.

[tarheelmjfan]

Hi all, :wave2:
Sorry I've been MIA for awhile. I've had a really bad headache for 3 days. Vacation planning was put on hold. We did find out that COOLinary New Orleans takes place in July & August. Eating good on vacation is priority #1 for our family, so we've decided to go the end of July. That's about all the progress I've made, but hopefully I'll be back to some serious planning soon. :)

[wano]

Hi all

I just happen to live in houma louisiana. I also work on a tugboat that transports oil tankbarges all over the intracoastal waterway,bayou larfourche,and just about all of southeast louisiana. if you want to hear people with a cajun accent a good place to visit would be bayou larfourche but you may try a stay at a bed & breakfast. most of them have a very good knowledge of cajun culture and most speak cajun french


just throwing my 2 cents:thumbsup2
hope this helps

[mannasn]

Okay, I know this isn't related to any of your questions but just in case you happen to visit the Aquarium when you're downtown, they have a FANTASTIC Imax film called "Hurricane on the Bayou." We saw it last fall when we were down for BIL's wedding.

Stolen from their website:
This amazing IMAX film, tells the story of Hurricane Katrina and the impact of Louisiana’s disappearing wetlands on hurricane protection. It also shows the survival of a region, the rebirth of nature and the spirit of humanity.

[tarheelmjfan]

Hi all

I just happen to live in houma louisiana. I also work on a tugboat that transports oil tankbarges all over the intracoastal waterway,bayou larfourche,and just about all of southeast louisiana. if you want to hear people with a cajun accent a good place to visit would be bayou larfourche but you may try a stay at a bed & breakfast. most of them have a very good knowledge of cajun culture and most speak cajun french


just throwing my 2 cents:thumbsup2
hope this helps

Thanks for taking the time to share you knowledge of the area. You make it sound like a great place to visit. We're now trying to decide, if we want to drive beyond NOLA or not. It will probably depend on how much time my husband can take off.




Okay, I know this isn't related to any of your questions but just in case you happen to visit the Aquarium when you're downtown, they have a FANTASTIC Imax film called "Hurricane on the Bayou." We saw it last fall when we were down for BIL's wedding.

Stolen from their website:
This amazing IMAX film, tells the story of Hurricane Katrina and the impact of Louisiana’s disappearing wetlands on hurricane protection. It also shows the survival of a region, the rebirth of nature and the spirit of humanity.

I doubt we'll go to the aquarium, but we definitely plan to see the Katrina film.

[tarheelmjfan]

Okay, here's my "to do" list that I've compiled so far. Let me know what you think.

-National WWII Museum

-Haunted History Ghost Tour

-Haunted Mortuary Ghost Expedition (supposed to be like Ghost Hunters) Only my DH & DS are doing this one. I'm a skeptic, therefore a party pooper. ;)

-Cabildo tour

-Hermann-Grima & Gallier House (Should we do both? If not, which is better? I'm thinking Hermann-Grima House.)

-Katrina tour

-Imax Theater - Hurricane on the Bayou

-St. Louis Cathedral (We've already seen it, but I want to spend more time there this visit. Any suggestions for seeing more than what we were able to see by peeking through the windows? :o )

-Ride the Streetcars

-French Qtr. Walking Tour by NPS (If we can get up & over there by 9am.)

-Mardi Gras World (maybe)

-Preservation Hall


Hotels we're considering so far:

-Loews (We travel with a pet, & Loews is the most pet friendly chain we've stayed in.)

-Omni Royal Orleans (I'm not sure, if the rooms will accommodate all 3 of us w/o using a cot. Anyone know? :confused: )

-Hotel Monteleone

-Royal Sonesta Hotel


I'll post dining info., when I narrow it down a bit more. As of now, the only definite is Cafe Du Monde. :cloud9:

[cajunmommy]

Looks good!

Any chance you have a AAA membership? There are a few places on your itinerary that do offer discounts with AAA. It's just a dollar or two, but every little bit helps! Oh, and some might require advance purchase tix to get the discount.

You'll be here during the heat of summer, so try to find a snowball stand & indulge in a local summer delicacy! It might seem strange for us to wax poetic about shaved ice & flavored simple syrup, but once you've had one, you'll understand why people line up in droves at neighborhood snowball stands for these! These are so much better than your typical crunchy icy sno cones.

[tarheelmjfan]

Looks good!

Any chance you have a AAA membership? There are a few places on your itinerary that do offer discounts with AAA. It's just a dollar or two, but every little bit helps! Oh, and some might require advance purchase tix to get the discount.

You'll be here during the heat of summer, so try to find a snowball stand & indulge in a local summer delicacy! It might seem strange for us to wax poetic about shaved ice & flavored simple syrup, but once you've had one, you'll understand why people line up in droves at neighborhood snowball stands for these! These are so much better than your typical crunchy icy sno cones.

We do have AAA. Thanks for the heads up. I love saving money! :teeth: I'm putting your snowball suggestion on my list of foods to try. I don't remember seeing them the last time we were there. How are they different from sno cones?

[cajunmommy]

We do have AAA. Thanks for the heads up. I love saving money! :teeth: I'm putting your snowball suggestion on my list of foods to try. I don't remember seeing them the last time we were there. How are they different from sno cones?

If I remember from my AAA magazine, the WWII museum & maybe the IMAX offer discounted admission. I'll try to make a point of looking at the discounts in my next issue and pass any others along.

Regarding the snowballs.....They take sno cones to a different level. It's both the ice & flavors that make them so great. The ice is shaved, so the ice particles are smaller, soft & almost fluffy, not hard & crunchy like most sno cones. And the flavors, they go way beyond your basic "red, blue or purple" choices. Think wedding cake, strawberry shortcake, blackberry, wild cherry, pina colada, lemon lime, hawaiian punch, spearmint....the choices typically number in the dozens at any good neighborhood stand. The flavors are basically flavored simple syrups, but then the vendors get more creative by adding things on top like chocolate syrup or condensed milk! And most saturate the ice with the flavoring, not just a little drizzle on top to color the ice.

Let me put out a call on the NOLA thread to get some advice on a local stand that wouldn't involve too much traveling. They'll think I'm nuts craving snowballs in February, but now you've got me wanting one!

[Ms Marigny]

Ah, snoballs- yummy!

Many snoballs stands unfortunately never reopened after K, but two come to mind that are still open: Pandora's Snoballs on Carrollton (in Mid-City, in my neighborhood) and Plum St Snoballs on Plum St (Uptown).

Now, you could take the City Park/Museum streetcar on the Canal St line and that will take you to Pandora's- it is on the corner of Dumaine and N Carrollton. If you wanted to do a little excursion, you could get your snoball at Pandora's, walk down Carrollton to City Park and visit the New Orleans Museum of Art and/or the Sculpture Garden, both located in City Park. It isn't that far down, just a few blocks. Then take the streetcar back downtown. Heck, you might run into me- I love a good coconut snoball in July and a leisurely walk through City Park. ;)

If you wanted to get to Plum St, you would have to take the St Charles line and get off at Plum St and S Carrollton (this is Uptown) and walk down Plum St to the snoball stand (just a few blocks). However, this part of the St Charles line is still not running post-K, and I'm not sure if it will be come July. You'd have to wait and see.

[bspinnato]

Anytime would be fine...the weather is usually hot, but since it didn't bother you last time, it probably won't this time either. I think the Essence Festival is July 4 weekend, so if you don't plan on particiapting in that, another weekend would be less crowded.

Alot of the tourist parts of NOLA are the same as pre-Katrina. Almost all of the good restaurants in FQ, Business(?), & Garden Districts have been reopen for a while now. In many areas, you wouldn't even know that Katrina came...but there are many others that are still trying to come back.

Of course we have swamp or bayou tours. Many will even pick you up at your hotel. I can probably find some phone numbers and/or websites for you.

The Entertainment Book has not made it's way back yet. Depending on what you plan to do, you can sometimes find coupons to the attractions/tours on the internet.

Please feel free to email me with any more questions you may have. I am a pre and post Katrina resident and I love it here!

[Planogirl]

Okay, here's my "to do" list that I've compiled so far. Let me know what you think.

-National WWII Museum

-Haunted History Ghost Tour

-Haunted Mortuary Ghost Expedition (supposed to be like Ghost Hunters) Only my DH & DS are doing this one. I'm a skeptic, therefore a party pooper. ;)

-Cabildo tour

-Hermann-Grima & Gallier House (Should we do both? If not, which is better? I'm thinking Hermann-Grima House.)

-Katrina tour

-Imax Theater - Hurricane on the Bayou

-St. Louis Cathedral (We've already seen it, but I want to spend more time there this visit. Any suggestions for seeing more than what we were able to see by peeking through the windows? :o )

-Ride the Streetcars

-French Qtr. Walking Tour by NPS (If we can get up & over there by 9am.)

-Mardi Gras World (maybe)

-Preservation Hall


Hotels we're considering so far:

-Loews (We travel with a pet, & Loews is the most pet friendly chain we've stayed in.)

-Omni Royal Orleans (I'm not sure, if the rooms will accommodate all 3 of us w/o using a cot. Anyone know? :confused: )

-Hotel Monteleone

-Royal Sonesta Hotel


I'll post dining info., when I narrow it down a bit more. As of now, the only definite is Cafe Du Monde. :cloud9:
Unless things have changed drastically you can go into the St Louis Cathedral during the daytime unless they're having Mass. Catholic churches are typically open most of the time.

I like the Royal Sonesta but do they allow pets? Of course the Loew's hotels are wonderful too. The Monteleone is nice but I never liked its location as well. There's also many wonderful small hotels sprinkled throughout the quarter, some with restaurants and some even have pools. It's hard to narrow them down.

I enjoyed the Hermann Grima tour more than the Gallier house but YMMV. One thing, the Hermann Grima house is said to have ghosts. It's too bad that you're a skeptic because many say that New Orleans is one of the most haunted places anywhere.

Do you drink at all? I always loved Pat O'Briens patio at night and it's right next to Preservation Hall.

[tarheelmjfan]

If I remember from my AAA magazine, the WWII museum & maybe the IMAX offer discounted admission. I'll try to make a point of looking at the discounts in my next issue and pass any others along.


I looked at our AAA site, which is different from yours, & those places aren't listed. It would be great, if you could find that info. Any suggestions on where we could pick up the tickets? Obviously, there's no rush for the info or to get the tickets. Just get back to me whenever it's convenient for you. Also, thanks for the snowball vs. snow cone comparison.



Ah, snoballs- yummy!

Many snoballs stands unfortunately never reopened after K, but two come to mind that are still open: Pandora's Snoballs on Carrollton (in Mid-City, in my neighborhood) and Plum St Snoballs on Plum St (Uptown).

Now, you could take the City Park/Museum streetcar on the Canal St line and that will take you to Pandora's- it is on the corner of Dumaine and N Carrollton. If you wanted to do a little excursion, you could get your snoball at Pandora's, walk down Carrollton to City Park and visit the New Orleans Museum of Art and/or the Sculpture Garden, both located in City Park. It isn't that far down, just a few blocks. Then take the streetcar back downtown. Heck, you might run into me- I love a good coconut snoball in July and a leisurely walk through City Park. ;)

If you wanted to get to Plum St, you would have to take the St Charles line and get off at Plum St and S Carrollton (this is Uptown) and walk down Plum St to the snoball stand (just a few blocks). However, this part of the St Charles line is still not running post-K, and I'm not sure if it will be come July. You'd have to wait and see.

Those sound great! We'll definitely go in search of.... For clarification, where exactly is midtown & uptown. I know the FQ, CBD, GS, & the Mag. St. area (is that the same as GS?). Anyway, that's are far as my knowledge extends.

Hope to see you there. :wave2:



Please feel free to email me with any more questions you may have. I am a pre and post Katrina resident and I love it here!

Thanks for your offer to help. I'm sure I'll take you up on it, sometime between now & July. ;)



Unless things have changed drastically you can go into the St Louis Cathedral during the daytime unless they're having Mass. Catholic churches are typically open most of the time.

I like the Royal Sonesta but do they allow pets? Of course the Loew's hotels are wonderful too. The Monteleone is nice but I never liked its location as well. There's also many wonderful small hotels sprinkled throughout the quarter, some with restaurants and some even have pools. It's hard to narrow them down.

I enjoyed the Hermann Grima tour more than the Gallier house but YMMV. One thing, the Hermann Grima house is said to have ghosts. It's too bad that you're a skeptic because many say that New Orleans is one of the most haunted places anywhere.

Do you drink at all? I always loved Pat O'Briens patio at night and it's right next to Preservation Hall.

There were people in the Cathedral, when we were there. When would be a good time to arrive to not impose upon their services? We're not catholic, & are clueless about their practices. :blush:

The Royal Sonesta does allow pets. As you noted, it appears to have a great location. My only concern with staying there is that we have a 16 yo. boy. I'm not naive enough to think he'd be shocked by the sites on Bourbon St. I'm more concerned that I'll be embarrassed to be witnessing it with him. ;) Do you think it would be fine for us to stay there? We're definitely not prudes, just uninformed about what to expect. (We stayed @ La Pavillon in the CBD last time.)

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my DH is really into the idea of ghosts & haunted locations. I do watch the shows with him on TV. I really scan the net pretending to watch, but that works for him. When we go on the haunted tours, I'll listen attentively. I just don't think it would be a good idea for me to accompany them on the Ghost Encounter tour. If I was having to participate in the investigation, I'd have a hard time pulling it off w/o laughing. :o I really don't want to spoil it for him, so I think I'll sit that one out. I am planning a lot of things centered around the haunted aspects of NOLA. To me, it's important for my guys to have a good time. As long as their enjoying themselves, I'm happy doing whatever. Plus, it seems a lot of the tours also incooperate a lot of history, which I'm really interested in.

We do drink occasionally, my DH a bit more than me. We love Pat O's at Universal, & will have to give the original in NOLA a try. (I didn't realize it was next to Preservation Hall. That's a great tip!) I'll just have to stay away from the Hurricanes. Those things are wicked! :eek: I had a little over 1/2 of one at the CityWalk location, & had a hangover the next morning. Yes, I'm a wimp. :sad2: No worries! They do have other yummy, yet a bit more mild, concoctions on the menu. I've tried a few of the others, & they were all very good.

[tarheelmjfan]

I forget to add that a good pool isn't necessary in our choice of hotel. We've somehow raised a child in Florida that doesn't like the pool or ocean. :confused3

[cajunmommy]

I looked at our AAA site, which is different from yours, & those places aren't listed. It would be great, if you could find that info. Any suggestions on where we could pick up the tickets? Obviously, there's no rush for the info or to get the tickets. Just get back to me whenever it's convenient for you. Also, thanks for the snowball vs. snow cone comparison.



I'll try and pm you with the local AAA site. For some reason we're located in the same region as Ark, Missou, etc. There doesn't seem to be a direct link to purchase tix (unless I'm not looking in the right spot), so most may offer the discounts on site. I'd still try & call the locations to be sure advance purchase or purchase thru AAA is not needed.

No discounts for the IMAX @ the Aquarium, but I did find discounts for the Hermann Grima / Gallier House, New Orleans Museum of Art, D-Day / WWII Museum and the NOLA Paddlewheels / New Orleans Tours!

[tarheelmjfan]

I'll try and pm you with the local AAA site. For some reason we're located in the same region as Ark, Missou, etc. There doesn't seem to be a direct link to purchase tix (unless I'm not looking in the right spot), so most may offer the discounts on site. I'd still try & call the locations to be sure advance purchase or purchase thru AAA is not needed.

No discounts for the IMAX @ the Aquarium, but I did find discounts for the Hermann Grima / Gallier House, New Orleans Museum of Art, D-Day / WWII Museum and the NOLA Paddlewheels / New Orleans Tours!

I saw your PM, & checked the AAA link before coming to this thread. I too was surprised to see the states your AAA region covers, & even commented on it. After reading my reply, you'll think I'm just repeating what you said. :laughing:

[Planogirl]

I can't really say when the cathedral will be open. There should be a board by the door listing Mass times and if there's a wedding or some such event, it should be pretty obvious. You'll see what looks like tourists going in and out but over the years there have always been lots of people in and around the cathedral. Do try to see the interior, it's really nice.

I wouldn't hesitate to stay at the Royal Sonesta if it were me. You might get a bit of noise but the hotel has such a quiet atmosphere that to me it's like an oasis in a really busy area. Besides you can exit the hotel and head down a side street away from Bourbon. Only Bourbon ever caused me concern with my now 15 year old. If you want a much quieter location, the Monteleone may be for you.

Many of the ghost tours do mix in history and it's a rather fascinating mix. Maybe if you think of it as history mixed with a bit of legend and folklore, it won't seem quite so funny?

Have you thought about taking a tour through the St Louis Cemetery 1? The national parks service at least used to give tours through the cemetery and I imagine that other groups do too. It's fascinating to see the old elevated tombs, many like little buildings, and you can even see where Marie Laveau is said to be buried. One thing, never EVER go without a guide. The cemetery borders a rather rough area.