6 to 8 hours in New Orleans what to do ?

[MimitoAlex]

There is a casino.

We are staying at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi... still might check it out. LOL

Don't pay for the bus, or any transportation with that limited amount of time. The museum will take up a lot of the time--schedule it for when you first arrive, when it will be the hottest. Spend the rest of your time just roaming the French Quarter. Yes, it's hotter than the surface of the sun here right now, but you'll have an endless array of shops/restaurants/bars to duck into whenever you need to cool off.

Specific streets depend on what you're into:

Bourbon Street is, well, everything you'd expect. Bars and strip clubs and people throwing beads off balconies and gigantic green glowing drinks. See it, take a pic, then get off it again (unless that's your scene).

Royal Street is all the fancy expensive antique shops. Wonderful place to gawk, probably a wonderful place to spend money if you have it lol

Decatur Street (the one that runs along the river) is sort of the alternative scene, especially as you head towards Esplanade Ave/the Marigny. Goth shops and dive bars and lots of street kids asking for money (but they're super nice, so don't be intimidated).

Crossing over Esplanade from Decatur, you'll be on Frenchmen, aka Bourbon Street for the locals. Really good jazz clubs, fun restaurants, and an amazing night market. Don't miss it!

Dumaine Street is voodoo row. The Voodoo Museum, Temple, and several voodoo shops are all within a few blocks of each other.

Barracks Street, especially near where it meets Decatur, is the place to go for vintage everything. It's all the same stuff as the antique shops, but it hasn't been cleaned and prettied up, and it's pretty cheap.

Jackson Square is the center of the French Quarter. St. Louis Cathedral, 3 museums, and a bunch of local shops form a ring. In the middle is the old hanging ground, which is now a sort of free speech zone. You'll find visual artists, mimes, tarot readers, and so much more. Another don't miss!

Otherwise, just poke around and see what you find. One of the best ways to enjoy this city is simply to step outside with no particular expectations or itineraries, and see how things unfold.

OP here, I live in Florida and its hot as hades and the humidity is brutal here to right now. So I can total understand the heat, honestly its probably way worse there with the added humidity.

I wanted to ask about Jackson Square, some friends were there a few weeks ago, and said that they felt unsafe in that area, said that they experienced alot of homeless folks, that were quite aggressive, blocking the walkways, hassling them. They wanted to go to the cathedral, and check out the artist's. He said that it wasn't worth the hassle and so they just turned around left. What are your thoughts?

 

[MimitoAlex]

The WWII museum is great but it will take a while to really see everything. Are you catching a late flight or driving through?

We are staying in Biloxi, so this is a day trip. We have a car. Suggestions on parking?

 

[MimitoAlex]

Folks have suggested Cafe du Monde (which I also suggest) but please be aware:

1) they only take cash
2) the beignets have powdered sugar all over them so if you are wearing black or anything dark, you will look like you've gone on a cocaine bender
3) they are open 24 hours (not sure if this matters but still fun to know as I've been there at 3:30AM and the place was packed)

OMG, I had to laugh a number 2... A few years a go we went to a birthday party, my friend loves donuts, beignets, anything like this so this is what she had instead of a traditional birthday cake and honestly pretty much it looked like someone dropped a powder sugar bomb on us... LOL.. good times

 

[LSUmiss]

We are staying at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi... still might check it out. LOL

OP here, I live in Florida and its hot as hades and the humidity is brutal here to right now. So I can total understand the heat, honestly its probably way worse there with the added humidity.

I wanted to ask about Jackson Square, some friends were there a few weeks ago, and said that they felt unsafe in that area, said that they experienced alot of homeless folks, that were quite aggressive, blocking the walkways, hassling them. They wanted to go to the cathedral, and check out the artist's. He said that it wasn't worth the hassle and so they just turned around left. What are your thoughts?

Depends on the day. I wouldn’t say it’s unsafe during the day, but that can happen. It’s not unlike any other urban area. However, as far as the heat, it’s worse than normal right with record temperatures near or at 100 every day. It’s dangerous heat & we are under daily excessive heat warnings. It’s usually in the 90s by 9 am!

 

[JLTraveling]

Went there once. I was over it in probably 2 hours. Have never been back.

Then why not just skip over this thread? Why insult the place where some of us live and lots of us love?

 

[JLTraveling]

We are staying at the Beau Rivage in Biloxi... still might check it out. LOL

OP here, I live in Florida and its hot as hades and the humidity is brutal here to right now. So I can total understand the heat, honestly its probably way worse there with the added humidity.

I wanted to ask about Jackson Square, some friends were there a few weeks ago, and said that they felt unsafe in that area, said that they experienced alot of homeless folks, that were quite aggressive, blocking the walkways, hassling them. They wanted to go to the cathedral, and check out the artist's. He said that it wasn't worth the hassle and so they just turned around left. What are your thoughts?

No offense to your friends, but it sounds like maybe cities aren't right for them. Yes, there are lots of homeless people here. Yes, some of them can be annoying. But they are NOTHING compared to the clickers in Vegas or various other people I've encountered around the country. Jackson Square is packed with people, nobody's going to do anything awful to you. I'm there nearly every day when it isn't so blazing hot, often alone, and no fear whatsoever. Say no and keep walking, and you'll be FINE. If somebody bets they can tell you where you got your shoes, either ignore them or yell "On my feet, right here in New Orleans." It's an old scam.

Several people have mentioned visiting the cemeteries. Normally I would agree. But it feels like the surface of the sun in there when temps are in the 80s, I'd be seriously worried about heatstroke going inside in this weather. Maybe just peek through the fence. Quick story that you'd normally hear on a tour: In addition to the big family crypts, there are what we call wall ovens along the perimeter, each one just big enough to hold one coffin. They were for people who couldn't afford a private crypt. Put the coffin in, seal it up, and wait a year and a day. Then open it and sweep the ashes (all that's left at that point) into the hole at the back, where it drops down and out of the way. Now you can put the next person in. Literally hundreds have been buried that way in each of the reusable wall ovens. But we were just joking the other day, it's so hot right now that they wouldn't need to wait a year and a day. About 6 hours would do nicely lol

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Then why not just skip over this thread? Why insult the place where some of us live and lots of us love?

Just giving my opinion.

 

[Disneychick13]

We are staying in Biloxi, so this is a day trip. We have a car. Suggestions on parking?

You can park right by the WWII museum. So, since that is a priority, plan on getting there when they open to maximize your time there. Then maybe head to Jackson square and walk around. Muriel’s for dinner.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

No offense to your friends, but it sounds like maybe cities aren't right for them. Yes, there are lots of homeless people here. Yes, some of them can be annoying. But they are NOTHING compared to the clickers in Vegas or various other people I've encountered around the country. Jackson Square is packed with people, nobody's going to do anything awful to you. I'm there nearly every day when it isn't so blazing hot, often alone, and no fear whatsoever. Say no and keep walking, and you'll be FINE. If somebody bets they can tell you where you got your shoes, either ignore them or yell "On my feet, right here in New Orleans." It's an old scam.

Several people have mentioned visiting the cemeteries. Normally I would agree. But it feels like the surface of the sun in there when temps are in the 80s, I'd be seriously worried about heatstroke going inside in this weather. Maybe just peek through the fence. Quick story that you'd normally hear on a tour: In addition to the big family crypts, there are what we call wall ovens along the perimeter, each one just big enough to hold one coffin. They were for people who couldn't afford a private crypt. Put the coffin in, seal it up, and wait a year and a day. Then open it and sweep the ashes (all that's left at that point) into the hole at the back, where it drops down and out of the way. Now you can put the next person in. Literally hundreds have been buried that way in each of the reusable wall ovens. But we were just joking the other day, it's so hot right now that they wouldn't need to wait a year and a day. About 6 hours would do nicely lol

A couple of guys almost got my son with the shoe thing. But fortunately I walked over just then, heard the question, laughed and gave them correct the answer. My son was so mad that they thought he’d be an “easy” mark!

Also be aware that if people put beads around your neck, they are not just being nice. They will then demand money from you. It happened to me, but I didn’t actually have any cash on me. I tried to give the beads back, but he let me keep them. We saw it happen to several other folks on our trip, and they always had to pay a few dollars.

 

[soccerdad72]

Just giving my opinion.

Except that the question wasn't whether she should go to New Orleans or not.

 

[JLTraveling]

A couple of guys almost got my son with the shoe thing. But fortunately I walked over just then, heard the question, laughed and gave them correct the answer. My son was so mad that they thought he’d be an “easy” mark!

Also be aware that if people put beads around your neck, they are not just being nice. They will then demand money from you. It happened to me, but I didn’t actually have any cash on me. I tried to give the beads back, but he let me keep them. We saw it happen to several other folks on our trip, and they always had to pay a few dollars.

The other big one is the tap dance kids, though they haven't been out much in this heat. Cute little kid with bottle caps glued to the bottom of his shoes, tap dancing on a street corner. If you walk by, you're fine. If you stop to watch, be prepared to tip a dollar or two. Kid's older brothers are invariably lurking nearby ready to "encourage" tipping lol.

 

[Douglas Dubh]

What about - https://www.nps.gov/jazz/index.htm
or - https://www.nps.gov/jela/index.htm

Havent been to either but I’d like to.

 

[leebee]

I've swapped my loyalty to Cafe Beignet; last couple of times we were at Cafe du Monde in the Quarter, the beignets tasted like the grease wasn't being changed often enough.
Although smiling at the warning about powdered sugar and dark-colored clothes, there is a TON of powdered sugar on the beignets at CdM. You can smell the sugar in the air, and it makes people cough. A BIG word of warning to those who wear contacts: The sugar can get in your eyes. Just be careful. Doesn't it seem silly to have powdered sugar warnings???

 

[JLTraveling]

I've swapped my loyalty to Cafe Beignet; last couple of times we were at Cafe du Monde in the Quarter, the beignets tasted like the grease wasn't being changed often enough.
Although smiling at the warning about powdered sugar and dark-colored clothes, there is a TON of powdered sugar on the beignets at CdM. You can smell the sugar in the air, and it makes people cough. A BIG word of warning to those who wear contacts: The sugar can get in your eyes. Just be careful. Doesn't it seem silly to have powdered sugar warnings???

There's an old New Orleans legend that says if you take someone to CdM who's never had beignets before, you should blow powdered sugar on them for luck. That's a big part of why it's in the air