New Orleans - Needing some help on things to do and see... if You Please

[LovesTimone]

We are heading to New Orleans most likely next month... I need some suggestions on what to do while we are there...

So just the 2 of us.
We want to relax and have some fun... DH works in essential services, and has been working 12 to 14 hour days since all this started, and helping his customers get through this time, weekends, and nights he was fielding calls... DH is a rock solid kinda guys and I'm proud to call him my DH... New Orleans in on his bucket list, so I thought this would be a good choice for us...

We are flying in, and staying at Harrahs...

So we are opening to any suggestions...

Thanks in advance... "laissez le bon temps rouler" ( Let the good times roll)

 

[VandVsmama]

Chalmette Battlefield (War of 1812 battle field site)
Go on a plantation tour. There’s a few in the area to choose from.
Get beignets from Cafe du Mond.
go on a haunted New Orleand tour.
There’s a Mardi Gras museum.
Tons of restaurants to try.
Swamp boat tour

 

[fancymouse]

I love New Orleans! We’ve been several times and have done a few bicycle tours with this company. They are literally the best! Every tour is different (we’ve never had the same itinerary) and the guides are super great and knowledgeable. I recommended it to several people and they loved theirs as well. It covers areas that are more off the beaten path and less touristy. Once the guide was describing the “shotgun style” architecture of a house and pointing to this cute house. Suddenly he asked if we’d like to see inside. Everyone agreed that would be fun. We get inside and he announces it’s his house! He was a lawyer who decided it wasn’t for him and now he does tours lol. Anyway- highly recommend!!

http://confederacyofcruisers.com/

 

[Erica Ladd]

Following as DH and I want to go to New Orleans and have never been!!

 

[Southernmiss]

We are heading to New Orleans most likely next month... I need some suggestions on what to do while we are there...

So just the 2 of us.
We want to relax and have some fun... DH works in essential services, and has been working 12 to 14 hour days since all this started, and helping his customers get through this time, weekends, and nights he was fielding calls... DH is a rock solid kinda guys and I'm proud to call him my DH... New Orleans in on his bucket list, so I thought this would be a good choice for us...

We are flying in, and staying at Harrahs...

So we are opening to any suggestions...

Thanks in advance... "laissez le bon temps rouler" ( Let the good times roll)

Looks like you are staying at Harrah's on Canal Street. If you all are able to walk, you are in an area with many places to walk to to see and do. The River is not far and the French Quarter is not too far with Cafe Du Monde, the historic St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo museum, lots of shops and restaurants.

Also, within walking distances is the Sazarac House a new free museum/brewery on Magazine street telling the history of the New Orleans/ Louisiana famous drink and some history of the City mixed in. Free samples of their cocktails on the free tour. DH and I are not big drinkers, but we enjoyed the tour and the drinks!
HOME - Sazerac House.

The World War II museum is said to be amazing and that one could spend a couple of days there and not see everything. The Mardi Gras museum is not far from the WW2 Museum and would give you a good taste and feel for Mardi Gras.

We are within an hour and a half of New Orleans, so we always have our own car. We just enjoy visiting the French Quarter, the French Market (open air shopping right near Cafe Du Monde) getting beignets, eating, walking the Riverwalk-(levy on the Mississippi river right behind Cafe Du Monde) and taking in the sights of the people. I am sure you could get an uber. There are also trolleys.

I would also reach out to the concierge at Harrah's for more information from them on things to see and do in the area and how to get there.

The Audubon Zoo is always a fun zoo to tour, too.

 

[Southernmiss]

I love New Orleans! We’ve been several times and have done a few bicycle tours with this company. They are literally the best! Every tour is different (we’ve never had the same itinerary) and the guides are super great and knowledgeable. I recommended it to several people and they loved theirs as well. It covers areas that are more off the beaten path and less touristy. Once the guide was describing the “shotgun style” architecture of a house and pointing to this cute house. Suddenly he asked if we’d like to see inside. Everyone agreed that would be fun. We get inside and he announces it’s his house! He was a lawyer who decided it wasn’t for him and now he does tours lol. Anyway- highly recommend!!

http://confederacyofcruisers.com/

And that's the kind of friendly people found in New Orleans.

There are other types - keep your important things in your pocket and use only a crossbody bag as you tour, if you must take a bag.

 

[LovesTimone]

Looks like you are staying at Harrah's on Canal Street. If you all are able to walk, you are in an area with many places to walk to to see and do. The River is not far and the French Quarter is not too far with Cafe Du Monde, the historic St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo museum, lots of shops and restaurants.

Also, within walking distances is the Sazarac House a new free museum/brewery on Magazine street telling the history of the New Orleans/ Louisiana famous drink and some history of the City mixed in. Free samples of their cocktails on the free tour. DH and I are not big drinkers, but we enjoyed the tour and the drinks!
HOME - Sazerac House.

The World War II museum is said to be amazing and that one could spend a couple of days there and not see everything. The Mardi Gras museum is not far from the WW2 Museum and would give you a good taste and feel for Mardi Gras.

We are within an hour and a half of New Orleans, so we always have our own car. We just enjoy visiting the French Quarter, the French Market (open air shopping right near Cafe Du Monde) getting beignets, eating, walking the Riverwalk-(levy on the Mississippi river right behind Cafe Du Monde) and taking in the sights of the people. I am sure you could get an uber. There are also trolleys.

I would also reach out to the concierge at Harrah's for more information from them on things to see and do in the area and how to get there.

The Audubon Zoo is always a fun zoo to tour, too.

Thanks for all this... I did not realize there were trolleys, or that we would be close enough to walk... so adding this to the list to check out... We won't have a car...

I think that I will run by triple AAA and pick up a map, or maybe see if DH is in the area to drop in and get one for us...

Harrahs is on Poydras St... is what the confirmation address is?

Is the Mardi Gras museum, have the Hurricane display as well? our friends said it was worth a look see..

I have Cafe Du Monde on the list... as well we were thinking about doing a dinner cruise on the paddle boats.. So friends went and they really enjoyed it, and said the Jazz music on board was really good... So that is on the list as well...

 

[J'aime Paris]

I've only been to New Orleans twice, once long ago and once almost 3 years ago.

We went on a nighttime Ghost, Vampire and Voodoo tour. That was a lot of fun and quite interesting!

St. Louis Cathedral was beautiful, but the grassy area right by it was filled with homeless people. It was a sad sight to see....I think the homeless population has grown quite a bit in NOLA

 

[LovesTimone]

And that's the kind of friendly people found in New Orleans.

There are other types - keep your important things in your pocket and use only a crossbody bag as you tour, if you must take a bag.

I get the picture... we love to travel, and a cross body is all I ever use... DH only uses his front pockets... Safety first...

We were at the Louve, in Paris and I got my butt groped by a pick pocket... and again at Versailles... LOL.. never ever put anything in your back pockets...

 

[tcufrog]

Splurge on Jazz Brunch reservations at The Court of Two Sisters.

 

[goooof1]

cemetery tours are interesting and fun.
night "ghost" tour.
lots to see (and buy) walking around the French Quarter !
take the street car through the Garden District to the Zoo.... the Zoo is nice and it is fun to walk around the Garden District.
eat at all the great restaurants!

 

[snappy]

I also recommend the Aquarium. The WWII museum is wonderful. The movie is worth the extra $$.

We have not been down in a a few months. The streets are very quiet these days. Be careful walking out at night.

 

[Tigerlulu]

Hurrahs is on poydras but it is only a short block from canal. Very close.

We spend a ton of time in Nola but haven’t been since last year at Mardi Gras.

My fav restaurants in the quarter are the Gumbo Shop on Saint Peter just up from the cathedral, Deanies on Iberville, Acme also on Iberville is also great. The street car down St Charles is a good ride. If you like to shop and walk, Magazine Street through the garden district is a good afternoon. Also I think Bourbon street is kind of deserted at the moment. Check out Frenchmen Street. It usually has a bunch of jazz and good little jazz bars and restaurants. Also has a Dat Dog (hot dog place we love). Used to have an art market pop up we love, not sure if that’s going on right now.

WW2 museum is fantastic. Bittersweet Confections is a few blocks away for good sweets/cupcakes (my fav is the lemon drop cupcake and I always buy all of them so I can freeze the extras lol). Audubon Zoo is beautiful. Take a swamp tour and try to get up to a plantation tour as well—oak alley is a good iconic one you should be able to find a combo tour for. Unique Nola merch, shop down Royal Street in the quarter and there are like 4 locations of Forever New Orleans (and they all have different stuff) and Fleurty Girl on Chartres. Mardi Gras World is a cool, Take a walk along the River, take a cooking class. Ruby Slipper is a good brunch, as well as cafe du monde or cafe beignet.

Otherwise just be careful, there are less tourists and that’s translated into more crime at the moment. I’ve always felt perfectly safe there, but that’s my two cents. I hope you have a fantastic time!

 

[goooof1]

Oh, yeah ...... swamp tours are so much fun !

 

[Hillbeans]

I can second, third and fourth the recommendation for the WWII Museum. It's hands down the best museum i've ever visited.
Ghost Tour / visit the Cemetery and see Nicholas Cage's pyramid tomb
Hotel Montelone and the carousel bar - a must do!

 

[snappy]

I can second, third and fourth the recommendation for the WWII Museum. It's hands down the best museum i've ever visited.
Ghost Tour / visit the Cemetery and see Nicholas Cage's pyramid tomb
Hotel Montelone and the carousel bar - a must do!

I think the WWII museum is rated with the top couple of museums in the country. It’s been open for awhile, since our kids were in middle school. Our kids had field trips to visit the museum years ago. New exhibits and even a new building have been added since then. There is a good parking garage for parking nearby. Check on it though, for awhile there were reservations for tickets required in advance due to Covid restrictions. Not sure if that has been lifted yet.

 

[Tigerlulu]

Check the Pay for Parking app. There are lots all over the place that are right next to the museum. You can reserve a spot and pay through the app. There are also garages you can park in and walk, but they are further away. You really can walk from Harrahs, it’s about half a mile—up Poydras to Magazine and straight down to the museum (but the entrance is up 1/2 a block on Andrew Higgins). But again just be wary of your surroundings right now. It’s not the same Nola I was going running around alone in a year ago.

ETA that if you walk, you walk right past my fav cupcake place. Lol
Bittersweet Confections is right on the way.

 

[LovesTimone]

Hurrahs is on poydras but it is only a short block from canal. Very close.

We spend a ton of time in Nola but haven’t been since last year at Mardi Gras.

My fav restaurants in the quarter are the Gumbo Shop on Saint Peter just up from the cathedral, Deanies on Iberville, Acme also on Iberville is also great. The street car down St Charles is a good ride. If you like to shop and walk, Magazine Street through the garden district is a good afternoon. Also I think Bourbon street is kind of deserted at the moment. Check out Frenchmen Street. It usually has a bunch of jazz and good little jazz bars and restaurants. Also has a Dat Dog (hot dog place we love). Used to have an art market pop up we love, not sure if that’s going on right now.

WW2 museum is fantastic. Bittersweet Confections is a few blocks away for good sweets/cupcakes (my fav is the lemon drop cupcake and I always buy all of them so I can freeze the extras lol). Audubon Zoo is beautiful. Take a swamp tour and try to get up to a plantation tour as well—oak alley is a good iconic one you should be able to find a combo tour for. Unique Nola merch, shop down Royal Street in the quarter and there are like 4 locations of Forever New Orleans (and they all have different stuff) and Fleurty Girl on Chartres. Mardi Gras World is a cool, Take a walk along the River, take a cooking class. Ruby Slipper is a good brunch, as well as cafe du monde or cafe beignet.

Otherwise just be careful, there are less tourists and that’s translated into more crime at the moment. I’ve always felt perfectly safe there, but that’s my two cents.

I hope you have a fantastic time!

Otherwise just be careful, there are less tourists and that’s translated into more crime at the moment. I’ve always felt perfectly safe there, but that’s my two cents.

Should we rethink going to New Orleans... if crime is totally out of control there and it not safe to even walk around during the day and night.. maybe we should just skip it...

Do you feel its unsafe to walk around during the day? Night? Would it be unsafe for us to walk from Harrahs to the WWII museum during the day? We were thinking about doing a night walking tour, so do you think that we should skip it? going out at night?

As well what about police patrolling in the tourist areas? or was the police de-funded in New Orleans? I would think that protecting the tourist and tourist area would be important, so that they can spend their money and boost the economy would be a priority for the city... If the tourist don't feel safe coming, things are likely to get alot worse... I know here in Orlando and surrounding areas the police present is visible and they work so hard... We appreciate them...

We are pretty seasoned traveler's, and do take precautions and we are very aware of our surroundings... But if we are going to have to be fearful, and afraid to walk around and enjoy what New Orleans has to offer, it really would not be worth it to go...

Thoughts?

 

[Southernmiss]

Otherwise just be careful, there are less tourists and that’s translated into more crime at the moment. I’ve always felt perfectly safe there, but that’s my two cents.

Should we rethink going to New Orleans... if crime is totally out of control there and it not safe to even walk around during the day and night.. maybe we should just skip it...

Do you feel its unsafe to walk around during the day? Night? Would it be unsafe for us to walk from Harrahs to the WWII museum during the day? We were thinking about doing a night walking tour, so do you think that we should skip it? going out at night?

As well what about police patrolling in the tourist areas? or was the police de-funded in New Orleans? I would think that protecting the tourist and tourist area would be important, so that they can spend their money and boost the economy would be a priority for the city... If the tourist don't feel safe coming, things are likely to get alot worse... I know here in Orlando and surrounding areas the police present is visible and they work so hard... We appreciate them...

We are pretty seasoned traveler's, and do take precautions and we are very aware of our surroundings... But if we are going to have to be fearful, and afraid to walk around and enjoy what New Orleans has to offer, it really would not be worth it to go...

Thoughts?

Go. You will be fine. Be aware and careful, that's all we are saying.

 

[Tigerlulu]

Go. You will be fine. Be aware and careful, that's all we are saying.

This!

I wouldn’t hesitate to go.

I’d be there myself if the last six months weren’t such a disaster for us.
Just be aware. That’s all we are saying.