Thinking of visiting New Orleans

[FigmentChick]

Hello, everyone!!!! First, I hope I am posting this in the right place. Second, I need all the help I can get and figured there are some pretty great people on this board that would be able to help me.

My hubby and I are thinking of visiting New Orleans in early March (right around my birthday). I have never been before and, of course, I only know about Bourbon Street as a place that is a "must-see". Can anyone who either lives there or has visited give me some tips?

Out of the way places that people would normally overlook are best (as we DISers are known for that sort of off-the-wall knowledge). If there is a walking trail (like in Boston) or something like that, it would be cool. Anything anyone can provide would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance, Melanie

 

[bas71873]

I just moved home to VA from the NOLA area. I was there for 4 years. Off the top of my head, I'd say obviously the French Quarter. Do a tour if you can. I did a walking tour once and it was about 2 hours, but if was fun and full of scoop on the Creole culture, the history of Bourbon St. and the French Quarter and all the Voo Doo stuff. I enjoyed it. Make sure to hit Jackson Square, the French Quarter flea market and of course beignets at Cafe Dumond (I think I've spelled that wrong, but it's in Jackson Square). The Riverwalk area is nice too. Shopping, food. In fact there is a hotel right there in the Riverwalk Mall. Convenient to everything. The NOLA zoo is WONDERFUL in my opinion (which may explain why I don't like Animal Kingdom). If you can drive around St. Charles and check out all that architecture, it really beautiful. Oh, and we did a plantation tour once too that DH loved. It picked us up right at our hotel in the quarter and we drove about an hour outside of town and we got to tour Oak Alley and Laura Plantation. A really neat day.

Hope some of that helps. BTW - perfect time of year to go IMO! Be sure to drink a hurrican at Pat O's and the Court of Two Sisters has a really yummy Sunday Jazz Brunch!

 

[ilovejack02]

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2293896&page=115

Visit us on the NOLA thread.. these ladies will help you out for sure. I am live about an 1.5 hour outside of N.O... so Ill let the real NOLA chixs answer your questions!

 

[minkydog]

My sister and I did a girls trip to NOLA last June and we had a great time. We stayed right down in the French Quarter at Place d'Arms, a tiny little hotel with old architecture, 15-ft ceilings, balconies. We could see the front of Saint Louis catherdral from our balcony and we sat out there in the evenings to enjoy the street musicians.

One of our favorite experiences(besides the swamp tour, which I think might be a little cool in march) was a trip to New Orleans School of Cooking, on St. Louis street I believe. It was taught by a fiery little lady who really knew her history. Plus, this lady really knew how to cook Creole! She cooks while shes talking about the history of the area and then you get to eat the food! Heavenly!

NOLA zoo would be great in March too, not so very hot then. If you've never taken a tour of NOLA I would highly suggest that you do that to orient yourself. Just don't venture past bourbon Street or into any of the cemetaries at night unless you are with a certified tour.

We felt completely safe while we were there, with the exception of one time--we were being followed one evening when we turned off Bourbon Street. Sis and I had to duck into a small bar to shake the guy. But otherwise we felt fine walking around in daylight.

 

[BelleWDW]

Drive down St charles Ave to the zoo-to see all the Mansions-where brad Pitt lives *sometimes*(and anne Rice used to live)....then drive back on Magazine street to see all the Quirky shops and restaurants.

There is also a Mardi Gras World right across the river-we took the ferry on foot-its that close..........it has some AWESOME mardi gras floats there and they give you samples of King Cake

Be sure to buy some Pralines in the French Quarter-and get Gumbo at the Gumbo Shop....and a fried shrimp or oyster po-poy at "Mother's" on Poydras st

 

[Zerosinthecloset]

The D-Day Museum is really worth seeing, and the Confederate Museum is worth a stop also.

 

[Go Saints!]

Stop and shop on Magazine Street, See the Audobon Zoo, The Aquarium of the Americas, do a ghost tour, hit the French Market, ride a street car down St. Charles Ave., ride the Riverboat and shop at the River Walk, try the Red Fish Grill, tour the plantations outside of the city, D day Museum, if you have kids the Children's Museum is also nice, ride the ferry, tour Blaine Kerns Carnival World, play the slots at Harrahs, visit City Park, visit Tropical Isle and have a hand grenade or Pat O's and have a Hurricane, there are so many things to do in this city. Just make sure you eat and drink. Eat a lot and try everything at least once!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have fun and enjoy our culture.