Trip to New Orleans in March

[Arynrm1]

My parents gave my husband and I a trip for our 10 year anniversary! We have decided to go to New Orleans and Biloxi for a long weekend March 16-19. When we booked the trip we were unaware that is was St Patricks day, so I guess that will add to the charm of Bourbon Street.

I was hoping that you guys could help me with things to do/see that won't break the budget(we will be gambling in Biloxi)
I have bought tickets to a ghost tour, but that's as far as I have gotten in the planning

Thanks for any help you can give me!

 

[North of Mouse]

I grew up 35mi. from there, so I have some must-do's when we go back each year. If it's a pretty day, don't miss the scenic river walk of the Miss. River in the French Quarter. The large ships come in there, also large tourist boats and ones you can take short trips on. They have the French Market there, also Riverwalk Mall. The absolute "best" thing to me that says "Norlans" (as we tend to muddle the name ) is to go to Cafe du Monde (can't miss it - open 24/7) and get our beignets and coffee. The food court in the RW Mall has lots of great authenic food, a lot of it in smaller portions so you can get a taste of several things (which we love - Mike Andersens is the best). Have fun, I'm drooling just thinking of the food (was there in Oct). The beignets in the hotel at Disney (French Quarter) are a joke - we got some, nothing like the real thing. You can walk behind Cafe du Monde and watch them make them through some windows

 

[WendyDarling]

I'm taking my family there in March, too! I've been many times. We love the Aquarium and you can get a good price on an Aquarium/Zoo combo. Walk around Jackson Square after eating at Cafe Du Monde. The Court of Two Sisters is a nice place to eat. Take a ride on the trolley and maybe a carriage ride, too. Have a great time!

 

[dolfinjuls]

My husband and I are going for the first time in may...definitely could use some tips!

 

[CTdiznymom]

My 28DD (and 4 other girls) just spent 5 days there which included New Years Eve. She stayed in the Jackson Sq. area which she absolutely loved. Each day they took a walk on the Riverwalk, stopped for breakfast. They also did an alligator boat tour, the Natchez riverboat, and trolley to the Garden District. Here's a tip: when they got to Cafe du Monde, the line was of course very long. She asked the waitress how long of a wait it would actually be, and the lady told her that they have "no idea why people stand in line" she told her that if a table was open to just sit at it! So they did! They made it a point not to be on the street late. They did have one incident of someone trying to snatch a Coach wristlet, but her friend started yelling and the guy ran. Otherwise the people were extremely friendly and helpful. Enjoyed her time there very much.

 

[kpw77]

I live in the city and I usually pull up this site for things to do in New Orleans. The best thing about this list is that the things are "free". (Not sure about posting link rules, so I copied and pasted the ideas from (the system won'd allow me to post a link until I enter my 10th post. But the website is neworleansonline . com I call myself highlighting my recommendations, but that is virtually the entire list!

Hope this helps give you some ideas and that you enjoy long weekend! Take care

KpW

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Listed below are fifty of the best free attractions in New Orleans. Pick out the free things you’d like to do, then click on the links for more information.

1.Jackson Square- Take in the sights and sounds of Jackson Square, a good spot to take a rest, too.

2.Gallery hop in the Arts District along Julia Street on the first Saturday night of each month.

3.Join the parades during Carnival Season and Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

4.Stroll Royal and Chartres streets and window shop the arts, antiques and boutiques.

5.Enjoy French Quarter Festival every April, the South’s largest free music festival.

6. Watch the ships pass on the Mississippi River from Woldenberg Riverfront Park and listen for the Steamboat Natchez’s calliope.

7.Visit the Historic New Orleans Collection and the Williams Research Center.

8. Swing dance every Sunday in the summer at the National World War II Museum.

9.Ride the Canal Street Ferry to Algiers Point and see the New Orleans skyline.

10.Let the kids run around in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden in City Park.

11.Volunteer at one of the many organizations helping to rebuild New Orleans’ residences.

12.Celebrate the life and music of jazz legend Louis Armstrong during Satchmo SummerFest.

13.Experience a cooking demonstration at the Crescent City Farmers Market.

14.Jam out at the free Wednesday afternoon concerts in Lafayette Square during the spring and fall months.

15.Dance down Frenchmen Street at night, many clubs don’t have a cover charge.

16.Watch the fireworks on the Mississippi River every New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July.

17.Enjoy free oysters and music every Friday at Le Bon Temps Roule music club.

18.Attend one of the many festivals that the Jazz and Heritage Foundation hosts throughout the year, like the BBQ and Blues Festival or Congo Square New World Rhythms Festival.

19.Browse the shops and stalls throughout the French Market.

20.Saint Louis Cathedral- Tour Saint Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

21.Visit the New Orleans Museum of Art free on Wednesdays.

22.Enjoy a free concert of opera arias and musical show tunes by Bon Operatit! on the second Wednesday of each month at the Inn on Bourbon.

23.Venture into our "Cities of the Dead" for a self-guided day tour of a unique cemetery, especially St. Louis Cemetery #1, the closest one to the French Quarter.

24.Bring your book on the Garden District and take a self-guided walking tour.

25.Find a Saturday Art Market and check out the local art scene.

26.Listen to live music near the Joan of Arc Statue on Decatur Street.

27.Go upstairs at Arnaud's for a tour of their Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum.

28.Ask Antoine's for a tour of their 160-year-old restaurant.

29.Watch artists demonstrate glassblowing at Rosetree Glass Studio, Studio Inferno, or Glassworks.

30.Sit under 100 year old Oak trees in Audubon Park and/or City Park.31.Cafe du Monde-See beignets made through the kitchen window at Café du Monde in Dutch Alley.
32.Sample a praline at a sweet shop.
33.Take a free self-guided audio tour of downtown and the French Quarter with the National Park Service at 419 Decatur Street.

34.Try on masks and boas in French Quarter shops.

35.People watch on Bourbon Street.

36.Take a picture with Fats Domino, Pete Fountain, or Al Hirt at Music Legends Park on Bourbon Street.

37.Tour the Global Green house in the Lower Ninth Ward.

38.Get a view of Jackson Square from Washington Artillery Park.
39. Spanish Plaza Make a wish in the fountain at Spanish Plaza in front of the Riverwalk Shopping Center.

40.Watch looming at Louisiana Loom Works on Chartres Street.

41.Check out the Fulton Street Mall near Harrah’s Hotel and Casino.
42.Catch a concert at Wednesdays on the Point during the summer months
taking place in Old Historic Algiers just a quick ferry ride across the Mississippi from the French Quarter.

43.Window shop on Magazine Street.
44. See the swans from the Peristyle in City Park.

45.Tailgate outside the Superdome at a Saints football game or join the party before a Hornets basketball game.

46.Walk the nature trail at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve’s Barataria Unit.

47.Watch the sailboats race on Lake Pontchartrain from the Lakefront Park or watch the sunset from Lakeshore Drive.

48.See the Battle of New Orleans reenactment at the Chalmette Battlefield unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve.

49.Pay homage at the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.

50. Catch the holiday spirit with Cathedral concerts, cooking demonstrations and more during Christmas New Orleans Style, the entire month of December.

 

[North of Mouse]

I'm taking my family there in March, too! I've been many times. We love the Aquarium and you can get a good price on an Aquarium/Zoo combo. Walk around Jackson Square after eating at Cafe Du Monde. The Court of Two Sisters is a nice place to eat. Take a ride on the trolley and maybe a carriage ride, too. Have a great time!

Yes, OP, definitely ride the street trolley (other than San Francisco, don't know of any other US place to ride one). The St. Charles one is the best IMO. Also, the OP mentioned budget friendly, that's why I did not recommend Court of Two Sisters (budget, it isn't ) But the River Walk Food Court has good variety at smaller portions to try different dishes AND you can sit outside or inside and watch the river - a great experience and view. I never tire of it.

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

Since you're going for St. Patrick's Day, you could catch a parade.
http://www.stpatricksdayneworleans.com/

You've gotten a lot of good ideas already. The St. Charles Streetcar is nice. Also Cafe du Monde in the French Quarter.

Here's the office of tourism site: http://www.crt.state.la.us/home.aspx

There really is a lot to do here. You're going to have to pick and choose, especially for such a short trip. You could do a Plantation tour, a swamp tour, walk around the French Quarter, see some museums, eat your way around the city, ride the streetcar, walk along the river, go to a parade, etc....

 

[Arynrm1]

Thanks for all the replies! For sure Cafe du Monde is on the list! I can't wait, I have never had a beignet before.

The walk on the river sounds nice, we were thinking of eating at Franks and Kakoos. Does anyone have an opinion of this restaurant?

 

[prncess674]

Thanks for all the replies! For sure Cafe du Monde is on the list! I can't wait, I have never had a beignet before.

The walk on the river sounds nice, we were thinking of eating at Franks and Kakoos. Does anyone have an opinion of this restaurant?

I am going to assume you mean Ralph & Kacoo's. I am former NOLA native and find it very overrated and not that great. If you are looking for casual, but good seafood, I would suggest Red Fish Grill, which is a Brennan's restaurant.

http://www.redfishgrill.com/

If you are there in March, remember that is lent so all the Seafood restaurants will be packed to the gills every Friday.

 

[North of Mouse]

I agree that Ralph and Kacoo's is overrated, but I still think for the experience that the Food Court in Riverwalk, and especially Mike Andersens is the best to get good samplings of Cajun food and in keeping with you wanting to stay in budget. I think the setting can't be beat right on the river Not that a lot of places there aren't good, but some can be very expensive for what you get. Whatever you decide, enjoy. I'm envious - I love it there in the Springtime.

 

[ilovejack02]

Irish Channel Walking parade is TONS of fun.

 

[blondietink]

We were there last February before our cruise for a few days and had a blast at Mardi Gras. N'awlens is a great place! One of the things we found was near the French Market there is a part of the National Park there that has bands that play jazz music during the day. If you go to the National Park Visitor's Center near Bubba Gumps they will give you a map and schedule. We stayed at the Sheraton in Metaerie, which was a lot cheaper for us than staying in the French Quarter (we stayed on points), but then again we had a car.

 

[ToddyLu]

Another great place is Johnny's PoBoys in the French Quarter. Awesome food--pretty inexpensive and fantastic cathead biscuits (no, we do eat cat head's there but they are that size). It is very small but has all the flavor of a neighborhood deli in N'awlins.

And what ever you do...don't ever, ever pronouce it

New Or-le-ons. Four syllables won't cut it.

**Ate with my Mom and Dad last night at the Imperial Palace Casino--best crab legs ever at the buffet. They live 15 miles North of Biloxi and I live 15 miles East.

Welcome to the Gulf Coast--WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!

 

[ToddyLu]

And please enjoy a Hurricane (drink) at Pat O'Briens. There is also a dualing piano bar there. Take change with you into the restroom as there are nice attendents in there to hand out paper towels--just like the good ole days. Or there used to be. Be sure you keep the souvenir glass and they will box it up for you.

When you are on Bourbon Street you will get to a point several blocks down, where the lights dim and it gets dark--turn around and go back. Just be careful at the edge of the Quarter.

When you are down in the Quarter by Cafe Du Monde--look up at the MS River retaining walls. The river is above you.

 

[blackveil88]

Also, have a burger and a monsoon at Port of Call

 

[HelenePA]

I was there for St. Patrick's day the year after Katrina... we got to see a parade.. I was NOT prepared for what they throw besides beads at these parades! lol We had tons of fun, I stayed with my friend who is stationed down in the army there... we had so much fun!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

We were there over NYE as well. Couple things I'd not seen mentioned-

Original Cafe du Monde in FQ, of course. If you're hankering for some beignets and are at Riverwalk (or Aquarium, same area)- there's also a CdM there.

Algiers Ferry sounded good- was closed when we went. (My NOLA uncle says that is kind of an ongoing joke about it never being open. Don't make a special trip.)

My whole family (kids on to grandparents) liked Mardi Gras World. They make a majority of the MG floats. If you're not there during MG, it's a good way to learn what it really is. You walk through their studios and see every part of the process. There are free shuttles from Canal St {honestly, I'm not sure where exactly} and from River walk {that one is right out in front of the trolley stop} They runs constantly-longest you'd wait would probably be 10 minutes as they make the round trip to/from. Check the coupon books that are all over for a couple dollars off.

We also did a swamp boat tour out of Slidell. it was a little chilly (March would surely be better!)= gators all snuggled down under the mud, but neat to learn about what a swamp is/etc.

The national park jazz concerts mentioned previously are at the Old US Mint.

There is another national park in the FQ- http://www.nps.gov/jela/index.htm
They have a nice exhibit on the history of the city (it's free) plus free walking tours at 930am. Get there at 9, because it does fill up. (we missed it, unfortunately)

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

My best advice for staying on a budget would be not to go gambling. That's one big money suck right there and every penny you spend more than most likely will not be coming back to you. It is super easy to drop a couple hundred bucks in less than 2 hours. That's a lot of good meals right there.

 

[North of Mouse]

My best advice for staying on a budget would be not to go gambling. That's one big money suck right there and every penny you spend more than most likely will not be coming back to you. It is super easy to drop a couple hundred bucks in less than 2 hours. That's a lot of good meals right there.

That would be my advice too. I'd much rather eat the very tasty food there and would definitely have better memories of it than of losing my money