With one internet search, you will find plenty of exhaustive lists on all the things you should do when visiting NOLA. While they’re probably full of great ideas, we’re guessing you won’t be here for several months in order to knock out all the amazing attractions/eats this city has to offer. In no particular order, here are some things we locals want you to experience!
1. Take the St. Charles Streetcar. Ride down St. Charles Ave. under the beautiful Oak Trees; hop off for lunch at Superior Seafood or grab a drink at The Columns Hotel.
2. Eat beignets. Lots of them. Visit the well known Café Du Monde across from Jackson Square, or if you want to avoid the lines, check out Café Beignet on Royal Street.
3. Speaking of Jackson Square, you’re going to want to walk around, soak in the sights, take a look inside St. Louis Cathedral, and maybe even get your cards read!
4. Visit Frenchmen Art Market. Frenchmen Street is filled with unique establishments, live music, street performers and characters of all kinds. Some say Frenchmen St. is the local’s Bourbon Street. Find some hand-crafted jewelry, art, candles and more made by local artisans. Frenchmen Art Market is open every night except Wednesdays.
5. Visit the Cemeteries. Sounds weird, right? But in New Orleans, we have several cemeteries with elaborate above ground crypts and mausoleums. You can visit the tomb of the famous “voodoo queen” Marie Laveau at the St. Louis Cemetery.
6. Spend a day at City Park. There, you can enjoy a wide variety of activities from a low-key picnic lunch near Big Lake, even more beignets from Morning Call, try your hand at City Putt, visit the New Orleans Museum of Art and much more!
7. Take a swamp tour. Yes, that’s a thing! Get up close and personal with Louisiana wildlife by taking a boat tour of the swamps with Cajun Encounters.
8. If swamp livin’ is not the life for you then you may want to check out a safari tour at Global Wildlife Center. About an hour drive from New Orleans, you can find yourself face to face with free roaming bison, giraffe, zebra, camels, eland and more!
9. Catch Mardi Gras all year round at Mardi Gras World. Take a tour and get a behind the scenes look at what it takes to bring Mardi Gras to life.
10. Eat local. With hundreds of local restaurants to choose from for every budget, there is zero need to eat at a chain restaurant while in New Orleans. A few of our favorites are Peche, Appoline, Willa Jean, Central Grocery (for a Muffaletta), SoBou, Jaque Imo’s, and so many many more!!
Be sure to check out some of our recommendations to get just a taste of quintessential New Orleans!
Myndee will be giving a talk on Using Social Media to Grow your Blog at WordCamp NOLA. Don’t miss it, get your ticket today!
We explore the swamps and DON’T feed the alligators marshmallows. Support “Leave no trace” ethics on nature tours with us.