SWMBO and I are headed out in a cruise in the middle of November, and we're leaving from NOLA. We're arriving the day before, and need some budget friendly ideas for what to see, where to eat etc while we're down there. Neither of us have been to New Orleans before.
We've already booked our Airbnb room, so we're basically looking for something to do for the 12ish hours for the evening before, and morning of departure.
I know you guys won't let me down.
I'll be there next weekend so I'll let you know what I find!
The obvious is to stroll the French Quarter. I mean, it's the most famous thing in the Big Easy and is available day and night. Head out early and start near the waterfront. Stop at a bunch of shops, buy souvenirs, watch the street performers. Head towards Bourbon Street, window shopping in some galleries and grabbing bite for lunch somewhere. Hit more shops and galleries and end up at Bourbon Street, hitting some clubs and marveling at the debauchery. I recommend having a Hurricane in the courtyard at Pat O'Brian's for the ultimate fist-timer experience. End up back down at Cafe' du Monde for a late-night beignet. For killing a day, its hard to beat the Quarter.
Closer to the docks, there is a mall which offers typical mall stuff, plus a Cafe du Monde for a beignet. You can pretty easily walk to the end of Canal and along the river to see some cool stuff, like the Casino, Jackson Square, Margaritaville and the French Market.
You could also take a cab to the Port o Call for a burger, then stroll Frenchman Street and check out the music scene. Depends on the time of day. Or cab it to Jacques-Imo's for an awesome dinner. Or to Tipitina's to catch a live music show. Or the WWII museum for an afternoon if being drunk is not your thing. Or go to the Commander's Palace for lunch and then stroll through the garden district, checking out old homes and graveyards. Then take the street car back.
Find a paradise hot dog cart and insult the mongoloid running it. Enjoy, New Orleans is a comfortable metropolis which has a certain apathy and stagnation which I find inoffensive--unlike the vortex to the whirlpool of despair: Baton Rouge.
First, don't get shot or mugged. Next, definitely hit the French Quarter - Bourbon Street if you want to indulge and/or enjoy the overwhelming smell of human excrement. Decatur St. if you want to check out some incredible antique shops(actual suits of armor, one with nothing but antique firearms, etc.). Marie Laveau's Voodoo shop is pretty cool to visit. The French Market is interesting to walk through. You might also want to take a streetcar from Canal St. down through the Garden District and back - it's cheap, and a nice relaxing ride...they're the green streetcars, not the red ones FYI.
Also, you'll be near the Audubon Aquarium at the end of Canal St. and it's definitely worth an hour or 2 if that's more your thing.
You're getting good advice so far. I'll just add a couple of caveats. The recommendation of getting to the courtyard of O'brien's spurred this thought for me. What I have to share about the Quarter is to try to get inside all the buildings you can. The Quarter is all about the courtyards. From the exterior they may not look like much and the asking prices of the homes may seem unreasonable. A good friend of mine used to own a B&B on Ursulines St near Bourbon St. in The Quarter. The place looked like nothing from the street and it had a really cool courtyard.
Here are some house listings on the same street. Both of these are nearly dull from the street but see the pics for the inside.
https://www.redfin.com/LA/New-Orleans/600-Ursulines-Ave-70116/home/79446700
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/909-Ursulines-Ave-New-Orleans-LA-70116/73779740_zpid/
The people of New Orleans are somewhat the same. Don't stereotype their exteriors. If you happen to be on Bourbon St at The Tropical Isle's Bayou Club you just might see my buddy who plays spoons and washboard three nights a week in a Zydeco band. Seeing him at the beginning of the video you might just think he is some crazy old man (which he is.) But the rest of the story is he is a genuine pillar of the community serving as the #1 guy in charge, President, of one of the cities biggest charities.
If you're near the Casino then you are near the Hitlon Hotel and in the lobby of the Hilton is a Drago's Seafood restaurant. Sit at the bar. Get a couple of drinks and get an order of Chargrilled Oysters. Garlic Butter drenched oysters cooked over an open flame and served with french bread. Damn Good!.
Since it is New Orleans this is also a good answer for "what to do...?"
Also, you can start getting the Big Easy vibe while you are still at home by listening to WWOZ the greatest Public Radio Station which focuses only on genuine NOLA music. Also a good site for finding what will be happening musically on the night you will be there.
Try to take in some music while you're there. Of course, if you go to The Quarter the music will find you!
In reply to John Welsh :
Well, you're kind of on the right track: New Orleans mayoral candidate cited for masturbating during Uber ride.
Make sure you wolf down some Boudin Balls!
I grew up in and near New Orleans and lived there for 44 years before moving to Houston. One day in the Quarter is not enough. Food alone would keep you busy for a few months. Then historic sites and museums around St. Louis cathedral, antique shops on Royal street, various places to explore art, old records, old books. Bourbon Street at night is crazy. I don't think locals even go there anymore at night. If you do they have some amazing live jazz in a few places.
One thing I will say: Do not go off the beaten path, especially at night. If the street looks dark and lonely there is a reason no one is on it. Seriously. You could be one step away from helping a mugger get his nightly high and not realize it because there are beaucoup hiding places to wait for prey.
And if some hustler asks you "I bet I can tell you where you got your shoes" be sure to answer "I got my shoes on my feet" and keep walking.
Only tourists fall for that one.
I say that you have not experience all there is to experience until you hit the stuffed deep-fried cheeseburger . This food critic sums it up pretty well...
I ordered The Big Tuck, stuffed with pepperjack cheese, American cheese and bacon and covered with barbecue sauce and cheddar cheese shavings for $8.50. My massive patty had an odd golden crust, but biting into it I sunk deep into a luscious, piping hot melting pot of tangy cheese and bacon with the BBQ sauce dripping down my hand.
You of course are doing this around or just after midnight after a few libations, and then just to re-balance the blood sugars, you meander over to Cafe Du Monde for Beignetes and coffee.
If you actually make it up in time to attend any morning event that includes the same calendar day you went to sleep, you did not do it right or you are a much better man than I am. In response to something said earlier, I have had more merciful muggings compared to being left to my own devices in New Orleans. Enjoy!
Stay away from the dark end of Bourbon Street, unless cock is your thing.
Preservation Hall would be worth a visit if they are playing that night. There is a self-guided walking tour of the Historic French Quarter that will give you plenty of info about its famous sites and history.
We'll for sure have to hit any live music joints. We meant to while we were in Nashville last summer but ran out of time. We're going to be there in Friday, so that will for sure make that task easier.
Cafe du monde was for sure on the itinerary, I came here because I didn't know what it was called and I knew you guys would.
mtn said:Find a paradise hot dog cart and insult the mongoloid running it. Enjoy, New Orleans is a comfortable metropolis which has a certain apathy and stagnation which I find inoffensive--unlike the vortex to the whirlpool of despair: Baton Rouge.
Bravo - Best. Book. Ever...
Preservation hall
Pat O'Briens is a great touristy bar that isn't too touristy. Its pretty. Very New-O
I lived there for a year so Bourbon St got a little too young for me. Tits and beer are great, but vomit, urine, and sexual assault kinda ruins it.
Do a walking tour of the Garden District. Simply amazing. Beautiful, classy without pretense, and so much history.
For food, Commander's Palace is obvious. Its a jacket-only place so prepare accordingly. For a lunch, just stroll through the French Market and get some oysters and a po-boy. The Iconic lunch spot is Central Grocery right beside the Market. Get a Muffaletta and split it.
Theo's Pizza on Magazine st has great pies, and my friend Lauren works there. Across the street is Shaya, an Israeli restaurant that I always wanted to try. It is a hidden gem. One of those places that any day will have velvet ropes once people discover it. Top notch grub from what I hear.
Here is my foolproof plan:
- Walk the quarter during the afternoon or morning before all the drunks get there. Lots of neat shops between Bourbon and the river on all the side streets. End up at the Market.
- Do a walking (or biking or bus) tour of the Garden District. That condenses all the good sights and history into one short period
- Lunch at the Market or Central Grocery
- Breakfast at Cafe Du Monde
- Dinner at Commander's palace, Shaya, or honestly, just ask around. Some of my favorites are gone now since Katrina. There used to be some amazing historic places across the river in Algiers but not any more.
Checkpoint Charlies on Esplanade if you need a beer and laundry. Is Bud Rips still around? BTW the D-Day museum took me three hours if I remember correctly. 
If you go to the quarter during the day and you find yourself soaked with sweat from 7000% humidity... the aquarium is right there, a good way to kill an hour sobering up... and has killer AC.
I spent a night there. Not my scene. Didn't like it at all. I'm of no help to you.
If you have some daylight, ride the trolley uptown to the Garden District. Disembark and eat at the diner, then ride back to the Quarter. Cheap entertainment.
Just eat. I have never had a bad meal in New Orleans.
Frenchmen street is a party like Bourbon St. but without the college kids puking on themselves. It's where a lot of the locals hang out, with plenty of bars, and great live music. I prefer it to Bourbon St.---- but you kinda have to experience Bourbon St. at least once. Maybe walk down Bourbon, then head over to Frenchmen--- it's way more laid back.
See if Rebirth Brass Band is playing in town---- they are absolutely fantastic, and for me, the sound of New Orleans.
Old_Town said:mtn said:Find a paradise hot dog cart and insult the mongoloid running it. Enjoy, New Orleans is a comfortable metropolis which has a certain apathy and stagnation which I find inoffensive--unlike the vortex to the whirlpool of despair: Baton Rouge.
Bravo - Best. Book. Ever...
Hell yeah.
Also: Mother's for breakfast & bloody marys.
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