New Orleans offers a Southern culinary journey with fascinating culture and history. Enjoy the great variety of galleries, Jazz music and good vibes.
The best season to avoid the crowd of Mardi Gras festival is October. Few weeks before Halloween, when the holiday's vibes in on. The weather in New Orleans is always comfortable, so anytime of the year will be suitable.
During August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struct the Golf Coast including New Orleans. Leaving extreme damage and floods. At least 1,800 people died as result of the hurricane.
From New York, catch a 2h flight to New Orleans, we stayed at Q&C Hotel which was perfect. The location was great, close to the French Quarter but not as noisy.
French Quarter
To truly understand the history and culture of the city, you must book in advance 2-3 essential tours; Cemetery tour - St. Louis #1(I know it sounds like a weird idea to go on a tour in a cemetery, but you'll have to trust me on this one), Culinary tour (This tour will introduce you to the different cultures that made New Orleans food so popular and famous) and evening Ghost tour/ Voodoo Tour. I recommend Free-By-Foot (pay-as-you-wish system).
Strat your day with a tour, and keep exploring the street of New Orleans. Take the old tram through the city, rent bicycles to explore Garden District and Magazine Street.
Bourbon street is part of the city you should visit but does not represent the Jazz and music scene of New Orleans. head to Frenchman Street to enjoy the city real nightlife.
The second best thing about New Orleans is the food.
My very best recommendations for you;
GW Fins (must try the BBQ shrimps)
Brennan's - the oldest restaurant of New Orleans (must try the banana desert)
Sylvain
Doris Metropolitan
Po-boy sandwich at Napoleon House
Beignets at Cafe du Monde (delicious doughnuts) avoid the crowd and skip to the takeaway line.
A secret backyard wine and cheese bar is Bacchanal Wine; I recommend to get there after 17:00 and stay for the concert.
If you've got time, visit Memphis Tennessee - Elvis Presley's home town.
Comments