Get your bearings
New Orleans sits on an eight-mile stretch between the
Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain. The narrow 17th-century streets of the
French Quarter make up the cultural heart of the city. Across Canal Street is the
Central Business District and
Warehouse District, home to an eclectic mix of restaurants, galleries, hotels and music clubs. A streetcar ride up St Charles Avenue from the French Quarter is the leafy
Garden District, where blocks of palatial Greek-columned mansions sit under canopies of oak trees. A walk along the district’s
Magazine Street takes in six miles of antique shops, jewelers, couture boutiques and art galleries.
Local food flavors
Creole cooking may dominate restaurant menus in New Orleans but the cuisine blends an extravagant mix of international flavors into something totally unique. Dig into a creamy
crawfish etouffee or a spicy bowl of
gumbo at a local Creole seafood counter. Tuck into a
muffaletta sandwich stuffed with ham, salami, lettuce and marinated olives with a cold beer in a vintage 19th-century watering hole. Elegant dining is also part of the New Orleans lifestyle, and plenty of chefs create innovative twists on old recipes in their fancy dining rooms.
New Orleans nights
People come to the Big Easy to relax, listen to music, and party. The vibe is easygoing, and places welcome visitors the same way they would locals. The uninhibited party at the lively bars and clubs on
Bourbon Street, while the sophisticated set sips cocktails at spots like the
Carousel Revolving Bar. Swing to traditional jazz at
Preservation Hall and
Snug Harbor, or bop to the boogie-woogie piano at
Tipitina’s. On Sunday morning, get inspired at gospel brunch at the
House of Blues.
Living history
Slip back into the early 17th century at
Jackson Square, where stately Spanish-colonial buildings hide behind wrought-iron gates. Those with a taste for voodoo can marvel at the dolls and gris-gris ”magic” potions at the
New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. A ride on the
St Charles Avenue street car takes you past classical mansions in the
Garden District.
Shopping for all budgets
Antique stores, jewelry shops, used book stores and art galleries line Royal Street in the
French Quarter, while Decatur Street is the place to find novelty shops and the Farmer’s Market. The Riverwalk Marketplace holds plenty of chains, high-tech shops, and souvenir outlets. Shoppers hunt for one-of-a- kind fashions and antiques along Magazine Street, in the
Garden District. Over on Julia Street in the
Warehouse District, browse paintings from local artists that adorn the many galleries.
