Our Favorite Hotels In New Orleans
If you want to be right in the heart of the action, check out the Bourbon Orleans Hotel. Its conveniently situated just a half block off of Bourbon Street and 2 blocks from Jackson Square. The real selling point is the peaceful courtyard pool hidden away from the madness of the French Quarter.
Drive Through A Daiquiri Shop
Sure, you may have sipped a daiquiri while meandering down Bourbon Street. But, have you ever picked one up at a drive-through window and driven away with it in your cup holder?
Amazingly, New Orleans has a caveat in their open container law that states: Open alcoholic beverage container shall not mean any bottle, can, or other receptacles that contain any amount of frozen alcoholic beverage unless the lid is removed or a straw protrudes through the lid.
So as long as you dont insert your straw before you get to your destination, youre clearly on the right side of the law.
Check Out The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
Many people dont know that New Orleans is the home of Americas first licensed Pharmacist, Louis J. Dufilho, Jr.
His apothecary shop is located in the middle of the historic French Quarter.
A National Historic Place, the shop is now a museum and showcases hundreds of glass apothecary bottles full of old remedies, medical instruments, and surgical tools, Voodoo potions.
On the second floor, there is an odd collection of spectacles of Dr. J. William Rosenthals.
Arrive at 1 pm during the week for a free guided tour.
If you are into the history of pharmacy and healthcare or just like strange and unique experiences, then this is the place for you!
- Hours: 12 am 5 pm Wed-Sat
- Cost: Adults $5 / Seniors & Students $4 / Child under 6 FREE
- Location: 514 Chartres Street
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Indulge In Dining Deals With Coolinary
Take advantage of dining deals starting this July in New Orleans with COOLinary. Indulge in two-course lunch, or three-course dinner and brunch deals from July 14-September 5, 2021. Participants include Antoines Restaurant, Brigtsens Restaurant, Tujagues Restaurant and Café Degas, among more than 70 others.
Ride An Authentic Louisiana Steamboat
Journey back in time aboard the Steamboat Natchez, the only authentic steamboat in New Orleans. Youll get to cruise down the mighty Mississippi River as you relax, while a live band plays classic New Orleans Jazz.
This is how you savor the tastes, sounds, and sights of New Orleans.!
Visit the preserved steam engine room and learn how steam powers the boat, or stand on the ships top deck and admire the spectacular views that surround you. Youll also be able to enjoy an authentic Creole lunch, prepared fresh onboard.
Jeremy Thompson
Listening to jazz music should be high up on your list of things to do in New Orleans. From swing to blues to fusion to bebop to funk, here are the best places to scope out NOLAs jazz scene.
Preservation Hall in the French Quarter is a New Orleans Jazz club with an old-timey atmosphere and high-quality jazz music. For old-time jazz music in a historic setting, this is the place you want to be.
The Spotted Cat Music Club is another quintessential New Orleans jazz club. Its an intimate venue with a lot of different styles: from traditional jazz to funk. Its located in the Faubourg Marigny District on Frenchmen Street, a few steps from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter.
Keep an ear to the ground for talk of any local big band funk gig, such as Grammy-nominated Hot 8 Brass Band. The styles huge in NOLA and its always a great vibe!
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Celebrate The Birth Of Louis Armstrong At Satchmo Summerfest
Satchmo Summerfest, presented by Chevron, takes over the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Mint from August 2-4 for a weekend of music, food, dancing, and lectures. Past performers have included Don Vappie & the Creole Jazz Serenaders, Bonerama, Soul Rebels, Topsy Chapman and Solid Harmony, Charmaine Neville, the Original Pinettes Brass Band, Robin Barnes and the Fiyabirds, and Big Chief Donald Harrison, Jr. Armstrong scholars will also present at lectures that take place throughout the weekend.
See Live Music Seven Nights A Week
In New Orleans, you can find live music around the clock. If youre looking to catch a specific set on any given day, check out our blog on live music, seven nights a week. From soulful jazz at the Howlin Wolf to funky jams at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, theres something for everyone.
Whether its a rainy day or just too hot outside, take refuge indoors with a visit to an attraction with this itinerary. Shop at The Riverwalk, visit the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and grab a bite to eat at one of our many delicious restaurants all while staying cool and dry.
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Natchitoches Sports Hall Of Fame And Northwest Louisiana History Museum
Just down the block, visit the Natchitoches Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum. This combined museums will tell you about Louisianas athletes and the regions culture and history.
The building is unique and stands out from the rest of the citys architecture which has a New Orleans feel. Trahan Architects of Baton Rouge designed the museum which was named the Top Architecture Project in the World in 2013 by Azure magazine.
Starting on the first floor, the sports section tells the history of Louisiana athletics. Youll find information on names known to all sports fans like Archie Manning, Willis Reed, Shaquille ONeal, and Chanda Rubin. There are some lesser known names like New Orleans-born Audrey Mickey Patterson, who was the first African American woman to win an Olympic medal.
The History Museum section on the second floor takes you through 3,000 years of history with the Caddo Native Americans, French and Spanish settlers, and free and enslaved Africans that created todays Cane River Creole culture. Youll find some Clementine Hunter paintings and learn more about Magnolia and Melrose Plantation era life. There are some exhibits here related to shooting wildlife and fishing.
Eat In The Back Of A Pickup Truck At Jacques Imos Cafe
Serving up legendary Creole cuisine, including crab meat-stuffed shrimp, deep-fried grits, and paneed rabbit, Jacques Imos is a long-standing uptown New Orleans favorite for dinner. However, unlike some of the French Quarters stuffy, old-school dining affairs, Jacque Imos Cafe is characterized by its unpretentious patrons and rowdy atmosphere.
For a truly unique experience, make sure you reserve the best table in the house well in advance. Its in the back of the pickup truck parked on the curb out front. And for a truly unique dish, order the shrimp and alligator sausage cheesecake its a specialty at Jacque Imos!
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Dont Wear Mardi Gras Beads Unless Its Carnival
Wearing Mardi Gras beads in New Orleans at any time other than the official Carnival season is like wearing a wedding dress on a first dateit sends the wrong message, and it calls negative attention to yourself. If youre wearing a neck full of beads during the summer, youll make yourself the target of a tourist scam. Someone will likely approach youas they did my cousinand bet they can guess where you got your shoes.
My cousin scoffed at the proposed bet, confident that this French Quarter hustler would never guess he bought his hand-sewn bluchers from a mens shop in Eastern Connecticut. The man looked my cousin up and down and said, You got them on your feet! My cousin laughed and tried to walk away, but the man came after him, insisting on being paid for the clever rouse. All of this was because my cousin made himself look like a tourist by wearing beads close to Labor Day. Carnival officially begins in early January for the Feast of the Epiphany and doesnt end until midnight on Fat Tuesday, so theres plenty of time for tawdry plastic baubles if your trip happens to fall within those holy days.
Gawk At The Giant Floats And Decorative Costumes At Mardi Gras World
If you cant make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and the famous Canal Street parade, do not fret, for you can find Carnival year-round at Mardi Gras World!
On the outside, this warehouse down by the Mississippi River looks deceivingly plain.
But inside lies a world of fun! Most of the floats and costumes used in the parades are designed and created in this warehouse and its open to the public for tours.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build these extravagant floats, try on costumes and learn the history of this festive tradition.
You will even get to try a slice of King Cake after the tour, which can normally only be found during the festival.
So come hungry and ready to be impressed!
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Experience The Local Music Scene And Culture Of New Orleans At Preservation Hall
Giving authentic live music Jazz concerts 350 days out of the year, Preservation Hall is one of the best venues in New Orleans to hear Traditional New Orleans Jazz.
Preservation Hall is first a music venue. But it is also a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving New Orleanss culture of traditional Jazz.
It also continues the tradition by teaching kids the art of true New Orleanss Jazz from the best of the best Jazz musicians.
When enjoying the live music know that the price of your ticket is helping to keep the historic venue open but also going towards a great cause!
If you are passionate about Jazz, also consider checking out the New Orleans Jazz Museum, which is full of exhibitions, history, and information about Jazz.
Here Are The 12 Best Things To Do In La In August
A post shared by The Wiltern on Jul 31, 2018 at 9:33am PDT
Sing along to classics like Eleanor Rigby and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds at this special showing of the Beatles classic at the Wiltern . The movies been restored in 4K for your most optimum viewing pleasure.
The magical kook of Will Geers Theatricum Botanicum is the ideal setting for this classic Shakespeare play. Take a hit of that Topanga Canyon charm during a month of performances make a proper evening of it by booking a dinner in the garden ahead of each August show.
Before you write it off as another Instagram stunt, consider this: The purpose of this art show is to raise awareness for mental and emotional health. After stops in Atlanta, Philly, Brooklyn, and D.C., the event heads to Inner Space downtownmore than 20 artists showcase works inspired by a modern-day language all its own alongside live art, body painting, DJ sets, and emoji-inspired desserts.
The Hammer goes to the dogs with a screening series inspired by mans best friend. Festivities kick off on the 3rd with a Yappy Hourthere will be beer, wine, cocktails, and an adorable hoard of adoptable pupswith films showing in the weeks after. Dont miss Christopher Guests perfect mockumentary, Best in Show, on August 22.
Pop culture and cat culture collide at the Pasadena Convention Center, where you can partake in meet and greets with cat celebs and celeb-celebs , sit in on kitty-centric seminars , and more.
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Shop Til You Drop On Saturday
On the first Saturday of the month, the posh art galleries on open their doors to the public from 6 pm 9 pm . Or head to the Freret Market in the hip Freret neighborhood from 11 am 4 pm.
On the second Saturday of the month, stop by the Piety Street Market in the Bywater or the St. Claude Arts District in the for their Second Saturday ArtWalk .
And Finally Go to Bourbon Street!
Okay, if you have made it through the whole list, then you can go wild on Bourbon Street! Grab a Hand Grenade at Tropical Isle, sing some karaoke at the Cats Meow, and make sure you dont urinate in public! See you down there!
There you have it the 65 best things to do in New Orleans! Whats your favorite thing to do in New Orleans? Let us know in the comments.
Planning a trip to New Orleans? Check out our favorite books and travel guides!
Visit The National Wwii Museum
New Orleans was where the Higgins landing craft was designed and built.
These boats were used in the amphibious landing invasion of Normandy in 1944 and are the reason why Americas only official WWII museum is located in New Orleans.
You will see these boats, along with aircraft, artillery, tanks, and many other WWII artifacts.
Journey through six permanent exhibits, each brilliantly narrating how the war was fought, won, and what the war means to us today through personal stories, artifacts, interactive, and media exhibits.
There is also a superb 4-D film to be watched!
You could easily spend an entire day touring this museum. Afterwards, visit one of the many trendy cafes or restaurants in the Warehouse District.
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Experience The Sistine Chapel At This Incredible Multisensory Exhibition
Michelangelos Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition showcases the awe and wonder of arguably one of mankinds greatest artistic achievements while allowing its visitors to experience this art from an up-close, life-sized, and never-before-seen perspective. Allow the artistic geniuss masterpieces to blossom around you, enfolding you in their brilliance. Get your tickets here.
Get Some Thin Fried Catfish At Middendorfs
Southern Living Magazine once declared that the thin fried catfish from Middendorfs was possibly the best-fried fish in the world. Thats high praise coming from a magazine that probably reviews more fried food than any other publication in the US. Head on out to the remote town of Akers, Louisiana to try it for yourself its a worthy day trip from New Orleans.
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Fort St Jean Baptiste Des Natchitoches
Step back into the early 18th century roots of Louisianas oldest city. Natchitoches grew from two small huts built in 1714 to become Fort St. Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches. The city grew up around the fort to become an important French trading post.
The fort is mostly made of log structures. The original fort did not survive Louisianas hot humid weather but the replica looks authentic. It is built near the site of the original fort on Cane River Lake, then called Red River. First stop at the Forts Visitor Center to see a video and displays of the type of goods traded and dioramas that depict the villages of the Native Americans.
The fort was built to house about 18 men and some families. The exhibits portray family life. French women were scarce so many of the soldiers married Native American women from the friendly Caddo Tribes or Spanish women from the nearby Spanish fort. There are costumed docents that give it a very authentic feel. You can visit the barracks and imagine cooks preparing bread in a huge outdoor clay oven. Be sure to visit the small church.
Get Cultured At The New Orleans Museum Of Art
The New Orleans Museum of Art is often overlooked by tourists visiting the Big Easy, but its worth a visit if you have time. It contains an impressive collection of over 40,000 pieces of fine art ranging from the Italian Renaissance period to today. Youll find it in the southeastern corner of City Park, which is also worth a stroll around after you visit the museum.
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Visit Some Famous Theatres
Hollywood is full of famous movie theatres where notable and important films had their premieres, and a lot of them are all in the same area.
There are three really popular examples within a few blocks of each other:
- The TCL Chinese Theatre
- The Egyptian Theatre
- The Dolby Theatre
At least two of these venues were crafted by Sid Grauman, and the Dolby Theatre routinely hosts major events such as the Academy Awards.
Both the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre offer tours which allow you to get a behind-the-scenes look, and the Egyptian still operates as a traditional movie theatre to this day.
Whether you want to learn about these movie houses, see them from the outside, or even enjoy a film inside one of them, there are plenty of ways to experience the great theatres of Hollywood.
NOTE: Both the TCL Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre tours are available on at least one major Los Angeles tourist pass.
Swampin Grounds Tour Co
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Reviewed By 748geoffreya – New Bern, United States
We had a wonderful time! Chef Robin Midgetts class doesnt use an audience viewing format. Instead, she invites her students to do the cooking. She teaches, but you do the prepping, the stirring, the seasoning, the burning-your-darn-fingers-on-the-pot. You do all of it. Trust me. Its a lot easier to remember how its done, when youve actually done it. That day, Robin taught Jackie and me how to make a proper roux. How to not rush the process. How to watch the colors slowly change from blonde to brown to dark chocolate. And how to know how each color should taste in a spicy Cajun gumbo or a creole etoueffe. Then the three of us spent the balance of the afternoon drinking wine, listening to zydeco and using our roux to stir up some of the most delicious dishes Ive ever made, or thought Id be capable of making. And because a cultures traditional food and music are the keys to its front door, in a very real way, Robin left us standing in the warm vestibule of New Orleans. Geoff and Jackie
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