Also known as “The Big Easy,” New Orleans has a reputation for hosting exciting nightlife, jubilant music, and delicious Creole cuisine. The city is rich with Cajun tradition and offers something for everyone; it’s a fascinating destination with a plethora of different activities and events and locations to accommodate those of all ages. Continue reading to discover some of the most popular attractions in New Orleans.
1. Mardi Gras
This event is known nationwide for the incredible way that the city celebrates Mardi Gras, with its lively music, rich decadent foods, and parades taking place for the weeks leading up to Lent. Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a giant party where people come from all over to enjoy the festivities and each week offers new parades, activities and chances to partake in a different Mardi Gras tradition. Newcomers are actively welcomed and encouraged to join in the festivities to get the full experience!
2. French Quarter
If you are looking to travel to the heart of New Orleans, the French Quarter is the place to go. Here you will find luxurious hotels, restaurants, vibrant nightlife and fantastic street performers. Within the French Quarter, there is also Bourbon Street where you can enjoy strong cocktails, thriving bars, lively jazz clubs and people walking in the streets. This is a necessity for anyone visiting New Orleans for the first time.
3. National WWII Museum
This is the perfect attraction for anyone who enjoys history or is particularly interested in World War II. Originally named The National D-Day Museum, it is now known as the National WWII Museum and will likely take approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Here, you can see important artifacts, view immersive exhibits and learn extensive details about this historic time period. It’s the perfect spot for any history buff, or those looking to pay respect to those who fought in WWII.
4. City Park
City Park is a great destination for people of all ages. It feels like there is something for everyone, including the flourishing Botanical Garden, playgrounds, boating and biking, and various food selections. If you are looking for a free activity, this is also a great spot as most of the parks within are free and open to the public. With over 1,300 acres of land, it is the 20th most-traveled urban public park in the United States. You can easily enjoy a full day here with activities left to spare.
5. Garden District
This area is considered one of the more ritzy parts of town, a place where you can find plenty of historical mansions, fine dining locations and yoga studios. The streets are lined with charming oak trees and there are lavish gardens that can be found here. In addition to beautiful homes, cottages and mansions, there are also casual cafes and local bars worth checking out. It’s also where the famous New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival takes place each year in May and June.
6. New Orleans Museum of Art
If delighting over art is your style, this is a must see. The New Orleans Museum of Art is famous for housing over 40,000 objects spanning 5,000 years. You’ll find a wide collection of paintings and sculptures with many different heritages including French, American, Asian, African, Native American, and more. Sitting in the top 25 percent of the nation’s largest and most important museums, The New Orleans Museum of Art is a crucial part of the city’s culture and hundreds of thousands of people flock from all over to appreciate the exhibitions.
7. Preservation Hall
If you enjoy listening to music, this is the spot to be. You can hear traditional New Orleans jazz concerts 350 nights of the year a year in this historic music hall in the French Quarter. What began as an art gallery with musicians rehearsing has now evolved into a vibrant spot offering an excellent example of the spirit, great sound and history of traditional New Orleans jazz.
Traveling Around the City
With all of these events and attractions, it might be hard to pick and choose what you’d like to do. To save time getting from place to place, you’ll want to plan ahead for how you’re going to get around.
Instead of driving yourself and having to worry about parking and parking fees, consider a ride with a car service New Orleans which will provide a personal chauffeur to drive you wherever you’d like to go. As soon as you finish one activity, you can easily move on to the next without having to call a cab or rideshare and then waiting for them to arrive. In addition to being a great way to travel with friends, it’s also a great business option if you’re traveling with colleagues or for work.
New Orleans is a large city that is hardly lacking in activities. The experiences in New Orleans are bountiful and you will want to enjoy as many as you can! Just make sure you’re prepared for getting around to the attractions you’re interested in.
