Things to do in New Orleans - Activities & Tours
Is this your first trip to New Orleans? Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Music, Art Galleries, Swamp Tours? Is your biggest question what to do first? Well we have narrowed it down for you with a quick glance at thet what, where and how of New Orleans entertainment.
Mardi Gras in New OrleansCarnival is the quintessential New Orleans party, and Mardi Gras is the day when the whole thing shifts into high gear. Be prepared! For lovers of madness, timing is of the essence. Grab yourself a copy of a Roman Catholic calendar and somewhere in late winter and early spring, look for Ash Wednesday. The day before that is Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday". For the best bacchanals, plan to be in the city a weekend or two before and stay on until the end! Don't forget to grab yourself a good spot for the parades, catch some good beads and a couple of doubloons, hook yourself up with a few Zulu coconuts, eat a couple of scrumptious king cakes, and Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler! (Translation: Let the Good Times Roll!) A word to the wise: don't get conned into buying a ticket to Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras, like any holiday such as Christmas or Easter, is free and open to the public. Although there are a number of private parties in the form of masked balls in session, they are mostly traditional "by-invitation-only" affairs, and those invitations are not usually up for sale. New Orleans is Party CentralSo you've toured the swamp, bought a voodoo doll, and eaten your share of gumbo. You've seen the art, soaked in the culture, dug into the crawfish and po-boys. Its 11 at night, it's been a wild day, you're soft bed is calling your name... wimp! This is New Orleans, and the night has just begun! Squeeze yourself (or your girlfriend) into that little black dress, spritz on that cologne, get your game face on, "hoof it up" to Bourbon Street, and join the party! Musical MadnessHear jazz the way it's supposed to sound, right where it was born. Start of at the famous Preservation Hall in the French Quarter (726 St. Peter's Street) to groove to traditional acoustic sounds. When your stomach starts rumbling (food and drink are not served at Preservation), head on over to Snug Harbor Music Hall (626 Frenchmen Street), which features great food as well as local talent. For a little romance, Ray's Over the River on the 31st floor of the World Trade Center (yes, New Orleans has one too), with its fabulous view of the Mississippi, is a terrific choice. Other jazz-worshiping places worth a look are Sweet Lorraine's on 1931 St. Claude Ave, The Jazz Parlor and Fritzel's on Bourbon Street, and Donna's Bar and Grill on 800 N. Rampart Street. If piano bars are more your thing, the New Orleans Carousel Piano Bar and Lounge over at Hotel Monteleone (214 Rue Royale) is one of the best. Modeled after a real carousel, the bar actually spins! Order a sazerac, their signature cocktail (mixed with rye whiskey and made to resemble absinthe) and just sit back, relax, and enjoy. Gamblers' GamesThere are two major casinos in New Orleans: Harrah's and Treasure Chest. Harrah's features 2500 slots, 100 table games, a 24-hour buffet, and Masquerade, a cooler-than-thou club with an ice bar, red-hot music, and a wicked lounge. Treasure Chest, located to the west of downtown, is a more low-key affair perfect for those who just want to get the dice rolling. Treasure Chest has the newest tables in town, offers Louisiana specialties in a casual environment, and even squeezes in live entertainment on the weekends. Crazy CocktailsNew Orleans loves its parties, and partiers love their drinks. Satisfy your taste buds (as well as the abscess in your liver) with a few of the Crescent City's favorite cocktails. Snag the Hurricane at Pat's Bar, the Sazerac or a Blushing Belle at the Piano Bar and Lounge of Hotel Monteleone, and the Ramos Gin Fizz at the Fairmont. Oh and don't forget to ask for a Southern Comfort Mardi Gras Mambo on your way out the door. You can also try the Brennan's Brandy Milk Punch at Brennan's, a Doucette at Cochon, a Starfish Cooler at GW Fins, a Mint Julep at the Library Lounge, and The Grasshopper at Tujague. The Best of New Orleans FestivalsThe indisputable mother of all New Orleans festivals is the much-celebrated Mardi Gras. But why stop there when there are dozens of others to enjoy all year-around? The Jazz Fest or the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is a cultural extravaganza. Held on the last weekend of April and the first week of May at the New Orleans fairgrounds, the fest will have music playing out of your ears. Whether it's jazz, Cajun, R&B, gospel, folk, latin, rock, rap or country, if you want it, chances are the fest's got it. It's also home to some of the best regional cooking this side of the Mississippi so come with your appetite. The French Quarter Festival is a 3-day celebration (usually in early April) of the French Quarter Life. There's music, food, art, and a host of other things besides. Stages are scattered all over the quarter, and concerts tend to spill out into Bourbon and Royal streets, and even down to the river. Other Festivals worth mentioning are the Soul Festival, a celebration of African-American culture traditionally held on Father's Day weekend at the Audubon Zoo; the Essence Fest, a 4th of July weekend party that honors the best of African-American music; the Satchmo Fest, a summer musical festival commemorating the legacy of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong; and the Voodoo Music Experience, a 3-day bash in October filled with music, food, and a generous helping of the occult. New Orleans ToursNew Orleans Riverboat ToursNew Orleans Riverboats tours come in all forms and budgets. Dinner cruises are common; so are jazz tours and river trips up to the Audubon Zoo. Some tours feature a true-blue steamboat, and if you're lucky, you can listen to the sounds of the calliope, a unique musical instrument powered by the boat's steam, as you glide along the Mississippi. New Orleans Swamp ToursTake a trip down the home of the swamp thing and marvel at the strange beauty of these protected environments. You can see swamp owls and raccoons up close, and may even get to hold a baby alligator in your hands. New Orleans Plantation ToursThe old southern Plantation homes have been opened to the public so this is your chance to see how the southern moneyed class used to live. While some estates will let you drive up to the door unguided, many will only let you in with the accompaniment of an accredited tour professional. If you want the total experience, pick a tour that will let you see multiple homes at once, while giving you ample time to meander along the properties by yourself. Got the cash to burn? Go for packages that include an elegant lunch or dinner in one of these homes' majestic dining areas. Other New Orleans ToursA New Orleans city tour is a great way to familiarize yourself with the area. Take a ride in a tour bus and cruise all over the city. You may also sign up for a walking tour, which will allow you to see the beauty of New Orleans on foot. There are plenty of companies offering walking tours around the French Quarter and the Garden District. Some will even have a "Haunted Tour" which will take you around New Orleans famed haunted houses, and a Voodoo Cemetery tour, which will guide you through the so–called "Cities of the Dead". |
Did you know? Mardi Gras FactsMardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday" is actually a Roman Catholic celebration. It is the day immediately before Ash Wednesday and signals the start of Lent. Mardi Gras is also the highlight and end of Carnival, which starts on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). The Mardi Gras parades are organized and funded by groups called krewes. Each krewe collects dues from its members, which in turn pays for the krewe's Mardi Gras celebrations (this may include parades, dances, etc). These fees can range from as little as $20 for the smaller krewes, and as much as a few thousand a year for the most prestigious ones. The Mistick Krewe of Comus first held its annual parade in 1857. The Mistick Krewe is the oldest active krewe associated with the New Orleans Mardi Gras. The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. Nowadays, revelers will tell you that purple stands for Justice, green for Faith, and gold for Power. In older, more conservative times however, religion had a much more prominent role. Purple was said to stand for the justice of God, green for faith in God, and gold for the power of God. While a host of parades march through the streets of New Orleans during carnival season, two major parades happen on Mardi Gras itself: the Rex Parade and the Zulu Parade, both of which end on Canal Street. Masquerade balls are the province of social clubs and are generally by invitation only. These masquerade balls are attended by the crème de la crème of New Orleans society and are usually black or white tie affairs. At the stroke of midnight on Mardi Gras, police officers make what constitutes as a symbolic show of cleaning the streets. It is considered bad form – at least to locals –– to keep on partying past this hour as it is now Lent, the Roman Catholic season of sacrifice and repentance. Did you know? Jazz FactsNew Orleans is the birthplace of jazz. Jazz, a completely original American phenomenon, was believed to have been developed in the city at the turn of the 20th century. Early jazz used marching band instruments as its basic tools: brass, reeds, and drums. These instruments were usually played in the equal temperament 12-tone scale. The saxophone, now seen by many as a quintessential jazz instrument, did not become a major player until around 1910. Jazz is highly improvisational and highly individual. Performers strive to put their own spin even on the most basic of songs. Good jazz musicians never play the same song the same way twice. New Orleans jazz became synonymous with the "Dixieland" style as the musical art form progressed. The Original Dixieland Jass Band is usually credited with starting the jazz revolution in April 1917. The band changed the spelling to jazz later on. Jazz is the convergence of a variety of musical forms already present in the turn of the 20th century. The word "jazz" has its roots in American slang but the actual origins are vague. New Orleans Sights to SeeAny vacation in New Orleans requires at least a cursory peek at her beautiful architecture. Nowhere else in the United States can you see this majestic assembly of functional 18th and 19th century buildings, awe-inspiring churches, and plethora of artful enclaves. Historic Landmarks and ArchitectureNew Orleans is famous for its old world architecture and continental influences. The buildings of the French Quarter, otherwise known as the Vieux Carre, with their Spanish style wrought iron balconies and inner courtyards, are prime examples. The great, grand homes of the Garden District on the other hand, which were primarily settled in during the 1850's, favor styles such as Greek Revival, Italianate, and Queen Anne Victorian. Many of these old mansions include quaint servants' houses built to match. The St. Louis Cathedral, which was built in the 1700's and sits in the heart of the city, is another must-see landmark. Museums, Galleries and the AudubonThe New Orleans Museum of Art (One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park), The National World War II Museum (945 Magazine Street), and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art (925 Camp Street) are all popular destinations for culture buffs. And if you still have room for more artsy stuff after that, it might be good to know that galleries and artist studios line the streets of the French Quarter. The Audubon Zoo and its sister-site, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, are also famous New Orleans attractions. The zoo houses over 1,300 animals, and can be found at 6500 Magazine Street. Don't forget to look at the rare white tigers! If aquatic life is more your speed, get yourself to the Aquarium on 1 Canal Street. There's a penguin feeding between 10:30 and 3, an otter feeding at 2, and stingray feedings between 11:30 and 2:30. Occult and VoodooA vacation in New Orleans is not complete without a little exotic magic. The Alombrados Encampment of the Ordo Templi Orientis hosts the mystical Liber XV, also known as the Gnostic Mass. More details can be found on the Alombrados Encampment website. Interested in exploring the mystical world of voodoo? Head on over to the Island of Salvation Botanica, located at 835 Piety Street, where you can purchase various voodoo items handmade by Mambo Sallie Ann Glassman. Starling Books and Crafts is a popular shop for all sorts of esoterica. Read up on Santeria, buy a few vials of "magical" oils, and stock up on those black candles. The store is located at 1022 Royal Street, just a couple of blocks away from Washington Square. Hotel Search at a Glance
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