I am going to be in New Orleans for about 10 days in early November.
I’ve never been, and apart from wanting to see some authentic zydeco music and maybe getting to see a Saints game, I’m open to suggestions, tips and things to do/not do.
I’m staying in the Warehouse District.
If you have a car, I would suggest driving out to see one of the plantation houses just outside New Orleans, Laura Plantation http://www.lauraplantation.com and Oak Alley http://www.oakalleyplantation.com are the ones we visited. Fascinating history.
If you are looking for somewhere upscale to eat, Commander’s Palace is very good. http://www.commanderspalace.com Pricey, but great service. Note the dress code (one of very few to have a dressed code in NOLA)
Have a walk around the Garden District, during the day…they have a tram that runs the length of it.
Just watch yourself/your valuables when out at night, like any major city, there is always some who may want to relieve you of your cash.
Avoid Bourbon Street, you’ll see plenty of bars and live music in the streets around it.
Don’t be surprised by the fragrance first thing in the morning, you’ll know why they clean the streets every morning.
There are plenty of ghost/walking tours, some are better than others. Ask at the hotel or wherever you are staying for recommendations.
The Saints aren’t doing very well this season so far, so you may get tickets, but as its the NFL, you may want to do some research up front to ensure you get a decent price.
Get some beignets at Café Le Monde and a Hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s
Have a great time.
I mentioned this on the old blog but feel duty bound to repeat it here.
I was there once and I was talking to a local. I was gushing about how much I liked the place and he was glowing with native pride until his face darkened and he suddenly asked “Are you a music fan?” and I said yes and he said. “Then you may be tempted to go look at Louis Armstrong Park. Whatever you do don’t go there”
The warning was so dire and so unexpected I took his advice. I don’t know why it was off-limits. My guess at the time was some dumb white tourist (ie someone like me) just got murdered there. This was 25 years ago so things may have changed. Otherwise I loved, loved, loved the place.
Two sandwich recommendations: Central Grocery for a mufuletta (a large sandwich with several kinds of meats, provolone, and chopped olive salad) and Mother’s for the Ferdi special (a po’boy with ham and roast beef).
You’re going to be there at the same time we were a few years back – that means you can get to the Mirliton Festival in the Bywater neighbourhood. Its internet presence is pretty light, but basic details are here : http://www.nola.com/events/event/mirliton-festival/157565/#! A fun day out of good music, food and beer in a local park for a small fee. One of the best days out you can imagine!
The plantations listed above can be reached by coach trips – we went to Laura Plantation, run by Grey Line tours http://www.graylineneworleans.com and also did the swamp trip – good value, and yes, you will see alligators in the wild.
Listen to WWOZ, the world’s best radio station, while you are there (or before you go over the internet), it includes a daily gig guide.
Be careful where you go, particularly after dark. If in doubt, walk back out of an area rather than heading further in, and at night use taxis. French Quarter/CBD are generally pretty safe. We were staying in Mid-City just off Esplanade: in a nice area. The owner sketched out a map of streets that were safe and unsafe by day and night. Further down Esplanade, there’s a church with all the murders for the current year listed on a board outside: it was a very big board.
Beautiful city for just people watching and the architecture of the French quarter. Cafe du Monde is a must so too is a streetcar ride to the Garden district. Aside from that just enjoy the music. My favourite USA city and lucky not to have experienced any danger which so many have warned about.
I’d recommend Mulate’s, which I’ve visited several times over the years. The clientele is a mix of local cajuns and tourists, the music is normally excellent and the bread pudding is possibly the world’s best.
http://www.mulates.com/
Thank you for your ideas.
is the place significantly more dangerous than other US cities? I can see that there’s perhaps more poverty in the south than maybe some of the northern cities, or is it just that it’s easier to stray into dodgy areas?