Arnaud’s Creole Restaurant
Since 1918, this French Quarter restaurant has offered classic Creole cuisine. Enjoy a savory Sunday brunch (entrees include Red Bean Omelette), as you enjoy the sounds of a live Dixieland jazz band.
813 Rue Bienville New Orleans, LA 70112
Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium
If it’s creepy and crawly, you’ll find it here -- at the largest freestanding museum in the US devoted to the world’s 900,000-plus species of bugs and their relatives.
6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Bicycle Michael’s
Pedal your way around New Orleans, courtesy of a bike rental from this full-service bicycle center. Make sure to ask about helmets -- some New Orleans neighborhoods have potholed streets.
622 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Bienville House Hotel
On the budget-friendly side, this boutique hotel boasts good location (in the French Quarter), decently furnished rooms and a convenient parking lot for travelers’ cars. The hotel is also a 10-minute walk to Jackson Square and Café du Monde.
320 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Café du Monde
This French Quarter coffee stand is known for its delicious beignets -- square pieces of dough that are fried and covered with powdered sugar. Yum!
800 Decatur St, New Orleans 70116
Cochon Restaurant
Set in a rustic, yet contemporary New Orleans warehouse, this famed restaurant serves up traditional Cajun Southern dishes such as roasted shrimp with hog jowls. Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski use locally sourced pork.
930 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Cooter Brown’s
For a casual bar vibe, head to this popular watering hole. Choose from among 400 brands of domestic and imported bottled beers, as well as pub grub like overstuffed po’boys. The bar includes 23 flat-screen TVs and two 8-foot drop-down screens.
509 S Carrollton Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel New Orleans
For families and business travelers, this property offers a good downtown location (just 4 blocks from the New Orleans Convention Center), a seasonal outdoor pool and 24-hour business center with computer workstations.
300 Canal St, New Orleans, LA
Emeril’s New Orleans
Enjoy a sampling of Cajun and Creole flavors at this restaurant owned and operated by Emeril Lagasse. Reservations are recommended; no sleeveless shirts for men.
800 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Frenchmen Street
Just down river from the French Quarter, this stretch of town showcases some of the best New Orleans musicians.
Frenchmen Street, New Orleans
The Garden District
Tour some of the best-preserved Southern mansions in the US in this lushly historic district, bordered by St. Charles to the north, First Street to the east, Magazine Street to the south and Toledano Street to the west.
New Orleans
Hotel Monteleone
On the luxury side, this landmark hotel has been a fixture of the French Quarter since 1886. The hotel features 600 luxurious guest rooms, including several literary author suites -- Ernest Hemingway once slept here!
214 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Jackson Square
In the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter stands one of America’s most atmospheric public greens. Arts, musicians and street performers fill the square; also check out historic St. Louis Cathedral.
French Quarter, New Orleans
Mardi Gras/Carnival
Come February, head to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Parades and street celebrations bring new energy to the city’s French Quarter, and that’s putting it mildly.
New Orleans, LA (French Quarter)
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Colloquially known as the Superdome, this massive 269,000-square-foot sports and exhibition arena is home to the New Orleans Saints.
1500 Sugar Bowl Dr, New Orleans, LA 70112
New Orleans Buses
With 36 bus routes, New Orleans’ public bus system provides a great way to get around town. Purchase a Jazzy Pass for ease of use.
2817 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
New Orleans Museum of Art
Explore pre-Columbian art, French and American works, photography, glass and more at New Orleans’ oldest fine arts institution.
1 Collin Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA 70124
New Orleans Streetcars
Riding New Orleans’ streetcars is a must while in town. The city’s streetcars (66 in all, covering 13 miles of track) run along 4 lines: St. Charles, Canal Street, Riverfront and the Loyola Avenue line, set to launch in late January 2013.
2817 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119
Nola Pedicabs
Tour the Big Easy by “bike taxi.” Pedicabs can be found in the French Quarter and near major attractions like the Audubon Zoo. Or call Nola Pedicabs, one of the larger operators in town, for prearranged pickup.
1025 Bienville St, Suite 9, New Orleans LA 70112
Ogden Museum of Southern Art
Founded nearly 40 years ago, this museum contains America’s most extensive collection of Southern Art. Galleries showcase the works of artists from 15 Southern states and Washington, DC.
New Orleans, LA (French Quarter)
Olivier House
For a distinctively New Orleans experience, check into this historic inn. Built in 1838, the property is ideally situated in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter.
828 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Pearl River Eco Tours
This eco-tour company leads boat rides along southern Louisiana’s Honey Island Swamp. The 250-mile swampland encompasses bayous and sloughs, with sightings of egrets, herons and (if you’re lucky) alligators along the way.
55050 Hwy 90, Slidell, LA 70461
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
For a fascinating look into New Orleans' past, this cemetery is a must-stop. Founded in 1789, the cemetery is the oldest in the city; among those believed to be interred here is the Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau.
425 Basin St, 3421 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112
United Cab
Though many cab companies operate in New Orleans, the most reliable is United Cab, a city mainstay since 1938. You’ll need to call ahead for a taxi service: Expect to wait about 15 minutes. Most major credit cards accepted.
New Orleans
W New Orleans
A short distance from the French Quarter, this hotel is great for those seeking a night on the quieter side. The property is close to the Warehouse District, with its art galleries, restaurants and world-class museums, and Harrah’s Casino.
333 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130