Several folks have asked me for recommendations of things to do, etc when visiting New Orleans.
These folks know I thoroughly enjoy New Orleans...which is weird because it's very dirty city, and I don't like dirt...but I don't mean to comment on the "morality" kind of dirty. (If you don't have an open mind, stay away from New Orleans...only free spirits and open minds truly appreciate New Orleans.) Truly, when I say the city is dirty, I mean actual dirt...just thought I'd throw in the comment for the other anitseptic freaks of the world who may be considering a trip to New Orleans. (Bring the gels and the wipes; loosen up, and have a good time.)
I do love New Orleans, though. It's the only place I've ever truly felt free to be myself...and I've never been so artistically inspired in my life...it's an unbelievable artistic high...but considering that it is New Orleans, I could just be getting the residual effects from the activities of other folks on the streets. Either way, I really like that artistic high. Musicians, artists, and authors have all felt this high in New Orleans. (I'm not the weird-o, you're suspecting at the moment.) Look up Literary New Orleans at amazon.com...pretty cool book.
Anyway, to the tips:
Absolute MUST:
Corner of Jackson Square...large green
awning...powdered sugar everywhere...can't miss it...my favorite spot to spoil my
tastebuds, people-watch, and listen to street musicians
http://www.cafedumonde.com/
Walking Bourbon
Street is a MUST, too...but not for the closed-minded...Gentlemen's clubs, bars, clubs,
anatomically correct Ken dolls, ALL kinds of performers.
Our favorite on
the last trip was a literary/arts tour. ...lady is very cool...also does Historic
Cemetery/French Quarter Tours and Ghost Tours. Literary tour is not for the weak
minded, so tours will probably be small...We pretty much got a personal tour guide on this
one...Just the two of us and the tour guide.
http://www.sincitytours.com/
http://www.neworleansghosttour.com/
http://www.louisianaswamp.com/
http://www.jacksonbrewery.com/
http://www.bayoucountry.com/
http://www.riverwalkmarketplace.com/index.cfm
FOOD:
Of course there is a Hard Rock Cafe if
you don't like spicey food...and if you like New Orleans food, be it creole, cajun, or
just entitled, food...it will be spicey. If you like spicey, there are dozens of
good restaurants. Just search online.
http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/ for
Fine Dining options
http://www.gumboshop.com/ for...duh, Gumbo
http://www.bubbagump.com/ If
you've never eaten there, I'd recommend Bubba Gump...do lunch if you want to avoid the
crowd, but dinner would be more fun...various stuff spicey and non.
Ya want
music...just walk...hundreds of options 24/7
Ya want the
"Gentlemens Clubs"...just walk.
I also wanted to
take the trolley and tour the Garden District, but we didn't make it up that way.
I thought the
horse and buggy/carriage would be cool, too, but for that kind of money, I'll walk...until
I win the lottery.
A cemetery
tour would be cool.
Don't bother with the Aquarium unless you just have an affinity for critters; Chattanooga's is better.
...and my last
piece of advice...Stay away from Voodoo. I'm not kidding. Do not go there.
(Actually most are okay, but it's kind of a running joke...no do the voodoo.)
Maps of New Orleans and French Quarter
http://www.frenchquarter.com/?file=map.html
http://www.discoverneworleans.com/maps/quarter.html
http://neworleans.about.com/library/blpages/nblmapfq.htm
http://www.yatcom.com/neworl/naborhud/quarter/fqmap.gif
http://www.mapneworleans.com/images/fq_map.pdf
