"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez" Let the Good Times Roll

Overview

The French Quarter is changing into a T-shirt vending tourist trap but there are still some terrific old New Orleans flavors no traveler should miss.

Quick Tips:

New Orleans is beautiful and lots and lots of adult fun, but it can be dangerous too. Be smart and don't walk the streets alone late at night. Stay off deserted back streets. If you want to know how dangerous New Orleans is, take a look at the missing person section of the Times Picayune. You won't have any problems as long as you stay in the tourist areas and don't get too drunk!!!! Park in a garage or guarded parking lot and don't leave valuables in you car.

Best Way To Get Around:

You really don't need a car as long as you don't want to leave the French Quarter. Although there is some public transportation, walking and taxis are the easiest way to get around. There is a pedestrian free ferry to Algiers. The St Charles street car is as much an attraction as it is transportation, and the Desire street car that runs along the waterfront.

St. Ann/Marie Antoinette Hotel

Hotel

The St. Ann - Marie Antoinette and her sister property, The Saint Louis, are both affordable and traditional New Orleans style hotels. The St. Ann is in the heart of the French quarter just 1/2 block from Bourbon Street. It has a beautiful brick paved courtyard and very comfortable rooms, some with balconies overlooking Rue Conti. Check their web sites at http://www.stannmarieantoinette.com/location.html

by seattleite on September 4, 2000

Saint Ann Marie Antoinette Hotel
717 RUE CONTI New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
504-525-2300

The Place d'Armes

Hotel

Fabulous, location (at Jackson Square) and amenities. If you can get a special or if you are traveling in the off season (December and January) you may get a cheaper rate. This is a true New Orleans Hotel.....it will make your stay very memorable, but for $50 to $100 less I also reccommend the St. Ann/Marie Antoinette.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Place D Armes Hotel French Quarter
625 ST ANN STREET New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
504-524-4531

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

Hotel

You can usually get a special here. Although I do recommend the Hilton I have only stayed here once. It is by the convention center and casino and on the edge of the quarter. It is a long walk home from Bourbon Street! It is a modern hotel that does not have the charm of the hotels in the quarter. DO NOT TAKE A ROOM ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER. The riverboat calliope will wake you up at the crack of dawn.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Hilton New Orleans Riverside
2 POYDRAS STREET New Orleans, Louisiana 70140
504 561-0500

The Court of Two Sisters

Restaurant

This is definitely one of the nicest dining choices in New Orleans. Located on old 'Governor's Row', and named after the creole sisters Emma and Bertha Camors, I can't reccommend this restaurant enough. The seafood is out of this world and the daily jazz brunch is something to write home about. If you haven't had crawfish before this is the place to do it.

by seattleite on September 4, 2000

Court of Two Sisters
613 Royal St New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
+1 504 522 7261

Cafe Maspero

Restaurant

This has been my favorite lunch place since my high school days. It's cheat, fast and oh-my-god good. If it's pouring down rain and a line of people are stretched around the corner don't be surprised. The line moves fast and it's worth the wait. If you order seafood they will bring you horseradish and ketcup (you have to make your own cocktail sauce). Their tartar sauce is the best on the Gulf Coast! Just thinking about it makes me want to go!!!

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Cafe Maspero
601 Decatur Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
504-523-6250

The Gumbo Shop

Restaurant

Gumbo, Jambalaya, Shrimp Creole, Red Beans and Rice, Crawfish and Shrimp Etoufee, several fish dinners, a real good fillet and some darn fine desserts! This place can get a bit crowded so make a reservation for dinner. Everything on the menu is good and reasonably priced. They also have a cookbook that I think is one of the best sold in the quarter for creole cuisine.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Gumbo Shop
630 St. Peter St New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
+1 504 525 1486; +1

Port of Call

Restaurant

Absolutely the best burger...everyone agrees. Take a taxi, unless you are staying on the east end of the Quarter; then it is quite a walk. Everything on the menu is good, but try the mushroom burger; you won't be disappointed. The crowd varies from the boring to exotic, so be prepared to see anything.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Port of Call
838 Esplanade Ave New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
+1 504 523 0120

The Rib Room at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel

Restaurant

Best steaks in the Quarter. My second favorite prime rib in the US. This is a great experience all around. You can't go wrong here unless you are a vegetarian.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Omni Royal Orleans Hotel
621 Saint Louis Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
(504) 529-5333

Café du Monde

Restaurant

It's the Starbucks of New Orleans and the coffee puts Starbucks to shame. This is a tourist Mecca and a New Orleans institution. The beignets are triangle-shaped pieces of dough, deep fried then smothered in powdered sugar. You won't need to sweeten your coffee here. You skinny fat-free latte freaks should just watch from the curb. This is a great place to start the day or end it.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand: Wholesale
1039 Decatur Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
(504) 587-0835

Clover Grill

Restaurant

This is a great late-night place but it's open 24/7. When you walk in and see the pink tile, you know you're in for an experience. I recommend sitting at the counter. The wait staff is, let's say, interesting, so I suggest you not be difficult! The burgers and omelets are great but it's the counter chatter and customers that give this place character. Don't worry; they wash the hubcaps after they take them off your car!!!

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Clover Grill
900 Bourbon Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
(504) 598-1010

Brennan's Restaurant

Restaurant

DO NOT LEAVE NEW ORLEANS WITHOUT HAVING THE BANANAS FOSTER. This is the best jazz brunch in New Orleans. The food is terrific. The service is incredible. No matter if you are having breakfast, lunch or dinner, DO NOT LEAVE NEW ORLEANS WITHOUT HAVING THE BANANAS FOSTER.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Brennan's
417 Royal St New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
+1 504 525 9711

Audubon Zoo

Activity

The zoo is great. It's one of the top Zoo's in the US, so don't miss it. From the French Quarter take the St Charles Street Car to Audubon Park and transfer to the free shuttle. From the Aquarium take the river boat cruise. Either way, you'll like the ride as much as anything else you do.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Audubon Zoo
6500 Magazine St. New Orleans, Louisiana 70118
(504) 581-4629

The French Quarter

Activity

The area bordered by Canal Street on the west, Rampart on the north, Esplanade on the east and the mighty Mississippi on the south give New Orleans it's character, it's heart and it's many recognizable names. The Cresent City, The Big Easy and the City that Care Forgot are all references to the French Quarter or Vieux Carré which means old square. You will find enough great food, arts, crafts, antiques and novelity shops to keep you busy for weeks. At it's heart is Rue Bourbon aka Bourbon Street, although it probably won't be your favorite memory of New Orleans, you will definitely remember it. It is the quintessential party street...and always has been. Jackson Square is the soul of the Quarter. Brick paved cobble stone streets, carriage rides, street musicians and artists make for a great place to people watch. Don't miss the French Market where many resturants and vendors buy there produce. Walk along the river and watch the traffic of the busiest port on the Gulf Coast.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

French Quarter
New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Activity

Usually held in late April and early May, this is one the the best, most entertaining festivals I have ever attended. Not only do you get to see some of the best jazz artists working, you will also see New Orleans local talent that is outstanding. My favorite is the Gospel tent, I could stay there all day. Many of the vendors are non-profit organizations. Their food is top notch and priced reasonably. The easiest way to get there (from the Quarter) is either by taxi or bus. Catch the bus at Tipitina's at 233 North Peters or from the Sheraton on Canal St. It will cost $10 round trip. See the web site: http://www.insideneworleans.com/entertainment/nojazzfest/

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival
1205 North Rampart St New Orleans, Louisiana 70116
+1 504 522 4786

Mardi Gras

Activity

What can I say except, do it before you die, and try not to die doing it. You can't stand still during Mardi Gras. The music and revelry are intoxicating. There are parades every day for the two weeks in advance of Fat Tuesday (47 days before Easter Sunday). Almost all stores are closed on Lundi Gras(Fat Monday) and Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) but all the bars and restaurants are open. This can be a family experience as long as you keep the kids out of the Quarter. Catch the parades on St. Charles where things aren't as crazy, although you may still have to hide the little one's eyes occasionally. Almost every city on the Gulf Coast celebrates Mardi Gras, from Tampa to Mobile to Galveston, but none of them compare to New Orleans.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Mardi Gras
1 Poydras St New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
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New Orleans Museum of Art

Activity

The New Orleans Museum of Art is at the end of Esplanade Avenue in City Park. At 1200 acres, it's the fifth-largest municipal park in the United States. The Museum collection comprises nearly 40,000 pieces. They include European painting and sculpture from the 16th through 20th centuries, American painting and sculpture from the 18th and 19th centuries, European and American prints and drawings, photography, Asian art with an emphasis on Japanese painting of the Edo period, European and American decorative arts including one of the largest glass collections in the United States, and ethnographic art including African, Oceanic, Pre-Columbian, and Native American. Among the Museum’s special collections are the jeweled treasures by Peter Carl Fabergé, on extended loan from the Matilda Geddings Gray Foundation, and the Latin American Colonial Art collection.The Museum has 46 permanent collection galleries and three changing exhibition spaces. It's a very nice museum. See their web page: http://www.noma.org/nomamain.htm

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

New Orleans Museum of Art
1 Collins Diboll Circle New Orleans, Louisiana 70124
+1 504 488 2631

Tipitina's

Activity

This is a great venue. It opened in 1998 and quickly became a New Orleans hot spot. They have a real nice brunch on Sundays (The food isn't as good as the food at Brennan's, but the music is.). Check out their web page: http://www.tipitinas.com

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Tipitina's
501 Napoleon Ave New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
+1 504 891 7996

House of Blues

Activity

This is another great place to spend an evening. The music is always great and the food is very good. I have had trouble with service (only once) but I'd go back.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

House of Blues
225 Decatur St. New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
(504) 529-2624

Magazine Street

Activity

This is Antique Row; the streets are lined with antique shops from Canal St to Audubon Park. You could spend two or three days shopping here. There are enough shops, from high priced to le junk, that bargains are surprisingly easy to find. There are great eats here. From Igor's Buddha Belly Burger Bar to Chez Nous Charcuterie, you are sure to find what you are craving. Check out the Bed and Breakfasts here: The McKendrick-Breaux House and The Muses are both affordable and elegant.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Magazine Street
Magazine Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
+1 504 455 1224

Jackson Square

Activity

This place has a bloody history. Originally known as Place d'Armes, and the site of public executions, it has been transformed into an elegant city park and cultural center. It is a grassy oasis surrounded by many points of interest. The St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in the U.S., the two-hundred-year-old Presbytere and the Cabildo, both of which house collections belonging to The Louisiana State Museum. Also on the square are the oldest apartments in the U.S., a pair of handsome, 1850's-era red-brick structures called the Upper and Lower Pontalba buildings. You can tour the 1850 House in the Lower Pontalba with its beautiful depiction of life during New Orleans' heyday, or Belle Époque. The Louisiana Office of Tourism has an office here and is an excellent source for tourist information.

by seattleite on September 10, 2000

Jackson Square
Decatur Street New Orleans, Louisiana

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"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez" Let the Good Times Roll