Shannon's Favorite Things to Do in New Orleans
- Going for a walk. Walking anywhere in New Orleans is interesting, whether its the mansions of the Garden District, the Spanish architecture of the French Quarter, and cemetaries and churches anywhere you go.
- Watching performers in Jackson Square. A great place to kick back and watch the buskers. You can also meet a lot of people this way.
- Eat! There is so much good food here, and so many local specialties that you can't get anywhere else. Don't worry - you'll walk it off.
- Bar-hop. Whether you choose Bourbon or Decatur, there are too many bars to count in the French Quarter. Seen the bars here? You can move onto other neighborhoods. You can hit many bars in one night, and take your drink in a go-cup if you'd prefer to sip it outside. You can drink all night and into the morning. Quiet bar, rowdy bar, dance bar, gay bar. New Orleans has a bar for every 21+ adult.
- My favorite place to take pictures is St. Louis #1. All the cemetaries offer great photographic moments.
- Alligator Tour. You don't know what soft means til you touch the belly of a baby alligator. Getting out of the city to cruise through the bayou, only a few feet away from huge gators, is a great way to spend a day in Louisiana.
Quick Tips:
One way to save money visiting New Orleans is to visit offseason. New Orleans is never cold, so it's not like you're visiting Alaska off-season.
I never would go during Halloween, Jazzfest, or Mardi Gras. Unless you specifically want to take part in these events, you shouldn't either. You'll just pay more for accomodation, if you can find it.
If you can take the heat, summertime is a great time to visit. There are fewer tourists and room rates are way, way down.
Best Way To Get Around:
I always stay in the French Quarter, and as a result, never need to drive. Even when I have driven to New Orleans, I park my car and leave it there.
The entire French Quarter can be walked easily, and the streetcar goes from the French Quarter all the way through the Garden District. Busses run to other locations in the city, and you can take taxis. Most tourists will be visiting the French Quarter and will not need a car.
A car is useful for visiting the plantations outside the city. Otherwise, you are limited to tours with transportation.