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Home > Things To Do in New Orleans
Things to do in New Orleans
New Orleans is a City unlike any other. There is no one distinct race or creed, but an amalgamation of so many different walks of life. From its beginning in 1718, it went from French colonization to Spanish control in 1763, back to French in 1801, only to be sold to the US by Napoleon in 1803 (the Louisiana Purchase). After that, the area grew to include French, Creoles, Irish, Germans, and Africans, among others.
Add 200 years of American culture and history to the melting-pot and you’ve got quite a unique place to be. You really can’t quite capture the spectacle, the character or the charm of this great city until you see it for yourself.
Attractions and Sights
St. Charles Ave is home to hundreds of mansions and features the St. Charles Streetcar Line, which tours the area - offering some history on the sights.
Steamboat Natchez Riverboat Cruise tours the Mississippi, giving patrons a very unique look at New Orleans, and offering live jazz and dinner cruises.
Parks and Outdoor Activities
New Orleans City Park spans 1300 acres and sees 14 million visitors a year, mostly coming to attractions like New Orleans Botanical Garden, New Orleans Museum of Art, Tad Gormley Stadium and more.
New Orleans Botanical Garden offers a fantastic array of plants, as well as garden shows, planting classes, concerts and other events.
Geared toward smaller children, Carousel Gardens features rides like an antique carousel, a Ferris wheel, and bumper cars.
Landmarks
New Orleans' French Quarter is the city's most famous icon, the heart of Mardi Gras, and containing landmarks like Jackson Square, Bourbon Street, and the many ornate old buildings.
The French Quater's most notable street is Bourbon Street, lined with bars, pubs and restaurants.
Shopping
Royal Street is one of New Orleans' oldest, home to many shops and art galleries.
Boutiques, art galleries, book stores, specialty clothing, dozens of restaurants, cafés, and bars all make Magazine Street another very popular New Orleans shopping district.
Located in the Central Business District, The Shops at Canal Place are found within One Canal Place skyscraper, and feature a movie theatre among everything you would expect from a major shopping center.
Riverwalk Marketplace is a central shopping center with everything you would expect a mall to have: trendy shops, coffee, restaurants, and more.
Festivals and Events
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is really one of the wildest and most colorful parties you can attend, complete with huge parades, music everywhere, and thousands of participants.
French Quarter Festival is Louisiana's largest free festival, offering live music, food, drinks, and lots of fun!
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is one of the world's best and largest jazz music festivals, bringing in many big names in jazz and related styles.
Arts and Entertainment
New Orleans' Arts District is a very cool part of town with art galleries everywhere, spotted with restaurants and cafés.
Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré is the oldest continually operating theatre in the US, putting on mostly plays, but a number of other productions.
Amistad Research Center holds the country's largest collection of African American manuscript, along with a collection of articles regarding Native Americans, South Americans, Asian Americans and other ethnicities.
Nightlife
Snug Harbor is possibly New Orleans' best spot for jazz, featuring live jazz every night by big names and local favorites like Ellis Marsalis.
Palm Court Jazz Café is another of the French Quarter's hotspots for live jazz and great Creole food.
Howlin’ Wolf blues club has been bringing big names in blues and rock to New Orleans since 1988.
With a deep, long history in the French Quarter, The Old Absinthe House is as interesting for its past as it is for it present mix of exotic drinks.
Convention Centers
Ernest N Morial Convention Center is a huge facility located just blocks away from the Central Business District, Bourbon Street, and the French Quarter.
Arenas and Stadiums
The SMG Louisiana Superdome is home to the New Orleans Saints of the NFL, and hosts concerts and other events outside of football.
The New Orleans Arena is just across the street from the Superdome and is home to theNBA's New Orleans Hornets.
Lakefront Arena is used mostly for concerts and events, hosting Madonna, AC/DC, Disney on Ice, WWE, Robin Williams and many more.
Food and Drink
So popular that people will wait for hours just to get a seat, Galatoire’s has been serving the best French-influenced food in town since 1905.
Panda King offers an unbeatable dim sum menu, where patrons can enjoy appetizer-sized menu items to their hearts' desires.
Gumbo Shop is one of New Orleans' best places for authentic Creole food - seafood, jambalaya, alligator, and gumbo.