Walk Through the French QuarterMust-See SightsThe French Quarter is the oldest part of New Orleans — iron-lace balconies, narrow streets and the smell of something frying around every corner. Walk it slowly; the detail is in the side streets off Bourbon.0 Add to listWalk Through the French QuarterMust-See SightsThe French Quarter is the oldest part of New Orleans — iron-lace balconies, narrow streets and the smell of something frying around every corner. Walk it slowly; the detail is in the side streets off Bourbon.0 Add to list
See Jackson Square and St. Louis CathedralMust-See SightsThe main square in the French Quarter, with St. Louis Cathedral as the backdrop and a constant mix of street musicians, artists and fortune tellers. Free to walk through — lively most days and evenings.0 Add to listSee Jackson Square and St. Louis CathedralMust-See SightsThe main square in the French Quarter, with St. Louis Cathedral as the backdrop and a constant mix of street musicians, artists and fortune tellers. Free to walk through — lively most days and evenings.0 Add to list
Walk Bourbon Street at NightMust-See SightsBourbon Street is loud, neon-lit and relentless — most interesting at night. Worth one pass even if it is not your scene; the live music spilling out of the bars is free to hear from the street.0 Add to listWalk Bourbon Street at NightMust-See SightsBourbon Street is loud, neon-lit and relentless — most interesting at night. Worth one pass even if it is not your scene; the live music spilling out of the bars is free to hear from the street.0 Add to list
Ride the St. Charles StreetcarMust-See SightsThe St. Charles streetcar runs from Canal Street through the Garden District and Uptown. A regular transit line, not a tourist attraction — pay with cash or a Jazzy Pass and take it as far as you like.0 Add to listRide the St. Charles StreetcarMust-See SightsThe St. Charles streetcar runs from Canal Street through the Garden District and Uptown. A regular transit line, not a tourist attraction — pay with cash or a Jazzy Pass and take it as far as you like.0 Add to list
Walk Among the Live Oaks of City ParkMust-See SightsWith KidsCity Park is one of the larger urban parks in the US, with ancient live oaks, a sculpture garden, a botanical garden and a small amusement area for kids. Easy to spend a few hours — mostly free to walk.0 Add to listWalk Among the Live Oaks of City ParkMust-See SightsWith KidsCity Park is one of the larger urban parks in the US, with ancient live oaks, a sculpture garden, a botanical garden and a small amusement area for kids. Easy to spend a few hours — mostly free to walk.0 Add to list
Tour the Garden DistrictMust-See SightsThe Garden District has a concentration of large 19th-century mansions along Prytania and St. Charles. Good for a self-guided walk — pick up a map at the streetcar stop and look for the odd historical markers.0 Add to listTour the Garden DistrictMust-See SightsThe Garden District has a concentration of large 19th-century mansions along Prytania and St. Charles. Good for a self-guided walk — pick up a map at the streetcar stop and look for the odd historical markers.0 Add to list
Get Beignets at Café du MondeMust-See SightsWith KidsCafé du Monde has been serving beignets and chicory coffee since 1862, right on the edge of Jackson Square. Open 24 hours, always busy, always covered in powdered sugar — wear dark clothing or accept the consequences.0 Add to listGet Beignets at Café du MondeMust-See SightsWith KidsCafé du Monde has been serving beignets and chicory coffee since 1862, right on the edge of Jackson Square. Open 24 hours, always busy, always covered in powdered sugar — wear dark clothing or accept the consequences.0 Add to list
Hear Live Jazz on Frenchmen StreetMust-See SightsFrenchmen Street in the Marigny is where local musicians play most nights — smaller, less touristy and more genuinely musical than Bourbon Street. The clubs are small and the music spills onto the sidewalk.0 Add to listHear Live Jazz on Frenchmen StreetMust-See SightsFrenchmen Street in the Marigny is where local musicians play most nights — smaller, less touristy and more genuinely musical than Bourbon Street. The clubs are small and the music spills onto the sidewalk.0 Add to list
Strike the Pose at the Ignatius J. Reilly StatueFun Side QuestsOn Canal Street outside the old D.H. Holmes building (now the Hyatt Centric), a bronze of Ignatius J. Reilly waits under the clock in his earflap hat. Strike his exact disgusted pose for the photo.0 Add to listStrike the Pose at the Ignatius J. Reilly StatueFun Side QuestsOn Canal Street outside the old D.H. Holmes building (now the Hyatt Centric), a bronze of Ignatius J. Reilly waits under the clock in his earflap hat. Strike his exact disgusted pose for the photo.0 Add to list
Find the Singing Oak in City ParkFun Side QuestsIn City Park near Big Lake, a live oak is strung with black wind chimes up to 14 feet long, all tuned to one chord. Stand under it and wait for a breeze — it is easy to miss, so look it up on a map before you go.0 Add to listFind the Singing Oak in City ParkFun Side QuestsIn City Park near Big Lake, a live oak is strung with black wind chimes up to 14 feet long, all tuned to one chord. Stand under it and wait for a breeze — it is easy to miss, so look it up on a map before you go.0 Add to list
Order the Roast Beef Po-Boy at Parkway BakeryLocal FoodLocal RitualsAt Parkway Bakery & Tavern on Bayou St. John, order the roast beef po-boy dressed with extra debris gravy. It will run down your arms. Locals expect this; bring napkins.0 Add to listOrder the Roast Beef Po-Boy at Parkway BakeryLocal FoodLocal RitualsAt Parkway Bakery & Tavern on Bayou St. John, order the roast beef po-boy dressed with extra debris gravy. It will run down your arms. Locals expect this; bring napkins.0 Add to list
Visit the Ex-Voto Room at St. Roch ChapelFun Side QuestsInside St. Roch Cemetery's chapel (1725 St. Roch Ave) is a small room where healed pilgrims left behind plaster casts of limbs, glass eyes, leg braces and ceramic hearts as thank-yous. A strange and quietly moving stop.0 Add to listVisit the Ex-Voto Room at St. Roch ChapelFun Side QuestsInside St. Roch Cemetery's chapel (1725 St. Roch Ave) is a small room where healed pilgrims left behind plaster casts of limbs, glass eyes, leg braces and ceramic hearts as thank-yous. A strange and quietly moving stop.0 Add to list
Eat Shaved Ice at Hansen's Sno-BlizLocal FoodLocal RitualsCheck Access · SummerHansen's Sno-Bliz on Tchoupitoulas has been shaving ice since the 1940s on a machine the founder built himself, with fresh-made syrups. Get a small with cream of nectar — open seasonally, usually April through October.0 Add to listEat Shaved Ice at Hansen's Sno-BlizLocal FoodLocal RitualsCheck Access · SummerHansen's Sno-Bliz on Tchoupitoulas has been shaving ice since the 1940s on a machine the founder built himself, with fresh-made syrups. Get a small with cream of nectar — open seasonally, usually April through October.0 Add to list
Catch Sunset at The Fly RiverbankFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsThe grassy riverbank behind Audubon Zoo, known as the Fly, is where locals go at sunset to watch barges drift past on the Mississippi. Free, rarely crowded with tourists, and one of the better views of the river.0 Add to listCatch Sunset at The Fly RiverbankFun Side QuestsLocal RitualsThe grassy riverbank behind Audubon Zoo, known as the Fly, is where locals go at sunset to watch barges drift past on the Mississippi. Free, rarely crowded with tourists, and one of the better views of the river.0 Add to list
Drink Under a Hand-Painted Saturn at Saturn BarFun Side QuestsSaturn Bar on St. Claude Ave is a 1960s dive bar with leopard-print booths and enormous hand-painted murals covering every surface, including a giant Saturn on the ceiling. Cheap beer, cash preferred, very local.0 Add to listDrink Under a Hand-Painted Saturn at Saturn BarFun Side QuestsSaturn Bar on St. Claude Ave is a 1960s dive bar with leopard-print booths and enormous hand-painted murals covering every surface, including a giant Saturn on the ceiling. Cheap beer, cash preferred, very local.0 Add to list
Climb the Rusty RainbowActiveThe Rusty Rainbow is a rust-colored arching pedestrian bridge at Piety Street in Bywater, leading into Crescent Park. A short climb with a good view of the river and skyline that most visitors don't find.0 Add to listClimb the Rusty RainbowActiveThe Rusty Rainbow is a rust-colored arching pedestrian bridge at Piety Street in Bywater, leading into Crescent Park. A short climb with a good view of the river and skyline that most visitors don't find.0 Add to list
Visit the Backstreet Cultural Museum in TreméFun Side QuestsPaidThe Backstreet Cultural Museum in Tremé is a small, serious museum dedicated to second-line parades, jazz funerals and Mardi Gras Indian suits. Entry is cheap and the staff are knowledgeable — allow an hour.0 Add to listVisit the Backstreet Cultural Museum in TreméFun Side QuestsPaidThe Backstreet Cultural Museum in Tremé is a small, serious museum dedicated to second-line parades, jazz funerals and Mardi Gras Indian suits. Entry is cheap and the staff are knowledgeable — allow an hour.0 Add to list
Browse the Frenchmen Street Art Bazaar After DarkFun Side QuestsThe open-air Frenchmen Art Bazaar at 619 Frenchmen St runs most nights alongside the live music clubs. Local painters, jewelers and craftspeople — free to browse, and the makers are usually happy to talk.0 Add to listBrowse the Frenchmen Street Art Bazaar After DarkFun Side QuestsThe open-air Frenchmen Art Bazaar at 619 Frenchmen St runs most nights alongside the live music clubs. Local painters, jewelers and craftspeople — free to browse, and the makers are usually happy to talk.0 Add to list
Jog the Audubon Park Loop at SunriseActiveLocal RitualsSummerAudubon Park's 1.8-mile oak-shaded loop is popular with Uptown locals for morning runs and walks. Flat, easy, and a good way to see the park before the heat picks up — the lagoon views are a bonus.0 Add to listJog the Audubon Park Loop at SunriseActiveLocal RitualsSummerAudubon Park's 1.8-mile oak-shaded loop is popular with Uptown locals for morning runs and walks. Flat, easy, and a good way to see the park before the heat picks up — the lagoon views are a bonus.0 Add to list
Jog the Lafitte Greenway Through TreméActiveLocal RitualsThe Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6-mile paved path running from the edge of the French Quarter through Tremé and Lafitte. Flat and easy to follow — a good way to see a less-touristed part of the city on foot or by bike.0 Add to listJog the Lafitte Greenway Through TreméActiveLocal RitualsThe Lafitte Greenway is a 2.6-mile paved path running from the edge of the French Quarter through Tremé and Lafitte. Flat and easy to follow — a good way to see a less-touristed part of the city on foot or by bike.0 Add to list
Climb the Fairy-Tale Giants at StorylandFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidStoryland in City Park has 26 large storybook sculptures — oversized Pinocchio, Mother Goose, a whale — that kids can climb on. Built by Mardi Gras float makers and still going; cheap to enter.0 Add to listClimb the Fairy-Tale Giants at StorylandFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidStoryland in City Park has 26 large storybook sculptures — oversized Pinocchio, Mother Goose, a whale — that kids can climb on. Built by Mardi Gras float makers and still going; cheap to enter.0 Add to list
Putt across Louisiana at City PuttFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidCity Park's City Putt has 36 holes themed around New Orleans streets and Louisiana towns, with small history signs at each hole. A fun few hours with kids — book online or just show up.0 Add to listPutt across Louisiana at City PuttFun Side QuestsWith KidsPaidCity Park's City Putt has 36 holes themed around New Orleans streets and Louisiana towns, with small history signs at each hole. A fun few hours with kids — book online or just show up.0 Add to list
Summit Laborde Mountain in Couturie ForestActiveWith KidsAn easy 1-mile loop through Couturie Forest in City Park leads to Laborde Mountain, the highest point in New Orleans at 43 feet — made from freeway rubble. Low effort, surprisingly fun, and a good story to tell.0 Add to listSummit Laborde Mountain in Couturie ForestActiveWith KidsAn easy 1-mile loop through Couturie Forest in City Park leads to Laborde Mountain, the highest point in New Orleans at 43 feet — made from freeway rubble. Low effort, surprisingly fun, and a good story to tell.0 Add to list
