Highlights of New Orleans

[Heena Adwani]

One of America’s most culturally, musically and historically rich destinations, New Orleans is arguably one of the top interesting and fascinating cities of the world. Influenced by the European, African and the Caribbean cultures, New Orleans is steeped in history, jazz, and food! A vacation to New Orleans will leave you captivated. From marvelous architecture, historical museums and green gardens, allow us to be your New Orleans tour guide. Explore great attractions in New Orleans with top restaurants, nightlife spots, shopping districts, sporting events, museums and performing arts (and get a superb cross section with our New Orleans itinerary 5 days trip).

In 2007, New Orleans was hit by Katrina and after that, mass development took place. Various buildings were erected and a new era began. These buildings form the basis of the architectural popularity of this city. The most famous type of house styling in New Orleans is the French Creole house type. These houses are beautifully made, have large courtyards and spacious balconies. One should also visit the Magazine Street which is filled with different kinds of stores and shops. Jazz was born in this city, by allowing slaves to play live music; today it's also famous for hip-hop, and has been an incentive to the career of well-known rappers like Lil’ Wayne and others.

 

Top Attractions Besides the French Quarter

Audubon Zoo

There are more than 15, 000 animals, and events include the Otter Snack, Sea Lion Feeding, Elephants on Exhibit, Komodo Dragon Feeding, and Elephant Barn tour, to name a few. The zoo premises also include the Cool Zoo, the Simulator, and a mini train. A perfect stop for a family holiday!

 

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Located on the Mississippi River, this aquarium's walk through tunnel, penguins, sea otters, stingrays, gigantic sharks, sea turtles, and parakeets will leave you and your family mesmerized.

Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium

North America’s largest museum devoted to insects, you’ll find a variety of insects, bugs, and butterflies in this insectarium. It was voted "A top museum for you and your kids” by CNN.com in the year 2009.

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

Situated in the campus of New Orleans Museum of Art, this is home to over sixty sculptures made by artists from all across the globe.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art

A large and self-explanatory collection.

 

Jackson Square

This famous landmark facing the Mississippi River and adjacent to the French Quarter is surrounded by historic buildings including the St. Louis Catholic cathedral. Nowadays, local artists draw, paint, sculpt and create caricatures and display their works on the iron fence. This park is a bustling place of creativity and history.

 

New Orleans City Park

These 1,300 acres have delighted visitors since 1854. Watch open-air concerts, burn off those calories on the jogging, walking and biking tracks, do yoga, go boating, play tennis or just relax and smell the flowers and the watch the world go by. This park is the perfect place to unwind and relax. Bicycling is also great here - as it is throughout much of the city.


When to Visit

The best time to visit New Orleans is from February to May. In these four months, the two biggest festivals of New Orleans take place: Mardi Gras (pre-Lenten Carnival in February and/or March) and the famous Jazz Fest. Crowds are heaviest in these months and rates at hotels and other facilities are higher. But this city can be visited any time; there’s always so much fun happening around- in the clubs, on the streets and everywhere else. Weatherwise, winters in subtropical NOLA are cool and summers are hot and humid (plus it's hurricane season, which lasts through November); February through May is the best time to visit (though December and January are fine, too, with temperatures vary between 46° and 63°F.)

Getting Here

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is served from many domestic and international destinations. The city is also served by Amtrak passenger rail, and is a big drive destination via U.S. Route 90.

Getting Around

The tram system (more popularly known as the ‘streetcars’) is very well connected to major parts of the city. Other modes of transport include the RTA bus lines, taxis, and bicycles. Pedicabs are also a fun way to travel within the central areas of NOLA.

You can best explore with New Orleans itineraries for a memorable trip.