Sights To See & Do
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Below is an initial list of fun and interesting activities to do while you are in New Orleans. No guarantees on these activities as we unfortunately haven’t done most of them (we have been too busy wedding planning and going to parades!)
If you don’t find the activity that suites your fancy, check out the following sites:
* New Orleans Official Tourism Web Site: http://www.neworleansonline.com/
* Official Site of Greater New Orleans: http://www.neworleanscvb.com/index.cfm
| AQUARIUM OF THE AMERICAS 504-581-4629 Walk beneath the vivid Caribbean Reef, marvel at the lush beauty of the Amazon Rainforest and journey the Mississippi River at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas where penguins, sting rays, sharks and other deep sea creatures await your visit. For more information or tickets call 504-581-4629. |
| ANTIQUING ON ROYAL STREET Take a leisurely stroll and enjoy the galleries along Royal Street. Peruse until you find the perfect piece of jewelry, work of art or furnishing. Spanning the centuries and cultures you’ll find 18th and 19th century English, Continental, Oriental and French treasures. |
| BLAINE KERN’S MARDI GRAS WORLD 504-362-8211 Walk among the Mardi Gras floats and see where they are built each year. Acquire an insider’s appreciation of the history and traditions of Carnival. For more information or tickets call 504-362-8211 |
| CARRIAGE RIDES Tour the French Quarter by carriage. Sit back, relax, take in the sights and learn a little of the history of this famous neighborhood while enjoying the syncopated rhythms of the mule-drawn carriage. |
| CAJUN DANCING at MULATE’S Enjoy authentic Cajun dancing and Creole food at Mulate’s, right near Riverwalk at 201 Julia St. |
| FRENCH MARKET Open air market with all manner of souveniers and tourist trinkets. Worth a quick walkthrough as you might find unique local art. Next to Café Du Monde |
| HARRAH’S CASINO Big casino located right outside the French Quarter. Nothing authentic about the décor or setting, more like a full Vegas casino dumped in downtown New Orleans without the high rollers. Worth checking out if you want to lose your money www.harrahneworleans.com; 4 Canal St. |
| HAUNTED GHOST TOUR Prepared to be spooked! New Orleans is known as the “Most Haunted City in America”. Check out one of the following tours, but only if you are brave: http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/tours/hauntedtours.html |
| HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION A combination of preserved buildings, museums, and research centres rolled into a short introduction to the city’s history. In the French Quarter on 533 Royal St. www.hnoc.com |
| MAGAZINE STREET SHOPPING 6 miles of street shops that sell antiques, art, contemporary fashion, and other odds and ends. The street hits its peak in the Lower Garden District (near Jackson ave, the Garden District (between 1st and 7th Sts) and Uptown (from Antonine St to Napoleon Ave) |
| NEW ORLEANS GHOST TOUR New Orleans Ghost Tour explores the grim and ghastly deeds of the old French Quarter. Secret and sinister, most of these events occurred a very long time ago. For more information or reservations call 504-861-2727. |
| NEW ORLEANS CULINARY HISTORY TOURS New Orleans is world renowned for its distinct cuisine. This tour explains the history behind the food in describing how this unique city developed the country’s only true regional cuisine. Discover why still today New Orleans ranks as a major destination for serious food lovers everywhere. For more information or reservations call 504-427-9595. |
| RIVERWALK MARKETPLACE Once the site of the 1984 Louisiana Worlds’ Fair, Riverwalk Marketplace opened in 1986 and this year is celebrating 20 years as one of the top visitor attractions in New Orleans. Riverwalk Marketplace features amazing shopping in a setting that overlooks the beautiful (yet muddy) Mississippi River. 1 Poydras St, www.riverwalkmarketplace.com |
| SOUTHERN FOOD & BEVERAGE MUSEUM Right at the Riverwalk Mall, this meseum looks like a gift shop from the outside. However inside is a well-executed and interesting exhbit on Southern Food and New Orleans food. Include with admissions is the Museum of the American Cocktail; www.southernfood.org |
| STEAMBOAT NATCHEZ Take a 2 hour tour down the mighty Mississippi on New Orleans only authentic steamboat. Tours leaving at 11 and 2 daily. For more information or reservations call 504-586-8777. |
| ST. LOUIS CEMETERY NO.1 Best example of classic New Orleans above ground cemetery with many famous crypts. Address is 1300 St. Louis St. For a good organized walking tour check with Haunted History Tours at www.hauntedhistorytours.com |
| ST. CHARLES STREET CAR the oldest operating street car in the world. For a $1.25 you can ride all the way from the French Quarter to Uptown |
| SWAMP TOUR Nothing is more exciting than visiting a wetland and touring on an airboat amongst the alligators and birds. Check out http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/tours/ for information on different tours, including swamp tours. |
| WALK THROUGH JACKSON SQUARE & ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL This is the heart of the French Quarter and serves as an open air market with street artists, caricaturists, and fortunate tellers. Be sure to pop into St. Louis Cathedral and say a prayer for Tom and Christina. |
