Enjoying a Weekend Trip to New Orleans

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New Orleans is arguably the most European of American cities. And although the city suffered lots of damage during Katrina, the heart of the tourist district was barely affected. New Orleans is still a unique place to enjoy and makes a great weekend trip.

French Quarter

Explore the French Quarter--also known as the Vieux CarrÃ©--by foot. This is the heart of New Orleans and the oldest neighborhood in the city. There are more things to do in the Quarter than can be done in a day. This is one old city whose colorful history soaks into your pores as your walk it and you can feel the presence of the past. See the Wikipedia link below for the boundaries of the French Quarter.

Some must see places:

Jackson Square & St Louis Cathedral
Cafe Du Mond for beignets and cafe au lait
A stroll through the French Market
A trip to the galleries on Royal Street
Pat O'Brien's for a hurricane and their patio
A stroll down Bourbon street at night
A visit to Preservation Hall to hear jazz

Fantastic Food

Savor the incredible food. One of the great attractions of Nawlins, as its called by the locals, is the superb food. Creole food is just the beginning--and a great place to begin by the way. Try an oyster po'boy and walk on the levee of the Mississippi River and watch the boats go by. Or instead try a quintessential muffuletta from Central Grocery. Try to hit the Sunday brunch at Brennan's.

Garden District/Uptown

Venture out of the French Quarter and explore other areas of New Orleans--especially by one of the streetcars. The Garden District/Uptown area should be high on the list and the streetcar line runs right through it. St. Charles Avenue is a broad, lovely street with beautiful mansions and old huge live oak trees with canopy coverings. Great neighborhood restaurants, galleries and coffee shops abound. As a matter of fact, New Orleans is the only major city where Starbucks does not dominate the coffee scene. And the locals know that many of the restaurants in Uptown are some of the best in town. Don't miss out on Camellia Grill and their omelets.

Magazine Street

Shop Magazine Street. Magazine Street is six miles of funky, eclectic shops, boutiques, craft stores and galleries that runs through Uptown. It's quite artsy and a great place to find unique handcrafted items you can't find elsewhere. Plus there are restaurants and bars throughout the area.

Natchez Riverboat Cruise

Take the ferry across the Mississippi or take a jazz dinner riverboat cruise on the steamboat Natchez. New Orleans owes its life to America's largest river and it is still central to the consciousness of the city.

Downtown

Visit the downtown area and don't miss the WW II Museum. Founded as the D-Day Museum, it is now known as the National WWII Museum and it is pretty impressive.

Audubon Zoo

Venture over to the Audubon Zoo on Magazine Street. The zoo is one of the country's highly regarded zoos and is a treat any time of year.

Tips & Warnings

· New Orleans' website nola.com is highly followed by the city and is a great resource

· Don't be afraid to ask the locals for their opinions and recommendations. You'll find some of the best restaurants and bars that way

· The French Quarter is filled with hotels and lodges. Hotels also abound along either side of Canal Street. The further you get outside the Quarter, the cheaper the rates

· Don't miss out on the Aquarium

· Know where you are going when walking in the Quarter. Don't venture outside its boundaries on foot, especially at night

· Take it easy on the alcohol. This is one of the few places in America where you can take your drink to go and walk the streets

Resources

· Wikipedia - French Quarter

· nola.com

· The Muffuletta Sandwich and New Orleans History

· Magazine Street Merchants

· National WWII Museum

· Audubon Zoo

Photo Credit: http://www.public-domain-photos.com/travel/new-orleans