What to do in New Orleans?

[bean29]

My daughter in meeting a friend in New Orleans, her friend is there for a Bachlorette party.  She went early b/c it was cheaper.  DD is going to spend the afternoon with her.  I have never been there myself, but understand the food is one of the main attractions.

If you only had one afternoon to spend, what would you try to do?

[Anne_in_VA]

Go down to the French Quarter and just walk around and visit will the different shops.  Get beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde.

[tractor]

Take a cemetery tour

[billisonboard]

If I recall correctly, there is/was a cemetery in/near the French Quarter so both ideas could be done in an afternoon.

[azucena]

Best meal I've ever had was off the chef's menu here 
www.courtoftwosisters.com/

[ArchietheDragon]

bike tour.  We did one and it was great.  They have history tours, food tours, bar tours, etc.   New Orleans is so flat it is great to bike around.  And it is a perfect way to see the city with a local tour guide. 

[laterbloomer]

Segway(?) tour, same idea as a bike tour but more fun.

[bean29]

I think she is still in the air, but I forwarded your suggestions to her. Thank you!

[Bonny]

Swamp boat tour.

We also visited Oak Alley, an old plantation.

[swamp]

I loved the Garden Tour, Cemetery Tour, Ghost Tour, Plantation Tour, Swamp Tour, Riverboat tour, etc., etc.  but if I had an afternoon, I'd just wander around taking in the sights, 

[happyhoix]

Jun 19, 2019 8:01:48 GMT -5 ArchietheDragon said:

bike tour.  We did one and it was great.  They have history tours, food tours, bar tours, etc.   New Orleans is so flat it is great to bike around.  And it is a perfect way to see the city with a local tour guide. 

Depends on what month of the year you go.

Around July-Sept you'd better do the bike tour early morning or in the evening, the heat and humidity make the outdoors in the middle of the day like a sauna.

[justme]

Mardi Gras World is pretty cool if she has any desire to see the floats and how they were made. Doesn't take a ton of time. The last time I was there I just wandered around the French Quarter. If you go all the way to the end of the FQ away from Canal street there's a market there, not sure if it's open every day but I got some masks there for not too much money and they had other stuff for sail. 

They can get drinks to go pretty much anywhere without having to go on Bourbon! Just ask for it in a togo glass - won't be those crazy tall glasses you seen on Bourbon, but meh. 

Walking down by the river is nice too - there's a ferry boat down there they could watch leave/return or they could go on the ride themselves. 

Near Cafe du Monde there's the church/park areas that I should remember what it's called, but there's always a lot of artists and street performers around there. 

[happyhoix]

Jun 19, 2019 7:06:08 GMT -5 Anne_in_VA said:

Go down to the French Quarter and just walk around and visit will the different shops.  Get beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde.

I went to Café du Monde about 30 years ago and enjoyed it - sidewalk café, semi-seedy atmosphere, nice leisurely visit with an opportunity to people watch.

When went back last month and the current Café du Monde is enclosed in a plastic tent and geared to run the tourists in and out as quickly as possible. The original café look is gone, it's now just a spot for tourists. The beignets and chicory coffee was still good, but eaten in a rush as more tourists pushed past looking for a table.

Not sure I would go back, but probably, you should visit at least once to say you've been.  

[justme]

Jun 19, 2019 10:32:47 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Jun 19, 2019 7:06:08 GMT -5 Anne_in_VA said:

Go down to the French Quarter and just walk around and visit will the different shops.  Get beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde.

I went to Café du Monde about 30 years ago and enjoyed it - sidewalk café, semi-seedy atmosphere, nice leisurely visit with an opportunity to people watch.

When went back last month and the current Café du Monde is enclosed in a plastic tent and geared to run the tourists in and out as quickly as possible. The original café look is gone, it's now just a spot for tourists. The beignets and chicory coffee was still good, but eaten in a rush as more tourists pushed past looking for a table.

Not sure I would go back, but probably, you should visit at least once to say you've been.  

The plastic is likely from the season. I was there in Oct and the plastic was all rolled up. I agree about the tourist part though. When I first went 6 years ago I just went to the walk up line instead of waiting over an hour (!!!) for a table in the middle of the day. There's a lot of other places to get beignets if that's what you want. 

[chiver78]

Jun 19, 2019 10:31:24 GMT -5 justme said:

Mardi Gras World is pretty cool if she has any desire to see the floats and how they were made. Doesn't take a ton of time. The last time I was there I just wandered around the French Quarter. If you go all the way to the end of the FQ away from Canal street there's a market there, not sure if it's open every day but I got some masks there for not too much money and they had other stuff for sail. 

They can get drinks to go pretty much anywhere without having to go on Bourbon! Just ask for it in a togo glass - won't be those crazy tall glasses you seen on Bourbon, but meh. 

Walking down by the river is nice too - there's a ferry boat down there they could watch leave/return or they could go on the ride themselves. 

Near Cafe du Monde there's the church/park areas that I should remember what it's called, but there's always a lot of artists and street performers around there. 

Jackson Square 


definitely echo the suggestions so far. so much good seafood, drinks if that's her thing, in the French Quarter. one of the oldest bars in the country (IIRC...) is in New Orleans on the corner of Bourbon and St Philip Sts. it's actually a really cool little space. Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop

[Tennesseer]

Jun 19, 2019 10:32:47 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Jun 19, 2019 7:06:08 GMT -5 Anne_in_VA said:

Go down to the French Quarter and just walk around and visit will the different shops.  Get beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde.

I went to Café du Monde about 30 years ago and enjoyed it - sidewalk café, semi-seedy atmosphere, nice leisurely visit with an opportunity to people watch.

When went back last month and the current Café du Monde is enclosed in a plastic tent and geared to run the tourists in and out as quickly as possible. The original café look is gone, it's now just a spot for tourists. The beignets and chicory coffee was still good, but eaten in a rush as more tourists pushed past looking for a table.

Not sure I would go back, but probably, you should visit at least once to say you've been.  

While you cannot get Cafe Du Monde's beignets anywhere else but at Cafe Du Monde, you can buy their ground chicory coffee at most supermarkets/food stores.

[chiver78]

Jun 19, 2019 18:23:05 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jun 19, 2019 10:32:47 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

I went to Café du Monde about 30 years ago and enjoyed it - sidewalk café, semi-seedy atmosphere, nice leisurely visit with an opportunity to people watch.

When went back last month and the current Café du Monde is enclosed in a plastic tent and geared to run the tourists in and out as quickly as possible. The original café look is gone, it's now just a spot for tourists. The beignets and chicory coffee was still good, but eaten in a rush as more tourists pushed past looking for a table.

Not sure I would go back, but probably, you should visit at least once to say you've been.  

While you cannot get Cafe Du Monde's beignets anywhere else but at Cafe Du Monde, you can buy their ground chicory coffee at most supermarkets/food stores.

and Amazon. that's all I brew at home

[Anne_in_VA]

That’s all that DH brews too.  He particularly likes their French Roast.  

[NoNamePerson]

Jun 19, 2019 18:23:05 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Jun 19, 2019 10:32:47 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

I went to Café du Monde about 30 years ago and enjoyed it - sidewalk café, semi-seedy atmosphere, nice leisurely visit with an opportunity to people watch.

When went back last month and the current Café du Monde is enclosed in a plastic tent and geared to run the tourists in and out as quickly as possible. The original café look is gone, it's now just a spot for tourists. The beignets and chicory coffee was still good, but eaten in a rush as more tourists pushed past looking for a table.

Not sure I would go back, but probably, you should visit at least once to say you've been.  

While you cannot get Cafe Du Monde's beignets anywhere else but at Cafe Du Monde, you can buy their ground chicory coffee at most supermarkets/food stores.

You can get the beignet mix in some of the grocery stores here! 

If into arts The Art District on Julia Street is worth a look. Rows of galleries with every type of art work! Sculpture, metal, blown glass, well you get the idea. 

[Deleted]

Totally off subject, but I have a tile salvaged after Hurricane Katrina with a picture of Cafe Du Monde on it.  I love that place. 

[NancysSummerSip]

Magazine Street. It's several miles of pretty much locally owned shops and restaurants. Almost no chain stores, Amazing place to walk and eat and get to know the locals. And the side streets boast some amazing architecture. I was so impressed, I wrote a travel piece about just that street, and actually sold it after I got back.