Things To Do In New Orleans

Things To Do And Restaurants To Try In New Orleans / Nouvelle-Orléans

Things To Do In New Orleans and a Few places to see outside of the city.

The ‘Big Easy’, the ‘Crescent City’, the ‘Land of Cajun’, whatever you may call it, New-Orleans boats all the flavour, excitement and mystery any one person can handle. The pleasant humbleness of the locals mixed with divine eats, rusticly historic bars and of course the parades year-round; I can understand why people are drawn to this city time and time again. A milestone year, New Orleans is celebrating its tercentenary aka, 300th birthday (2018) this year. Having influenced and indulged the culture of the area, it has gone through change time and time again, as well as, survived a multitude of hurricanes. With so many things to do, I encourage you to go visit New Orleans; enjoy the culture, grab yourself a beignet and go ahead and explore the French Quarter and its surrounding treasures.

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We ventured into New Orleans this past February and we were ecstatic not only for the mouthwatering seafood but for the craziest legendary parades & parties of Mardi Gras! Not only did I get to eat all the best food in the world, I got to throw beads from the balconies of Bourbon Street; the epicentre of the party and kayak the shallows of the Bayou Swamp. Even if you are not a city buff, the national parks and bayou alone are reason enough to enjoy the area.

I originally wanted to do a walking itinerary but I found it to be quite difficult due to the fact there are so many places to enjoy depending on what you want to see, and factoring in the Mardi Gras parade schedule made it a complete chaotic mess. Below is a rough outline of how our days followed through when we visited recently (omitting Mardi Gras parades).

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How Much Time (What We Did):

• 2-days in the French quarter + immediate surrounding area
• 1-day down Magazine Street and the Garden District ending at Audobon Park.
• 1-day in the Bayou + hiking trails
• 1-day Plantation visits

I hope you enjoy my compiled guide to Things To Do In New Orleans!

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French Quarter + Jazz

historic old ‘square’ of the city

• What can I say about the French Quarter, its speckled with amazing restaurants, bars, beautifully detailed wrought iron balconies, haunted establishments and voodoo shops to spice it all up a little. Albeit very touristy, you will still find plenty of locals sprawled about, hidden away in courtyards enjoying their morning tea or stuffing their faces with tasty pastries (you just have to find those perfect little places).
• Bourbon Street runs right through the heart of the French Quarter and acts as a kind of evening lifeblood of the district. Continue on down to Frenchman street and pop into one of the Jazz bars to listen to some mellow and snazzy tunes; some of which argue are even better than those found on Bourbon Street. In the evening, find the outdoor Palace Marketplace. It is lined with tenders’ booths selling unique and one-of-a-kind local art.

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 St. Patrick’s Church

• As one of the oldest parishes that have survived to this day, St. Patrick’s Catholic church resides in the business district also known as the French Quarter. It was founded in 1833, and at the time the grounds around the church were both much larger and served as a new central hub. Some of those grounds still remain and you can take a pleasant walk around their tailored garden.

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Pubs / Historic Bars

• Home to a multitude of pubs, dives and bars throughout the different city districts, you are guaranteed to find a place to wet your whistle in New-Orleans wherever your night (or day) may take you. I recommend extending your presence at some of these historic bars by taking a seat outdoors in the stunning and hidden courtyards whilst sipping on some local cocktail favourites and staples such as the Sazerac. My personal favourite would be the Courtyard of the Two Sisters in the French Quater and once you have seen the courtyard, you will know why.

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Bayou Swamp

• The Bayou is the swamp wetland that extends through a large part of the Louisiana shoreline. There are a few national parks and reserve areas you can go to explore the classic creepy-crawly mysterious swamplands. The swamp boasts a wealth of wildlife and unique vegetation throughout from owls to bald eagles and of course, not forgotten, alligators!
• There are multiple ways to explore the Bayou. For those looking for a more relaxed easy visit, I recommend taking a walk through the Barataria Preserve Park  /Jean Lafitte National Historic Park.
• For my adventurous folk, the airboat is a popular choice but I personally recommend taking a kayak tour through the bayou! It may sound terrifying and a little too close to the action but I guarantee,  you won’t regret it!

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Explore the Garden District

• Go on a walking tour through the Garden District. A beautifully tailored neighbourhood and a perfect example of the historically mixed French and Spanish influence in New Orleans. Not only is it beautiful, but it is a vacation area of a few celebrities and close to the many restaurants and the rustically chic shops of Magazine Street.
• This is the walking guide I used for the garden district, so I won’t bother to make my own, it covers everything beautifully.
• Tip: Make sure to spend some time in the Lafayette Cemetery to see the unique and famous above-ground crypts in which generations of a family line will be buried. Can you find the oldest dates?

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Local Cuisine

Enjoy some local Cuisine!

• New Orleans arguably has some of the best local cuisines; delicious Cajun and Creole-spiced dishes galore. Furthermore, if you enjoy seafood, you will absolutely love New Orleans! Crab legs, Crayfish, lobster, prawns and oysters are just some of the delights you can find around the city.

A Few Common Specialties:

• Po-boys – Are basically New-Orleans styled long sandwiches, most often with sliced beef and gravy or breaded seafood.
• Jambalaya – A rice-based dished mixed with anything from seafood, sausages and vegetables. Every restaurant will have their own twist on this dish.
• Gumbo – A flour based soup mixture, mixed with an assortment of veggies and meats.
• Aligator – Easily found throughout the city and tastes like a tough meated chicken.
• Desserts include Banana Foster and cinnamon-based King Cake.
• And of course, last but not least, you have to try some french pastries— especially Beignets.

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Plantation Tours

There is a handful of Cajun and Creole plantations that are chalk full of early history around New Orleans. Purchase a few different tours and spend a day exploring the riches and the poor; history of the slavery throughout the Greater New Orleans area. Most notable and a personal favourite for the stunning grounds and huge trees is the Oak Alley Plantation. Although, the history and tours were more informative at the Laura Plantation. An added bonus is that these two plantations (and Evergreen plantation) are within a few Kilometers of each other, so you can spend a day and enjoy the best of both!

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 Magazine Street

• Aside from the well-known eateries in the French Quarter, I urge you to go explore and enjoy some of the great restaurants and bakeries along Magazine Street and the surrounding neighbourhoods. The street spans a few kilometres and is full of one of a kind shops ranging from books to furniture, antiques and more!
• A few notable mentions include District Donuts Slider Brew for some of the best donuts you will ever try. The aroma from La Boulangerie’s French pastries and croissants will hit you from half a mile away. And for an epic po-boy, go early to have a chance to enjoy Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar (Tip: if you get stuck in a long line up, enter the side door and grab a beer to take outside).

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Audobon Park – Tree of Life

• A large park to the west end of Magazine Street extending all the way south to the edge of the Mississipi River with numerous ground sweeping Virginia Live Oaks. If you want some time to relax away from sightseeing, the Audobon park has a few nice long walks down and along the river. Make sure to look for the “Tree of Life,” a 500-year-old Virginia Live Oak roughly centred in the park and covered in tons of billowing Spanish Moss; A sight not to be missed!
• The park also contains the Audobon Zoo which children may enjoy.

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Go to the French Market

An Outdoor Market

• You will see the long line-ups up to the French Market Tent that covers a few local businesses, notably the notorious beignet cafe, Cafe du-Monde.  BUT the French Market is also an outdoor market behind the strip plaza on North St. Peters Street. You can shop for some local crafts such as the popular handmade masks from various materials such as leather while listening to background live jazz coming from the French Market -Performace pavilion.

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Enjoy A Hurricane

• The ‘Hurricane’ is a regional alcoholic beverage made of a variety of spices, juice and a hefty load of rum. Be warned this is not a drink for the weak of heart as many of the hurricanes in the ‘smaller’ sizes will be packed with at least 4oz. of rum.
• As New Orleans is the home of the hurricane, I encourage you to enjoy it at none other than Pat O’brians, in the french quarter where the first-ever ‘Hurricane’ came into existence. And if you check out the menu, you will easily find the page with ‘sizes’ of this alcoholic beverage you can purchase.  Seriously, will you dare order can a 3-Gallon hurricane?

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Graveyards

• Since the water table is high in New-Orleans, it is uncommon to have basements and following in-suit, deeply dug graves. Historically it was common for buried graves to pop back up after large rainstorms (talk about the dead coming back to life). After many failed attempts to keep deceased loved ones in their place and as well as the influence of Spanish settlers, above-ground crypts became the norm. Family crypts accidentally served as dual purpose disinfection back in the day. Deceased members of a family are placed in the same tomb in the stone built grave. Over time it was discovered that the sub-tropical climate and the heat created from the sun beaming onto the enclosed stone graves acted like a natural crematorium. It aided in the decomposition of the body as well as kept certain diseases at bay.
• As mentioned before the Lafayette Cemetery is only one of many graveyards you can visit throughout the city. Another notable mention is Metairie cemetery; try finding the crypt with the beautiful weeping angel.

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Voodoo Shops + Psychic Readings + Haunted Tours

• Deep within the New-Orleans history thrives the culture of ‘the other world.’  Spirits, karma, voodoo and psychics are very much alive within the city. Multiple Voodoo shops are easily found in and around the French Quarter. Pop into a shop for some charms to bring you luck, or have a Tarot reading if you dare to see your future. Not all places are authentic, so I advise doing your research if a psychic is something that interests you.
• As well, there are tons of haunted tours throughout the French Quarter. I personally did not try any of these tours. I haven’t got the guts to do it since the mere thought of ghosts scares the heck out of me.

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Global Wildlife Center

Outside of the City

• If you have extra time during your visit, I highly recommend going to visit the Global Wildlife Centre (about an hours drive from New Orleans). It is an animal sanctuary where flock animals roam free in their 650+ acre fields. Honestly, it was one of the best experiences I had during my stay here. Where else could you hand feed and get sloppy kisses from baby giraffes?
• There are two ways to enjoy your adventure, either on the private tour (a group of max 12 people in an open concept car) or the group wagon (long train-like wagon that weaves through the premise). We chose to do the private tour and it was well worth it, you get a pleasantly intimate experience (the baby giraffes made me melt into a pile of happy butter).
• Tip: Make sure to purchase the bucket worth of animal feed.
• A Local Recommendation: On your way back into the city, make sure to stop by The Chimes restaurant in Covington. They have the meanest sliced beef and gravy po-boy and the view and vibes on the back porch-patio will make you feel right at home ( It was an A+ recommendation from one of the lovely locals working at the wildlife centre).

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Amazing Food in the Arts and Wharehouse District

• Just outside the French Quarter and easily overlooked is the Arts and Wharehouse District. At first sight, it may look like just that, some cliche warehouse buildings. But behind the broad wood swinging doors and clay-red brick building lies a plethora of amazing restaurants!
• It is a great area to find a hotel. It is both central and convenient reaching all the other districts by foot. And if you want a little peace and quiet, away from the action and noise, (like us) it is a great area to stay in.

Amazing restaurants of worthy note include:

• Two Chicks Cafe makes the most amazing breakfast in the world. It was our daily go to after we had discovered it. To emphasize, you have to try the Croissant Peameal Bacon and Eggs Benedict Sandwich with Cajun Hollandaise sauce (Vegetarian option also available); a serious breakfast game changer.
• Mothers Restaurant for the longest line ever you will have to wait in for an amazing po-boy sandwich.
• The Cochon Butcher for all of your hearts bacon desires; complete with a deli and eat-in restaurant. The butcher packs some seriously large and meaty eats. As a bonus, make sure to grab a seat close to the bar and have a great game of ‘I spy’. Their random collection of action figures and other goods will surely give you a good laugh (Recommended for a mature crowd and those with a good sense of humour).
• Mulate’s the Original Cajun Restaurant for delectable Cajun cuisine (though a little on the pricier side).

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And Lastly …Mardi Gras!

(Seasonal)

•  If you are in the city for the crazy parties and parades or for oodles of people watching, you will not get bored during the Mardi Gras season. Originally the tradition was brought over from Europe in celebration of the beginning of Lent and it just increased in magnitude from that time onward. Mardi Gras fluctuates every year due to the Lenten Callender and the official dates every year can be found Here on the official website. 
• If you are interested in experiencing Mardi Gras and want more information, I made a dedicated post for it HERE.

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