When people think of New Orleans many imagine jazz music playing and steamboats gliding down the mighty Mississippi. In reality steamboats are becoming a thing of the past. There is only one authentic steamboat still operating in New Orleans. The Steamboat Natchez offers multiple options every day for this iconic experience. The Harbor Jazz Cruise occurs twice daily and includes live jazz...
The Ogden Museum of Southern Art opened in 1999. Its stated mission is “to broaden the knowledge, understanding, interpretation and appreciation of the visual arts and culture of the American South through its events, permanent collections, changing exhibitions, educational programs, publications and research.” If you have not previously spent time in the South this is a great opportunity to learn...
The Court of Two Sisters began in 1886 as The Shop of Two Sisters. Two members of a prominent Creole family opened the fancy dress shop which was frequented by many of New Orleans’ finest women. The shop was closed in 1904 when the Creole population in the area began to decline. The building then went through many different phases...
The National World War II museum opened in New Orleans in 2000 as The D Day Museum. It has quickly become one of New Orleans’ most popular attractions and not just for history lovers. It has been listed as the #4 museum in America and the #11 museum in the world. The World War II museum is located on a...
The Aquarium of the Americas opened in New Orleans in 1990. The aquarium is part of the Audubon Nature Institute which also manages the zoo and the insectarium, as well as many conservation efforts. It is located in a beautiful building right on the edge of the Mississippi River. At the Aquarium of the Americas there are over 10,000 animals...
The Algiers Ferry has provided transportation between New Orleans and Algiers Point since 1827. The ferry leaves downtown New Orleans from a dock at the foot of Canal St, right beside the Aquarium of the Americas. For $2 take a scenic trip across the Mississippi River to Algiers Point. Established in 1719, Algiers Point is the second oldest neighborhood in...
No other landmark identifies New Orleans as clearly as the St Louis Cathedral, formally known as The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis King of France. St Louis Cathedral’s three steeples overlooking Jackson Square in the French Quarter is featured in postcards, brochures, and paintings depicting New Orleans. Catholics first worshiped on this site in 1727 but the current building was erected...
The Cabildo is an elegant Spanish colonial building located next to St Louis Cathedral across from Jackson Square. It was built in 1795 when New Orleans was owned by Spain. The Cabildo was the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer in 1803, an act which doubled the size of the United States. The building became a museum in 1908. Its...
The Audubon Insectarium is the largest insect museum in North America. Located inside the U.S. Customs House on Canal St, it has an unassuming exterior that is easily overlooked. Step inside and have fun learning about the world of these tiny creatures whose beauty we also often overlook. There are many live exhibits as well as colorful artwork made from...
At 1300 acres New Orleans City Park is one of the largest urban parks in America. The 150 year old park is home to raccoons, nutrias, bass, the occasional alligator, and over 40 species of birds. The park includes four playgrounds, a 50 acre festival ground, five soccer fields, and a 3/4 mile walking trail surrounding Big Lake. Within City...
The Preservation Hall was established in 1961 during the rise of rock and roll. The mission of Preservation Hall was to ensure that the traditional jazz music born in the streets of New Orleans didn’t die out. All of the music played here is acoustic and the performers come from a collective of over 100 local musicians. There are three...
The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in City Park in 2003. The enclosure is free and open to the public during business hours seven days a week. Within the 5 acres of land there are 64 sculptures nestled among pine trees, magnolias, 200 year old live oaks draped with Spanish moss, and a lagoon which bisects the garden....
The Maple Leaf Bar is one of New Orleans’ best known music clubs. Established in 1974, the Maple Leaf has live performances seven nights a week. They feature an eclectic mix of music styles from blues to rock to zydeco. They also host a range of musicians from groups that are just starting out to local celebrities such as The...
One of the best ways to explore New Orleans City Park is by bike or boat. Unfortunately the typical New Orleans visitor doesn’t travel with those things. That’s where Wheel Fun Rentals comes in. Located conveniently on City Park’s Big Lake, Wheel Fun Rentals has a variety of ways to ride, paddle, or drift through the park. There are nine...
All major cities have tours of one kind or another. What makes Two Chicks Walking Tours different is the small size of their groups and the fact that all tours are conducted by New Orleans locals with their own personal knowledge of the attractions. Tours take on an intimate quality when everyone has a chance to engage in a discussion...
Established in 1911, the New Orleans Museum of Art, or NOMA, is New Orleans’ oldest fine arts institution. Located within City Park, NOMA has over 40,000 objects on display. It is known primarily for French and American art, as well as photography, glass, and African and Japanese works. Among its permanent exhibits is the Arts of the Americas, a collection...
Snug Harbor is a jazz club located in the Faubourg Marigny, a neighborhood right next to the French Quarter. Established in 1983, the establishment consists of three rooms which each could operate as an individual destination. The dining room features traditional New Orleans cooking but the hamburgers are their specialty. Choose from a steak, cheddar, or mushroom burger and get...
The Neutral Ground is sort of like a coffee house mixed with a night club mixed with your best friend’s living room (if your best friend is a hippy with a lot of weird friends.) Walk in and you are met with a mostly lamp lit room with tables and benches and couches and a small stage area. Almost every...
Le Bon Temps Roule opened in 1979, in an establishment built in the 1890’s. Known locally as “Le Bon Temps,” it has become a mix of neighborhood bar and well known music club. Local celebrities such as Kermit Ruffins, the Soul Rebels Brass Band and Anders Osborne have played there. This is where many musicians got their start, on the...
The Audubon Zoo is over 100 years old, covers 48 acres, and is home to over 2000 animals. You can spend all day here and still not come close to experiencing all it has to offer. Following is a sampling of the attractions: Louisiana Swamp Exhibit A Louisiana zoo needs a special exhibit devoted to Louisiana animals. Here you will...