If it is a laid back weekend you are looking for, head on down to the Big Easy! Amazing food, great culture and smooth music. When spending a weekend there is plenty to do.
Take A Carriage Ride
Carriage rides are a great way to see the French Quarter. You can rent one for yourself or join a group of other tourists on a larger carriage. The guides will give you some general information on the city and can make for an entertaining experience.
River Cruise on a Steamboat
Steamboats were the way to travel down the Mississippi in the 19th century, and they still are today! You can take a cruise down the Mississippi and see New Orleans from the water. Many of these cruises include a meal too, and I must say, an excellent one at that.
Beignets at Cafe Du Monde
Cafe Du Monde is the place to have beignets in New Orleans. It has been serving Beignets on the New Orleans riverfront since 1862. This is their specialty. Open 24 hours a day and only closed on Christmas day, this place is hopping 24-7! You can enjoy their cafe au lait and beignets and people watch on their terrace.
Bourbon Street
Perhaps one of the most popular spots in New Orleans, this hip spot is one with life well into the night. Loaded with bars, restaurants and night clubs, this is the place to be if you enjoy the nightlife.
Ride the Streetcar
Taking a ride on the New Orleans Streetcars is a step back in history. Some of their cars have been operating since 1924. These are the longest running streetcars in the world. Take the St. Charles Avenue line for a great ride past some of New Orleans’ most beautiful mansions.
The French Market
The French Market is a very nice place to shop. It’s an outdoor marketplace where vendors sell anything from souvenirs to clothing and jewelry. There are some very nice street side cafes where you can eat some incredible fried crawfish or fried alligator nuggets, while enjoying a local beer and some live jazz band. It’s a great place to rest and people watch. One of our favorite spots in the city.
Listen to some Jazz
Jazz music can be heard all around. There are many venues that offer live local jazz bands.
Visit St. Louis Cathedral
One of the best known symbols of New Orleans, the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France is the oldest Catholic Cathedral, in continual use, in the United States. Although the Cathedral has undergone a couple of reconstructions, this site has been a site of worship since 1718. The current structure was built in the 1850s. The inside of the Basilica is designed in a beautiful Spanish Renaissance style, which received a huge restoration in 2004.
Take a stroll down the French Quarter
New Orleans’ French Quarter is an amazing part of this city. Full of culture and style, this part of the city brings you back to the French Colonial days of New Orleans. There are many antique shops in the area and excellent restaurants. Just walking through the streets of this part of town can be a great and fun activity.
So come down to the Big Easy and spend a weekend!
