For the past two years, my family and I have taken the road trip from Huntsville, Alabama to New Orleans, Louisiana, which has definitely become my new favorite city to visit. Each time, I feel like I find something different to do and see! I've compiled my absolute favorite places to visit each time I go to New Orleans, so if you're ever in the city, try and check them out!
1. Museum of Death: 227 Dauphine St.
CAUTION: If you have a weak stomach, I advise you not walking past the curtain into the actual museum. In fact, what's behind the curtain is so gruesome, that visitors are not allowed to enter without looking at a picture of a really bad car accident. If you can't stomach the picture, you might as well not by the $15 ticket. But if you can, just wait... it gets way worse. Enter through the curtain and see for yourself. The museum is comprised of serial killer artifacts, like artwork by John Wayne Gacy and handwritten letter from Richard Ramirez or the Night Stalker. Continue on, and you're going to learn about autopsies, car crashes and the Manson family cult. If you're really brave, in the back plays an extremely gruesome movie that only a few can stomach for a short period of time.
If you're looking to satisfy your serial killer/chaotic fascination, the Museum of Death is definitely worth looking into.
2. St. Louis Cathedral: 615 Pere Antoine Alley
Out of any religious building, I've been in, the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans was by far the most breathtaking. Completed in 1794, the Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans and is the oldest cathedral in the United States. Visitors and tourists are free to enter and take pictures of the immaculate architecture, as well as to sit in a pew and say a prayer for as long as they like. However, the church is closed to visitors during certain times, as the church still holds mass daily. Then, the doors will be closed and visitors cannot roam freely. However, it is free to enter and is a wonder to be in, so I definitely recommend stopping by and looking around in the oldest cathedral!
3. City Park: 1 Palm Dr
The first stop we ever made in New Orleans was at City Park. This beautiful area spreads over 1,300 acres and is one of the oldest urban parks in the country (open since 1854). The area holds a mini golf course (which my dad completed dominated at, but I came in second), a small restaurant that serves coffee and beignets and an art museum that hosts many different kinds of exhibits. The park is a perfect place to walk around in or to stop and relax on one of the many pavilions with swinging benches!
4. Jackson Square: 700 Decatur St
Right in front of the St. Louis Cathedral, is the beautiful Jackson Square. In the middle of beautiful planted trees and flowers sits a statue of Andrew Jackson on a horse, which was erected in 1856 after a victorious win in the Battle of New Orleans. Behind the statue and a few feet away is also a beautiful fountain. Many people are there taking pictures, and one of the more common things we saw is that a lot of homeless people like to sleep on the many benches that are under the the big trees at the fence-line. However, it is a beautiful place to visit and also an interesting piece of history to learn about!
5. The World War II Museum: 945 Magazine St
If you're like me, you really like history and really, really like learning about the history of WWII. So, coming to this museum was definitely a must. The first building was filled with real artifacts like propaganda posters, rifles and other weapons and raw footage from the battles. As you traveled through the museum, each station broke down each significant piece of the war in the United States, Germany and in the Pacific. I actually learned a lot more spending two hours in this first building than I ever did in high school about the war. There's even a 40's themed restaurant located in the building where you can buy hot dogs and milkshakes (which I devoured.) Before we walked into the second building, tanks and other wartime vehicles lined the outside. And when we got inside the second building, we were greeted by a three story high room filled with model fighter planes from the war. This was probably my most favorite place to visit in New Orleans. It does cost a good bit of money, but it's completely worth it.
6. The French Quarter
One of the oldest neighborhoods in New Orleans, the French quarter was the most exciting place I visited both times I went to New Orleans. From Royal Street to Bourbon Street, people watching and building admiring are about the only things to do while you're walking around. It's fun looking into the "tourist trap" shops that are literally next door to each other or watching street performers. There's a lot of interesting places to look at and some, well you have to be a certain age to have fun in. But, walking and looking around was enough fun for me!
FOOD: there is a pizza place right off of Bourbon Street that is so good. It literally has the best pizza ever and I hate myself for not knowing the name. But I never hate myself for ordering a second slice!
7. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1: 300 N Claiborne Ave
The oldest and most famous of the three Roman Catholic St. Louis Cemeteries was opened in 1789, filled with above ground graves. Because of vandalism to the tombs, visitors are not allowed to walk unattended. Instead, the non-profit group "Save Our Cemeteries" lead tour groups for a fee. The cemetery is huge and full of graves, some falling apart and some that look like new. The graves that look like new usually have a small plaque in front of them that read "Perpetual Care," where a caretaker is always going to come and make sure the outside of the tomb is clean. There are some graves that are actually waiting for people, like the actor Nicholas Cage. Instead of a normal-looking tomb, Nicholas Cage decided to have his in the shape of a pyramid. The voodoo queen, Marie Laveau, and the cruel slave owner, Delphine LaLaurie, are both rumored to be resting in this cemetery.
8. The Garden District
The garden district is a neighborhood in New Orleans that is filled with beautiful and older houses. While I enjoyed looking around at the gorgeous houses and daydreaming that I would live in one of them, there were two houses I was dying to see: The First Street House from author Anne Rice's novel, "The Witching Hour" (which is a great book if you haven't heard of it/read it) and Buckner Mansion, better known as Miss Robicheaux's Academy from American Horror Story: Coven (this is the house pictured above!) Seeing them was like out of a dream, and I couldn't believe I was actually seeing them in real life! Even though I only went to have my complete freak-out moments, the Garden District was beautiful and enjoyable to walk around for a couple hours.
9. Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo: 739 Bourbon St
If you're into the whole voodoo thing, then this is the place for you. Filled with voodoo dolls, card readers, candles and incense, Marie Laveau's is definitely the ultimate house of voodoo. When I went for my first time, the place was packed and I think it was even more packed the next time I went. The prices of items are fairly good (I just got a voodoo doll for a friend, I swear...), but to look around and admire what the store has to offer is completely free. Drop by if you're interested!
10. Musical Legends Park/ Cafe Beignet: 311 Bourbon St
We actually stumbled on this by accident, looking for the other famous beignet cafe, Cafe DuMonde. We thought this was it, so we had to eat here. In the front is Musical Legends Park, where the statues of musicians like Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Fats Dominio and Ronnie Cole greet you at all times of the day. Live music is featured all the time and there is plenty of seating to watch the performers and eat you beignet (or enjoy a drink from the bar that's across the patio from the stage.) The atmosphere is great to be in, and I highly recommend stopping by at anytime of the day for a bite and to enjoy some great music.
