I recently took a road trip with a couple of friends to New Orleans, Louisiana. None of us had been there before, it seemed like a cool place, and we could figure out how to make it fairly inexpensive: essentially all of the criteria when choosing a college road trip destination. Here are just five of my top suggestions for prime places to visit and things to do the next time you're in NOLA!
** Disclaimer: Yes, it is undeniable that the night life in New Orleans is a huge aspect of the culture, and yes, it is admittedly true that you are only able to experience a limited amount of the bar scene underage. (However, we did manage to find at least one 18+ bar on Bourbon Street, where we had a lovely time singing along to "American Pie" played by a band whose members were about my grandparents' age, but that's a story for another time.) That being said, my point is that it is totally doable for people of all ages to have an enjoyable time in NOLA, even at night, without an ID in hand.
1. The French Quarter.
It's seriously awesome, y'all. For you history buffs, there is so much history everywhere you turn, from the architecture of the cast-iron galleries (featured in the above photo) and Creole cottages to the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square, the oldest cathedral in the United States. And for those of you wanting more of an emphasis on the here and now, the French Quarter is also where you find the infamous Bourbon Street. However, I would be more apt to suggest exploring Frenchmen Street. It has a bit less of a wild vibe while still featuring a collection of bars, restaurants and shops, and on some nights it even hosts an Art Market showcasing the work of local artists. More likely than not, you'll even be lucky enough to witness a local brass band performing on one of the corners!
2. Cafe Du Monde.
Although this is technically located in the French Quarter, the always bustling Cafe Du Monde deserves a shout-out all of its own. As New Orleans' original coffee stand and, just as importantly, maker of beignets, (absolutely scrumptious French doughnuts), it is a must.
3. The National WWII Museum.
They say that pictures can be more powerful than words. In the case of the WWII museum, I would not hesitate to agree that witnessing the combination of video clips, photographs, artifacts, and entire buildings constructed to mimic the environments the soldiers experienced is far more powerful and emotionally gripping than merely reading about the event. The museum only recently finished construction on several of its structures, and is still in the process of adding more. It is incredibly detailed and thorough in its documentation of the war, requiring a minimum of three or even four hours to visit.
4. Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World
Mardi Gras World is a perfect for lightening the mood after experiencing the WWII museum. If nothing else, it's an excellent way to understand just how seriously these people take Mardi Gras. If you take the tour, you have the opportunity to explore the massive warehouse, which employs about 60 artists full-time year-round. They work tirelessly to design, paper mache, paint and piece together the props and enormous floats for over 40 Mardi Gras parades (which means they decorate over 500 floats each year!) The picture above is just a glimpse of the building's vastness. If you look hard enough throughout the warehouse, you're bound to see all of your favorite characters and celebrities, from Aladdin and Jasmine to Drew Brees!
5. The Garden District.
A guided walking tour of this gorgeous residential area allows you to truly appreciate the rich history and architecture of these lavish homes. The tour begins with a visit to Lafayette Cemetery #1, allowing for a close-up view and explanation of the New Orleans' custom of burying their dead in above-ground tombs. Then, on a stroll through the neighborhood, in addition to seeing the respective houses where scenes from "Django Unchained" and the third season of "American Horror Story" were filmed, the houses belonging to Sandra Bullock, John Goodman and the Manning family (as well as several more) are pointed out.
Also worth mentioning is nearby Magazine Street, an eclectic, six-mile stretch of stores and art galleries intermixed with restaurants and coffee shops. (I highly recommend trying Shaya, an Israeli restaurant, as well as the NOLA iced coffee from French Truck Coffee.)
