Mark Twain said, “It has been said that a Scotchman has not seen the world until he has seen Edinburgh; and I think that I may say that an American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardi Gras in New Orleans.” Though I haven’t been many places beyond my hometown of New Orleans, I can attest to the truth of this since I've seen the true spirit of Mardi Gras over the last 21 years of my life. If you are a college freshman who has never experienced Mardi Gras or maybe just someone who is only recently discovering the wonders of New Orleans, then these are some things you need to know:

Understand: it is impossible to navigate in the city during Mardi Gras weekend (which pretty much starts on Thursday and lasts until Fat Tuesday). I once spent two hours circling the same three blocks only to end up missing the entire parade I was trying to catch. The city is so busy, and everyone is so heavily intoxicated that there is 10/10 chance that pedestrians are not paying attention to you.

This leads to my next point: pay to park or pay a driver to get you there. Unless you are a seasoned Mardi Gras veteran, you will never find the perfect Mardi Gras parking spot. Worse, you may come back from a really great day or night to find a beautiful orange envelope slipped on your windshield reading “Violation.” Pay to park. It’ll be worth the $20 — I promise. However, an even better option is downloading Uber and having someone drive you to the parade. You’ll get to your spot on time, not have to worry about finding a designated driver, and you will be guaranteed no tickets.

To ensure a good time, buy the following items ahead of time: a $5 chair from Walmart, a cheap Mardi Gras shirt, and a heavy duty poster board. Your feet will definitely hurt if you’re planning on spending the whole day on a parade route. Plus, once you’re done with the parade, you won’t feel bad about tossing the chair in the trash because it will definitely be covered in filth ranging from spilled beer to urine. Buy the shirt in order to gain maximum festivity while also not wasting $95 on a shirt that will definitely be covered in alcohol by the end of the night. Trust me on this one. Last, make a sign. No matter what you do, go to every Mardi Gras parade with a sign. You are guaranteed the coolest beads and the best experience. We all know that Mardi Gras is all about the throws, right?!

Most importantly, be safe. Make a plan while everyone is sober, and stick to the plan. It's a crazy time of year in New Orleans and taking all extra precautions will pay off. Mark Twain knew what he was talking about, and here's your chance to experience the wonders of Mardi Gras. Enjoy.