To the rest of the world, New Orleans is known for its over-the-top and long-lasting Mardi Gras celebrations. While the month leading up to Fat Tuesday, with its masquerade balls, costumes, and parades, is fun and a big deal for the city, NOLA is has much more to offer than just revelry and beads! It's a weird little slice of European flair in the often ignored Southeast Louisiana whose centuries-old buildings now house modern attractions, blending the historic with the now. New Orleans is in a state of constant revival, and remains a token Southern stop and the main urban attraction for visitors to the state of Louisiana. Here's what to take advantage of on your next trip down:
1. Music
The Big Easy is known for its music! Street performers are just as welcome as headline acts, and sometimes even more applauded. Nightlife offers smaller venues filled with area celebrities playing everything from jazz and the blues (which are actually different), to indie rock.
Louisiana is a huge fan of the festival, so there's bound to be a music event for any taste out there. The annual Jazz and Heritage Festival (which features both big names and local talent) is a state favorite and probably the best known, but VooDoo Music Experience, BUKU Music + Art Project, and Satchmo SummerFest are also top-notch and heavily attended.
2. Art
Any urban center is bound to attract young artists and avid collectors, and NOLA is no exception. For viewing, the New Orleans Museum of Art is a must, and is centrally located in City Park. Street-side/locally made art is pretty much everywhere, but the best is found around Jackson Square and in the Frenchmen Art Market. The Louisiana "Blue Dog" series is known around the world, and you should get to the studio while you can because creator George Rodrigue sadly recently passed away and no more of this heavily demanded work will be made.
3. Nature
My personal favorite stop outdoor spot in NOLA is The Audubon Zoo. It has a particularly great butterfly garden, reptile house, and primate exhibit, and is in City Park, which is itself a nice family spot. The Park is the perfect place to have a picnic or take a walk. The Aquarium on Canal Street is a great stop for little ones, and for a view of the Mississippi River and picture opportunities there's the Riverwalk.
4. Community
The people of New Orleans are resilient and diverse. They are united in good times and in bad, from the Saints winning the Super Bowl and the Drew Brees hysteria that followed, to volunteers coming together to rebuild after the destruction of Katrina. Hospitality is a big part of Southern living, and NOLA exemplifies that in the best way through the laid back attitude of pretty much everyone who lives there! Each block is a little different, and all are eccentric in their own ways. From the Garden District to the French Quarter to the Lower Ninth Ward, the city is full of good times and people who couldn't dream of living anywhere else.
5. Sights
Steeped in Spanish, French, and early African American history, New Orleans has many points of interest. Magazine Street's antique stores and other shops, St. Louis Cathedral, and the outdoor historic French Market (where you can pick up the best coffee known to man- I made sure to bring it with me to Texas) are must-see's, while the city Cemetery tours and ghost walks are more adventurous options.
Even though it's not the most efficient way to get around, everyone should take the streetcars, the city's classic public transport system and an iconic image associated with the Crescent City, at least once. Another option is to just walk around, take in the architecture, and explore to find hidden shops and cafes!
6. Best for last: FOOD
After a stay in NOLA, your wallet will be sad and your food baby large. For breakfast (or any time of the day, actually), Cafe Du Monde and Cafe Beignet boast debatably the best beignets, squares of fried dough covered in powder sugar which will likely change your life. Seafood, French cuisine, and Creole and Cajun dishes are staples, and quality is great whether you're at a high end restaurant or a cheap family joint. Some personal favorites are Court of Two Sisters' jazz brunch, diner food at The Magnolia Grill, seafood from Drago's, and Jacque-Imo's. I polled my friends on social media, and some recommendations include: literally any Vietnamese place, Domenica, Galatoire's, Antoine's, and way too many more to list.
Po-boys, étouffée, oysters, and muffulettas are classic NOLA dishes and are great choices for anyone wanting a taste of the city. Bad restaurants don't stay open long, because the people of New Orleans know what's good and refuse anything less. "Laissez les bons temps rouler" (a French expression meaning "let the good times roll") right into our stomachs.
