New Orleans

Jackson Square

The old town square, often live music is going on here, as well as street corner painters and tarot readers. Around the square are:.

Wheelchair accessible

Backstreet Cultural Museum

Costumes of "Mardi Gras Indians" and other artifacts of Tremé culture. An easy walk a block and a half from the French Quarter; well worth the $8 admission fee not only for the displays but also for fascinating narration about local culture by the neighborhood curators.

Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM · Standard $20; Locals, Seniors & Veterans $15; Children 12 & Under $10

Pitot House Museum and Gardens

Historic house of a former mayor from the era of the Louisiana Purchase at the start of the 19th century.

We-Fr 10:00-15:00

Lafayette Square

The center of what was the "Old American Quarter" in the early 19th century, with the city's neo-classical city hall and a belle epoch courthouse.

Maison Bourbon

Sometimes has decent bands (though as often doesn't), as many good local Dixieland players lacking a better gig for the moment often wind up here. As the doors are open to the street, you can listen a bit from outside, judge for yourself whether they have a band you'd enjoy, and walk on by or go on in as appropriate.

Ralph's On The Park

Highly regarded Contemporary Louisiana cuisine in a renovated 1860s tavern building.

Carousel Gardens Amusement Park

located in New Orleans

Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve

Headquarters for National Park that includes several historic sites in and near New Orleans. Has a small museum and visitor's center. Show up by 9AM to get a place on the informative free walking tour of the French Quarter.

Tu-Sa 09:00-16:30 · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

New Orleans Jazz Park

Actually in "Dutch Alley", the French Market pedestrian alley on the river side of Decatur between Dumaine and St. Philip Streets. Often has free live music weekend afternoons and sometimes other times.

Free, some park programs have a fee

Perseverance Hall #4

At the Saint Claude entrance to the park, is a 19th-century dance hall, usually vacant, but sometimes used for music, exhibits, and other events.

Moon Walk

A brick walking path along the Mississippi River across Decatur Street from Jackson Square. The curious name comes from its dedication to former New Orleans mayor Moon Landrieu.

Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts

This is one of the largest performance venues in the city, and is frequently used by the Louisiana Symphony Orchestra and for large scale dance performances and musicals. The official address is listed as 801 N Rampart St, but it is away from Rampart towards the back of the park.

Audubon Zoo

Very good zoo, see the rare white alligators, at the upper end of Magazine Street. Riverboats connect the Zoo to the Central Business District; also accessible from the St. Charles Streetcar via a shuttle bus that runs back and forth from the main entrance to Audubon Park on St. Charles to the Zoo.

Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat Sun 10AM-6PM

Longue Vue House and Gardens

Elegant mansion set in lush gardens is pretty and historic. In Western central New Orleans off Metairie Road, a short drive from Metarie Cemetery and Mid-City.

9ː30AM-5PM, daily

City Park

The large park has winding lanes through old trees for walking or driving through, and includes such attractions as an outdoor sculpture garden, a botanical garden. As of 2022, renovations and improvements since Katrina have City Park looking more beautiful than ever. "Storyland", a children's playground based around fairy tale characters, has been a favorite of local children for generations. The Carousel Gardens Amusement Park has a beautiful merry-go-round (known to local old timers as "the flying horses" dating back to 1906, as well as an assortment of other amusement park rides including a miniature railway to ride around part of the park. During nights of the Christmas season there is an elaborate celebration with lights, additional rides, and music in the park called "Celebration in the Oaks". In 2020, the Louisiana Children's Museum moved to new larger quarters in City Park.

Louis Armstrong Park and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

Includes historic Congo Square, and statues of early jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Buddy Bolden. A visitor for the national historic park is located at 916 N Peters St in the French Quarter, but within Armstrong Park are 3 important buildings:.

New Orleans Jazz Park Visitor's Center & Headquarters

Often has live music, lectures, and gives music history related walking tours. Many events are free; those that aren't are a bargain.

Saint Louis Cemetery #1

Local notables entombed here include 19th-century Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Do not visit this cemetery alone, as criminals have been known to target vulnerable individual tourists. It can safely be visited with tour groups; free ones are given by the park service in addition to various pay tours. Almost all tours start early in the morning, although a couple pay tours will start at 1PM during weekdays.

Mon-Fri 9AM-3PM, Sat Sun 9AM-noon · Free

Tulane University

The main campus of New Orleans' most famous university stretches from St. Charles Avenue across from Audubon Park back to Claiborne Avenue. It includes a few attractions of special interest to some:

Metairie Cemetery

This cemetery is just outside of Mid-City by most definitions, but is only a short drive from this neighborhood or a 5 minute walk from the end of the "Cemeteries" branch of the Canal streetcar line (Walking directions: from the end of the line, go left along City Park Avenue, past Greenwood Cemetery on the right, and continue under the Interstate overpass; Metairie Cemetery is on the right). Metairie is the city's most elaborate cemetery, with many interesting 19th-century grand tombs and monuments.

Saint Louis Cemetery #3

19th-century above-ground tombs. Safe to walk around in during the day, this is popular with visitors.

Creole Queen Sightseeing Cruise

A diesel-powered paddlewheel boat. A one-hour shore excursion at the battlefield features a guided tour and talk by National Park Rangers. Boarding 30 min before departure.

Daily: daytime cruise 10AM and 2PM, evening cruise with jazz band 7PM · Daytime: adult $34, child (6-12) $14, child under 6 free; buffet $19 per person, or available à la carte. Evening with dinner/without: adult $79/48, child (6-12) $36/24, child (3-5) $12/free

Audubon Clubhouse Cafe

Old clubhouse is open to the public for breakfast, lunch, and Sunday brunch. The reason to come here is for the relaxing view of the park and golf course; sit on the porch having a leisurely meal while sipping mimosas or bloody marys.

Audubon Park

Pleasant park to walk around, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same fellow who designed Central Park in New York City. Runs from St. Charles Avenue to the river.

Garden District Book Shop

Independent book store specializes in local subjects, and usually has a variety of signed copies of books by local authors. Also a small but select case of rare used books.

Plum Street Sno-Balls

Plum at Burdette: a local delicacy during summer, finely shaved ice with your choice of many custom made syrups. A gourmet version of the northern "snow cone". On Plum Street, a pleasant 3 block walk down from Carrollton Avenue, open 2PM-dark during the long New Orleans summer.

Riverwalk

On a pier along the Mississippi Riverfront and connected to the New Orleans Hilton. In addition to a variety of shops, hosts a fine view of the Mississippi River.

Tales of the Cocktail

An annual event each July in the Quarter and CBD with seminars, tastings, and other events, drawing in people from master bartenders to casual cocktail lovers. There's even a "jazz funeral" procession for the cocktail which top bartenders would most like to see buried (past "funerals" have included "sex on the beach" and the "appletini").

Tartine

French style bakery & cafe; breakfast & lunch. Also has fresh baguettes, scones, etc to go for a tasty picnic in the nearby Audubon Park.

Uptown Crescent City Farmers Market

Market with fresh produce and fresh prepared local dishes. Every Tuesday 9AM-1PM, University Square parking lot (formerly known as Uptown Square), 200 block of Broadway, near the riverfront, a couple blocks on the upriver side of Audubon Park.