Going to New Orleans and I have to see...

[Ms Trish]

My family is headed to New Orleans in just under a month! Not our first trip down there, but as with any destination, there's always things you should see/do that you end up missing. So, what is your favorite thing to see, do, eat in New Orleans. We are staying in the French Quarter and walking distance would be preferable, but is not mandatory. And breakfast is already a done deal at Cafe du Monde - mmmm Beignets!

[Magpie Flynn]

If you haven't done it yet, the swap tours are awesome. The one I went on let us hold a baby alligator 

Also, I always love going to the old plantations. Oak Alley is near New Orleans, gorgeous house where they filmed part of Interview with a Vampire. Theres a small cafe there and they have some tasty food (fried alligator is delicious!)

[The Lady Mercedes]

Sigh, you're lucky! Any way I can stow away in your luggage? 

[Bonny Pearl]

I second Magpie's suggestion of the plantation.  I've been to that one also and it is a great tour!

[BamaWoodsman]

My wife's family is from there. My go to places are as follows:

For the best poboys and gumbo head to Johnny's on St Louis @ Decatur

Pat O'brien's is always a must for at least one Hurricane

And if you have time for a fancier dinner Redfish Grill on bourbon St is some of the beat food in the city

Another great place for lunch is muffalettas at Central Grocery on Decatur

It's dinner time and I've got food on the brain but hey it's a food city, these are my favorites, but there is a ton to see and one of the best things to do is just wander around the quarter and see what you find.  No matter what, have fun. It's an incredible city.

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

We went to Redfish Grill our first night.  With 2 dinners and a bottle of wine, it was $134 before tip.  And not a special or expensive bottle of wine, and no dessert.  The food was good, but we felt it wasn't worth the money.  We each had a cup of gumbo to start, I had catfish, and Steve ate redfish. We had good dinners the other nights at half the price.

I had written another post, and somehow it got lost.  So I'll try to recreate it here.  We were there 3 weeks ago.  A Grayline City Tour came with our hotel package.  We are not "tour" people, but this tour was excellent.  The driver was knowlegable, friendly, and you could see his pride in his city.  The information he gave us went far and beyond what we expected the tour would be like.

He also suggested on our own to take the Charles St. streetcar, which we did.  We boarded it in the French Quarter on Canal St, rode it through the garden district to the end of the line, looking at the beautiful houses.  Then we got off, crossed over to the other trolley waiting for the return trip, and looked at the beautiful houses on the other side of the street!

We are not jazz fanatics, so on Bourbon St., we found the Tropical Isle Bayou Club, which had Cajun and Zydecko bands (think accordion and washboard with spoons).  We had such a blast, we went back 2 of the 3 nights we were there.  Each time, there were 2 different bands, and all 4 of them were great.

We ate at Crescent City Brewpub on our last night and thought the food was really good, and the prices were a lot more in line.  We loved Cafe du Monde so much, we ate breakfast there 2 of the 3 mornings we were there!

We didn't have time, but people we spoke to said the zoo was really nice.  If you go on the city tour, they take you to a big park, where there is a concession/snack bar.  Get the hand scooped ice cream!  It was delicious!  The tour also stopped at a cemetary, so we got to see the Voodoo Lady's tomb, as well as several others.

[crashbot]

I am a regular down there. Just got back from another week trip on Sunday.  What are you into and I can give plenty of things to do in the quarter, but don't limit yourself to just that area. Nothing is much further than a street car and quick walk.

Willie Maes fried chicken (call first, they close randomly and only open from 11-2, only fried chicken place that has won a James Beard award) its in the 7th ward.
Creole Cremery on Prytania in the Garden District
Blue Frog candy store off Magazine
Surrey Cafe on Magazine
Hit NOLA on St.Louis and ask for Travis, awesome place to eat.
Acme oyster house, also VERY good.
Jean Lafitte's bar, fun place.

tons more...

I tend to stay between Royal and Decatur, too many toolbags on Bourbon.

[redkimba]

I would have to pay my respects to Marie Laveau in St. Louis Cemetery #1

[Ms Trish]

Some fantastic suggestions so far! We've done the riverboat cruise, found an out of the way jazz club and heard some talented young musicians, saw a baseball game (minors), wandered around Cemetery #1 for kicks, and walked, walked, walked. We've been to Acme (great grilled oysters!), Pat O'B, and Redfish. Love the idea of going to a plantation. Will have to check that out.

Magpie, do you remember which swamp tour you took? As I recall there are dozens of them to choose from and I really don't want to end up on something hokey.

Crashbot - as to what we're into? Just about anything at least once. I will have my 15 year old daughter with so it must be kept PG friendly unless we leave her in the hotel (which we do plan on doing once or twice anyway).  My hotel is on St. Charles Ave for reference. And, yes, Bourbon does get dicey, but let me tell you how fun it was to be there the night the Saints beat the Vikings to head to the Superbowl. CRAZY!

[crashbot]

From St.Charles you are only a few blocks west of Magazine St.  There are lots of funky little shops and places to eat down that entire street.  The walk is always pretty nice, if you like looking at the homes in the Garden District.  Lafayette cemetary #1 is east of St. Charles, on Prytania near Commanders Palace and the Rink. There is a nice book store and coffee shop inside the Rink.  The zoo and park are also up St.Charles.


There is the WW2 and Confederate museums in the CBD, east of Lee Circle. Lots of art shops and stuff between in between the Convention Center and Camp Street in the CBD.

Obviously the quarter is full of things to do. Antiques on Royal, esepcially the historical weapons store. They have stuff going back to 17th century.

Neat Russian vodka house on Decactur called Pravda. If you dont mind gothy types, its a nice place to pop in for a drink.

Angli for pizza, its on Decatur and Gov. Nicholls.

Some alternative fashion places, be sure drop in Wicked Orleans, Kulture Vulture, Sole Star, Trashy Diva, Roadkill 13, and Fifi Mahoneys, but that is my style so I dont know if you would like them, lol. All easily found between Royal and Decatur, North of Jackson square, however.

Pirates Alley cafe is a nice place to hang out in the evening. Really sweet bartender and it has a nice outdoor patio.

Since you have some folks that have never been, the ghost and vampire tours are fun.