New Orleans – the Big Easy - in One Week

New Orleans is alive and kicking post-Katrina. Raucous Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, the genteel Garden District, Mardi Gras, good food, jazz, voodoo, street musicians, art and much more are waiting for you.

You can easily experience the best of New Orleans in one week. Activities below are grouped by theme rather than assigned to a specific day. Make the best use of your time by mixing and matching these activities according to your own interests, geographic proximity to the sights and the hours of operation.


Theme 1: Mardi Gras

If your visit to the Big Easy coincides with carnival season, you may wish to include a parade as part of your vacation.

Regardless of the time of year, tour Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World where staff designs over 520 parade floats per year. King Cake and coffee are sometimes included in the tour. You can also try on a number of costumes.

Costumes and memorabilia are displayed at both the Presbytere and the Germaine Wells Mardi Gras Museum


Theme 2: Jazz

Jazz in synonymous with The Big Easy. This uniquely American musical art form originated in the 19th century when slaves and free Blacks gathered at Congo Square to socialize, play music and trade goods. Only visit here during the day as part of a group as this area has been dangerous at times.

You may wish to enjoy another local tradition - the Jazz Brunch at the Court of Two Sisters. Ask for Ed as your waiter.

Preservation Hall is home to some of the best jazz in New Orleans. Enjoy 3 hours of music as played by some of the best musicians anywhere. After the concert, consider touring nearby Bourbon Street for a night of partying.


Theme 3: Louisiana History

Much of New Orleans and Louisiana history is contained in the area of Jackson Square. Start with the picturesque view of the square from Washington Artillery Park on the opposite side of Decatur Street.

The Cabildo is the site of land transfer for the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The sala capitular (Spanish Council Room) contains the furnishings from that time. Other displays include Native American culture, European settlement and American history from the local perspective.

St Louis Cathedral is the oldest active Roman Catholic cathedral in the United States. Well-maintained frescos cover the walls. The bible at the rear of the cathedral was owned by St. Louis, the King of France.

The Historic New Orleans Collection contains a draft of Iberville’s prospectus to the King of France pertaining to the establishment of New Orleans; a series of transfer documents pass Louisiana from Spain to France and then from France to the United States; a copy of Livingston’s letter to James Monroe encourages the acquisition of Louisiana. Other items include dishes, maps, duelling pistols and china.

The Old Ursuline Convent, built in the French chateau style, is the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley. The convent houses paintings, statues, religious vestments and jewelry. A scale model of the French Quarter dating to 1915 is also displayed.


Theme 4: Historic Houses

Madame John’s Legacy is a French colonial style house with few furnishings inside. The house was made famous in the book Tite Poulette by George W. Cable.

The Beauregard-Keyes House is extensively furnished with 19th century furniture including some General Beauregard memorabilia. The buildings in the back of the courtyard were occupied by writer Frances Parkinson Keyes. She wrote a number of books during her 25 years residing here. Her possessions are displayed.

The Hermann-Grima House depicts wealthy Creole life in the early 19th century. Also included are stables, an outdoor kitchen where occasional cooking demonstrations are conducted and slave quarters.

Gallier House was a very modern house for the 19th century. It included a heater in the kitchen for hot running water, closets, vents in the master bedroom for air circulation and a flush toilet.


Theme 5: Tours

Grayline offers a Hurricane Katrina Tour and a Garden District Walking Tour that are both excellent.





Tips for Visiting New Orleans

1) Reserve your accommodations through this website.

2) Visitors enjoy significant savings with the New Orleans Power Pass. You can purchase this from the Viator website below. Many of the sights listed may be visited using the New Orleans Power Pass. Note that the Old Ursuline Convent is part of the French Quarter Walking Tour. Included with the Power Pass are both the Grayline Hurricane Katrina Tour and the Grayline Garden District Walking Tour.

3) Try café au lait and beignets (French donuts without the hole) at the Café du Monde (800 Decatur St.).

4) Enjoy a picnic lunch by purchasing a muffaletta sandwich at Central Grocery (923 Decatur St.).

5) Save money on food and drinks by visiting Frenchmen St. in Faubourg Marigny just beyond the French Quarter.

6) The best meal deal in the city is at The Praline Connection (542 Frenchmen St.). Try the “Taste of Soul Platter” for samples of filé gumbo, jambalaya, ribs, catfish, fried chicken, red beans and rice, greens, corn bread and bread pudding. If you have never tried Cajun or Creole food before then this is the meal for you (and possibly one other person, depending upon the size of your appetite). Arrive early to avoid the line-up.

7) Enjoy reasonably priced drinks at the Apple Barrel Bar (609 Frenchmen St.). Drinks are cheaper here than in the French Quarter.

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