New Orleans

St Louis Cathedral, © Can Stock / micropix

Visit New Orleans – Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras is the main event for most who visit New Orleans. The height of Mardi Gras celebrations are a two week period ending on Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday). After the Mardi Gras party ends, it’s Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent. Since Mardi Gras depends on the timing of the full moon, the date for Mardi Gras varies between February 3rd and March 9th. The carnival season kicks off earlier though – on January 6th with Epiphany.

Canal Street Red Lady Streetcar, by Didier Moise

Mardi Gras Parade

The riders on the Mardi Gras Parade floats toss “throws” to spectators. The most common throws are strings of colored beads, which have become synonymous with Mardi Gras and with partying youth. The Mardi Gras Parade route is along St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street, upriver from the French Quarter, because the streets are too narrow around Bourbon St.

Jackson Square, © Pixabay / reiseblogger

Visit New Orleans – French Quarter

The French Quarter is a must see for those who visit New Orleans. This small district was founded by the French in 1718. It has Creole influence from the French and Spanish in its architecture, music and food. The French Quarter is 13 blocks by 7 blocks, bounded by Canal Street, Esplanade Avenue, Rampart Street and the Mississippi River. View the wrought iron balconies, distinctive window shutters and magnolia trees.

Superdome, New Orleans, © Can Stock / airship75

French Quarter Highlights

• Bourbon Street – Jazz, drinks and New Orleans pub fare.
• Jackson Square with the Louisiana State Museum Cabildo and St. Louis Cathedral. Walk Pirate’s Alley and Pere Antoine’s Alley which run on either side of the St. Louis Cathedral.
• The French Market including Cafe Du Monde
• House of Blues
• Royal Street – art galleries in the 200 – 400 block.
• Julia Street – art galleries in the 600 block of Julia Street. The street is interesting too for the 13 mid-19th century townhouses referred to as Julia Row or the Thirteen Sisters.

St Charles Streetcar

Street Cars

The Rapid Transit Authority operates 4 streetcar lines in the French Quarter. These streetcars add a special atmosphere to the city of New Orleans. Jazzy Pass fares are very inexpensive. The St Charles Avenue Streetcar has been designated a National Historic Landmark. The Canal Streetcar Red Line has bright red cars that are called Red Ladies. The Riverfront Street Car runs south along the Mississippi River from the French Quarter, which is a great way to get from downtown hotels to Jackson Square in the French Quarter.

Bayou Touring

Audubon Institute

The Audubon Institute includes the Audubon Insectarium, the Audubon Zoo, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, a swamp tour which features live white alligators and an IMAX theatre with a feature on Hurricane Katrina. Take a zoo cruise between the Audubon Park Zoo and the Aquarium of the Americas.

Visit New Orleans – City Park

City Park – nearly 1,300 acres makes it bigger than Central Park in New York. City Park includes the New Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden, the New Orleans Botanical Garden, Storyland playground, the Carousel Gardens amusement park and the NOLA Gondola, for a Venetian style gondola ride. Take the Canal Street Green Line Streetcar from the French Quarter to City Park.

Visit New Orleans – Background

New Orleans is a US port on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mississippi River Delta. The city is named after the Duke of Orleans from France. Its nick name is the Big Easy – which might refer to the laid back life style of jazz musician origins. New Orleans is influenced by European French and Spanish – known as Creole. It is also influenced by Canadian Acadian French, known as Cajun. Both cultures have added their version of spice and seafood synonymous with New Orleans. New Orleans is best known for Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras and Hurricane Katrina.