New Orleans

A Mini-Guide to New Orleans

New Orleans is one of the few US cities with a unique style-- a gumbo of Spanish, Caribbean, African American, Cajun, and other influences. It's famous for food, music, and over-the-top parties. Mardi Gras in New Orleans may be the classic drunken bash.

The French Quarter is New Orleans' biggest draw. Bourbon Street is full of bars, nightclubs, strip joints, and restaurants. In the daylight, Bourbon Street can look pretty tacky, but at night it's packed with people wandering with drinks in hand. Jackson Square is an attractive daytime destination. Artists, jazz musicians, shoeshine boys, and various buskers ply their trade outside the park fence. Café Du Monde, at Jackson Square, is a great place for beignets and coffee. For a different view, go to the take-out window and eat your beignets on the levee of the Mississippi River, just behind Cafe du Monde.

The food in New Orleans can be great, but not every Cajun menu has a Cajun cook behind it. After several experiences with terrible food, I only eat at restaurants with good recommendations. Try the Rough Guide for some suggestions.

Many modern convention hotels are located in the Central Business District, at the edge of the French Quarter. Besides office buildings, this area features a variety of attractions along the river including the Aquarium of the Americas. A free ferry runs across the river to the suburb of Algiers. Or, you can take a riverboat to the Audubon Zoo. The zoo is in the Garden District, another interesting area. You can also take the St Charles Streetcar through the Garden District.

If you like nature, you'll notice Live Oaks, Spanish Moss, and Palmettos. Interesting wildlife-- alligators, nutria, and wading birds-- is found outside the city. The Mississippi delta is just South of New Orleans. To the West, is the Atchafalaya swamp and Cajun country. (You can read about my trip in the swamp.) I've read good things about canoeing around New Orleans, particularly the Barataria preserve. I've read mixed reviews of Honey Island Swamp tours. Further West, Sabine Wildlife Refuge hosts thousands of migrating birds.

Chuck Stull