What to See and Do on a Trip to New Orleans

When some plan a visit to the historic, vibrant city of New Orleans, they are bombarded with a dizzying array of sights, attractions, and activities. With so many exciting choices, it can be challenging to narrow down exactly what to do or where to go in the Big Easy and make the most of the limited time one has at their disposal.

Situated in southeast Louisiana, New Orleans is home to beautiful neighborhoods with distinct cultures, vibrant live music and entertainment venues, a rich culinary landscape, and plentiful outdoor recreation opportunities. With so much to see and do, it can be hard to know where to start. Here we provide an overview of just some of the activities that one should consider when visiting New Orleans to ensure a memorable trip.

Explore Unique Local Neighborhoods

New Orleans is one of only a few cities in the United States that can claim truly unique neighborhoods and local cultures. Each area offers something different, be it culture, entertainment, dining options, and more. The French Quarter is home to sophisticated restaurants, bars, theaters, art galleries, and a variety of tourist attractions. The Garden District is known for its stunning, ornate mansions and lush gardens. Uptown is an area for outdoor recreation opportunities and charming shops. The Bywater is known for its vibrant street art, artsy vibes and music. The Marigny is teeming with live music clubs, art galleries, and trendy restaurants. The CBD (Central Business District) offers a blend of high-end luxury retail and charming cafes and restaurants.

Visitors will have no trouble finding unique experiences no matter what sort of activities they prefer.

Live Music Venues

For a unique and truly unforgettable experience in New Orleans, be sure to check out the city’s numerous live music venues. Drawing on its Creole heritage, rag time tunes, jazz, swing, and more fill the stages of the many world-renowned music venues spread throughout the city. The city is a paradise for jazz aficionados and checking out some of the music attractions should be at the top of any itinerary.

If you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend enlisting in the Wildbuddies New Orleans Frenchmen Street Live Music Pub Crawl. During this one-of-a-kind tour you’ll get to experience some of the best bars the city has to offer. You’ll be treated to samples from local artists and enjoy the many styles of jazz that New Orleans has become famous for. All sorts of musical genres are represented on this tour including contemporary rock, funk and blues which makes it truly unique. Check out the Wildbuddies New Orleans Frenchmen Street Live Music Pub Crawl to have an amazing time exploring some of New Orleans’s best bars!

Remarkable Restaurants

New Orleans is renowned not only for its upbeat music scene but also for its remarkable culinary offering. With kitchen staff from all corners of the globe bringing in their varied cooking traditions, the city offers an enormous range of different cuisine options including soul food, traditional Creole dishes, and fresh seafood. Be sure to sample some local specialties such as jambalaya or gumbo – or if you’re feeling adventurous then grab some boudin balls from one of the food carts located around town. Be sure to also try classic dishes made famous by regional restaurants like po’boys sandwiches at Cleaver & Co or fried shrimp at Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar. Fine-dining restaurants like Emeril’s Delmonico also offer unforgettable experiences.

Beautiful Parks and Natural Areas

When you feel like taking a break from all the hustle and bustle of downtown NOLA, there are numerous parks located in and around the city where you can go to experience some natural beauty and tranquility. Audubon Park is a sprawling garden that covers over 300 acres complete with colorful flower beds, hiking trails, and a unique aviary where one can get up close to various bird species native to Louisiana. City Park offers over 1300 acres of lush flora as well as excellent playgrounds for children and adults alike, Lake Pontchartrain for kayaking or fishing trips (weather permitting), and Picture Bridge Pond which provides an impressive view of the downtown skyline including The World’s Fair Tree Canopy Walk which enables visitors to get up close with nature even with skyscrapers surrounding them.

Conclusion

New Orleans offers visitors so much more than a night on Bourbon Street! Amazing cultures, incredible music venues, one-of-a-kind local cuisine, beautiful parks—it’s obvious there’s so much more to explore while in the Big Easy than just your average tourist sites. With this helpful guide in mind, you’ll have no problem deciding what experiences best fit your vacation vision. And don’t forget to check out Wildbuddies New Orleans Frenchmen Street Live Music Pub Crawl for an unforgettably fantastic evening out!