Travel Guide: New Orleans

Looking to take a trip to the “Big Easy” in the future? Read below to learn more about the places you can’t pass up in the iconic and historic city of New Orleans.

Jambalaya, beignets, Bourbon Street, Mardis Gras and jazz.New Orleans has a lot to be famous for, but what are the essentials that you can’t pass up on a weekend in the Big Easy? Here is a helpful guide to ensure you take advantage of your time in New Orleans and have a trip full of amazing adventures!

As someone who craves everything sweet, the first thing on my agenda when I landed in New Orleans was getting to Cafe Du Monde. This famed open-air French cafe is open twenty four hours serving the most delectable beignets doused in delicious powdered sugar and served with your choice of frozen or hot cafe au lait. A stop at this iconic New Orleans gem is a “must-do” on your trip bucket list.

After stopping at Cafe Du Monde for a delicious snack, you’re going to want to burn off all those sugary calories, so hop in a cab and head to Mardi Gras World! As someone who admittedly didn’t know much about the city before visiting, the one thing I associated most with New Orleans was Mardi Gras the its iconic, city-wide yearly celebration. This carnival greatly influences the city’s culture and contributes to its lively and compelling atmosphere. Mardi Gras World is a 300,000 square foot warehouse which houses the majority of the floats featured in the Mardi Gras Parade each year. The walking tours of the warehouse highlight the elaborate process that goes into building the floats.

To continue your food tour of New Orleans, you’ll want to stop at Central Grocery and Deli for lunch. From the outside, this small deli may not look like much, but this spot is known for their famous muffuletta sandwich. Originating from Italian immigrants in New Orleans, this loaded deli sandwich is bigger than your head and comes complete with numerous deli meats and a secret recipe olive salad. Take a seat at the deli’s bar and appreciate the unique Italian decor that most certainly hasn’t changed during my lifetime.

At this point in the trip you might need a nap. I say go for it because you’re going to need to rest up before your exciting night on Bourbon Street! Bourbon Street is known throughout the world for its lively nightlife. Stationed in the heart of the historic French Quarter, Bourbon Street is one of the oldest streets in North America as it dates back to 1798. It is lined with century old bars serving hurricanes and featuring jazz music all day and night. If the night life isn’t your cup of tea, walk only a few blocks in any direction to find many art museums, restaurants and cute boutiques in the French Quarter to commemorate your trip!

One of the last things that you should visit in New Orleans is one of their iconic above-ground cemeteries. Unique to the south because of hurricanes and flooding that occur, above-ground cemeteries are an eerie reality in New Orleans. The city offers many tours to learn more about the cemeteries and even visit the grave of the infamous voodoo legend Marie Laveau. To entertain the superstition in you, definitely make it a priority to partake in a tour of a New Orleans above-ground cemetery.