As a regular on the ten most-visited cities in the United States, New Orleans is sure to satisfy most traveller’s dreams. With stylish boutique hotels, beignets unlike any other, and a never ending stream of jazz music, The Big Easy is sure to tickle your fancy.
A major US port and the largest city in the state of Louisiana, New Orleans makes up the heart of the South with its southern charm and seafood delicacies.
Enjoy the best things to do in New Orleans on your America holiday.
New Orleans is possibly the most unique city in America due to its world-renowned French Quarter. Known for its high energy, rich history, and matchless architecture, this should be at the top of your list once you step foot in Louisiana.
In the French Quarter, you will find that you are at the heart of Jackson Square, a charmingly landscaped park that is made up of shops, museums, the St. Louis Cathedral, and with a look over your shoulder – the best view of the Mississippi River.
Open seven days a week, Jackson Square has an open-air artist gathering where local artists paint, draw and display their best work for locals and visitors to enjoy.
Another famous attraction of New Orleans is the celebrated Bourbon Street. On this notorious road in the French Quarter, visitors can find jazz clubs, a bar for every occasion and souvenir shops.
In order to really take in the Louisiana culture, be sure to pay this road a visit after the sun sets. At twilight, Bourbon Street will come alive with spirited individuals and music emanating from every corner.
Drifting back to the early days of Louisiana’s Bayou exploration, the swamp waterways that make up New Orleans wetlands are a must-see experience that hold a special place in Louisiana culture.
Escape the city for a couple of hours and enjoy the Swamp Excursion. The historical Manchac Swamp is teeming with animal life including snapping turtles and the American alligator. If you’re lucky, they might come and say hello during a boat trip.
USA holidays by Freedom Destinations
Nashville | Memphis | Greenwood | Natchez | New Orleans | Montgomery | Atlanta | Great Smoky Mountains | Nashville
New Orleans | Vicksburg | Memphis | Nashville | Birmingham | Mobile
New Orleans | Oak Alley Plantation | Baton Rouge | Houmas House | New Orleans
Nashville | Memphis | Greenwood | Natchez | New Orleans | Montgomery | Atlanta | Great Smoky Mountains | Nashville
New Orleans | Vicksburg | Memphis | Nashville | Birmingham | Mobile
New Orleans | Oak Alley Plantation | Baton Rouge | Houmas House | New Orleans
Perhaps the most distinctive and well-recognised cuisine in the United States, New Orleans’ soul food is something that every traveller should sample. Heavily influenced by Creole and Cajun backgrounds, many of the local recipes have been around for a hundred years or more.
A New Orleans’ favourite is alligator, probably because the swamps of New Orleans are filled to the brim with them and by extension, so are the restaurants. An authentic option is alligator bisque seasoned with sherry, found in both casual and fine dining settings. This mouth-watering dish is a rich stew with small chunks of alligator.
Perhaps the most famous of the foods that New Orleans has to offer is its ‘beignets’ – a kind of doughnut rolled in confectioners sugar. For travellers with a sweet tooth, the best place to head for a beignet is Café Du Monde, which has been serving up this delicacy since 1862.
Open seven days a week, 24 hours a day, this restaurant is known for its long queues that extend around the corner. In order to avoid this, visit Café Du Monde at night when visitors are guaranteed to be able to grab a seat.
If you are looking for the perfect soul food, look no further than Louisiana’s traditional gumbo dish. A must-have while in the South, gumbo consists of a thick stew, typically with meat or seafood, served over rice.
The best type of gumbo can be found at the Gumbo Shop where locals and tourists break bread together. The locals’ favourite is the Chicken Andouille Gumbo which is made with boneless chicken, Andouille (cajun sausage) and okra, then smouldered in chicken stock and famous seasonings.
If your mouth isn’t watering yet, look no further than the famous jambalaya of New Orleans. Jambalaya is a rice dish that includes just about every type of food you can imagine; seafood, chicken, sausage, onions, tomatoes, and peppers, with just the right amount of spice.
Named after the 1929 streetcar conductor strike where the Martin brothers served their colleague’s free sandwiches, the Po’boy is not only full of savoury meat but also full of New Orleans history.
The fluffiest Po’boy can be found right in your backyard at Parkway Bakery & Tavern. A quality Po’boy consists of fluffy French bread bursting with fried seafood or meat, and dressed in lettuce, tomato and mayo.
Credited as the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans is known for this distinctive music that can be heard in any direction you walk. Highly regarded as the backbone of New Orleans’ music history, this swinging and stomping beat gets people on their feet and is something every visitor needs to experience.
Every night of the week, the Big Easy comes alive with vibrant music for the young and old, especially during Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest. If you’re looking for the perfect jazz club, consider the Preservation Hall which favours an intimate setting.
There’s no need to worry about not being able to hear the heart of the music because the house band plays three feet away from where visitors are sitting! It’s all part of the magic that encapsulates New Orleans.
The Garden District, home to the plantation once owned by Bienville, the founder of New Orleans, is lined with towering Victorian inspired homes and collapsing willows. For visitors who are keen to learn more about the picture-perfect setting, why not hop on the Garden District Home Tour where you will learn about the story of the “American” section of town that makes the district famous.
The homes of former Kings and Queens of Mardi Gras can be found here, as well as the home of the family of American football – the Mannings – where Peyton and Eli grew up. Also featured in the Garden District is Magazine Street, a major hotspot for tourists.
A six-mile-long shopper’s nirvana, the street is lined with boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Topped with New Orleans charm, all the owners are known to be friendly and willing to negotiate on their prized possessions. From housewares to jewellery, Magazine Street caters to every shopper looking to take home some Louisiana pride.
Visitors can experience the bright lights of New Orleans at night with a 360-degree view of the city onboard the Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise. This excursion embodies everything Louisiana culture has to offer. From live jazz by ‘Dukes of Dixieland’ to fried catfish, this cruise takes visitors back in time when life was as slow and graceful as the current on the Mississippi.
New Orleans is an energetic, melting pot of a city that thrives on celebration. This picturesque town has something for everyone who steps foot on its historic boulevards.
Unquestionably one of the most incomparable cities in the world, New Orleans is the place to eat, drink, dance and immerse yourself in an environment unlike any place in the South. New Orleans, NOLA, The Big Easy, whatever one wants to call it – this special place full of jazz-fuelled nights and steaming bowls of gumbo, will be a trip that you will talk about for years to come.
Enjoy these top things to do in New Orleans on your Southern USA holiday.
