I was hoping that I’d be able to afford a cruise to Alaska this year, but I’m facing the cold, hard reality that I just can’t do it without sinking too far into debt in spite of the tax refund and bonus I’m expecting.
As an alternative, I’m considering a contingency plan of taking a long weekend and going to New Orleans. Keeping in mind that I’d be going alone, what sort of fun things could I do there? Does anyone have any reasonably priced hotel recommendations? I don’t want to go during Mardi Gras, because I’m sure it would be outrageously expensive to go during that time, and I’m not sure how much fun that would be alone.
So, has anyone vacationed there before? Any New Orleans residents around? I’m open to suggestions.
Well, the French Quarter is probably more enjoyable when there’s not something like Mardi Gras going on. For evening entertainment, just wander around Bourbon Street and you’ll find a lot of places to listen to live music. For daytime stuff, you can take a riverboat cruise, look at cool old buildings and houses and visit the National D-Day Museum.
I’ve never been, but plan to go some day. I’d really like to see some of the plantations and go on a swamp tour. I hope you report back about your trip when you get home
I second Ringo’s suggestion that you go visit the National D-Day Museum if you are the least bit interested in World War II or military history in general. Give yourself plenty of time though. They recommend at least three hours but I spent almost four and could have stayed another couple of hours.
Bourbon Street at night (especially Saturday night) is something that should not be missed. It’s also fun to stroll around St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square and watch the street artists and entertainers.
Speaking as a * hiccup, native New Orleanian,< flutters lashes> well y’all , Mardi Gras is not for the weak at heart, elderly or infirmed. Hotel room must be booked a year in advance. New Orleans is filled with history, beauty, family fun and for you party animals, every weekend in the French Quarter is Mardi Gras. Hotel rooms vary. It depends on if you want to be in the city itself or in the burbs. Most hotels in the burbs have courtsey vans. Plan on gaining 10 pound in a week. The food is awesome everywhere. You need not go to Emirils for great cuisine, nearly every little restaurant is excellent. We have a world class zoo, cruises on a paddle wheeler, casinos, an aquaruim and stunning oak trees that make you go ahhhhhhhhhh. The nightlife never closes ! Les et Bon Temps Roulle ( let the good times roll )
Jackson Square , especially St. Louis Cathedral, is not to be missed!
I’m sure you’ll find your way to Bourbon Street - watch your wallet and if you rent a car, try to park it in an official parking lot - family members have lost several sets of fancy hub caps parking on the street.
Thanks for the info so far, everyone. Paddle wheel cruises and plantation tours sound very cool. I’m not sure about the D-Day museum…I’m not much for military history, although I did very much enjoy (if you can call it that, since it was more riveting in a horrifying way than “enjoyable” so to speak) the Holocaust exhibit at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in NYC.
I’m all about the food, too. I love indulging in local cuisine when I get the opportunity to travel…I can’t stand when people I’m with are like “Hey, great! A TGIFriday’s!” Bleah. Oddly enough, I’d forgotten about Emeril’s restaurant…it’s probably near impossible to get reservations there anyway.
The more I think about it, the more likely it seems that I’ll make this happen. I’m excited now.
I forgot to ask, but maybe Mia Sweetie can answer this for me. I know it’s the South and all, but what’s the weather like there now? I’m thinking I might try to plan my trip in mid-February or mid-March. Considering that it’s been in the single digits for the past few weeks in northeastern PA, I’m sure that whatever the weather, it’ll be an improvement!
The SO and I stayed at the Dauphine Orleans in the French Quarter when we were there - prices are pretty reasonable and the hotel is very nice. The Pharmacy Museum on Royal Street is a rather bizarre place to visit - well worth it IMO. I’ll second a visit to the aquarium, too - it’s very cool.
BRRRRRRRRRRRR it’s been cold. teens in the last couple mornings, but warming up to 40’s. February and March are usually Mardi Gras times. This year it’s March 4th. Then again since you are in Pa. you are used to cold.* giggles Cats Meow on Bourbon Street is a must and Razoos ( if you are a party animal) if not, ummmm well, try Pat O’Briens (Pat’O’s) Dont forget to get Beignets at the Morning call…
You native New Orleans people don’t know from cold. I just moved here from GEORGIA and there wasn’t such a fuss when it got cold, or coldish, up there. The last couple of days have, IMHO, been beautiful.
I would strongly advise against Mardi Gras on financial grounds alone, besides the fact that it’s impossible to get a room now. The best thing to do for that is to have friends here to stay with, which is what three friends of my mom are going to be doing. And I am most certainly not offering you my mother’s sofa!
I don’t know too much about stuff to do, but if you’re into zoos, the zoo here is really nice. And I hear the aquarium is good, though I haven’t been there yet. I haven’t been in the French Quarter much but I hear it’s well worth exploring.
You can always blow money at a casino, but that’s not much of a novelty these days.
Well, I’m not a native, but I generally spend a good part of my year down there. (I55 has seen a lot of my time). I can definitely recommend the aquarium and zoo. I also have a soft spot for the art museum because my sister and several friends used to work there. It’s also in the middle of city park, a pretty nice area. I don’t know too much about hotel rooms because I’ve always bunked with friends or in the family compound :), but I know that the parades this year will start picking up around the middle of February. It seems to me hotel rooms will be at a premium then. As for other favorite attractions, I really like the voodoo museum on Dumaine and the pharmacy museum on Chartres http://www.pharmacymuseum.org , but that may be my odd sense of what’s amusing.
-Lil
Oh, umm, yeah, gotta agree with whiterabbit, the quarter is expensive, touristy, and smelly. I’m not sure I can say what it smells of in this forum. But, if it’s your first time visiting, Bourbon street can be fun. I also suppose I should mention the Hermann-Grima and Gallier houses since they funded me through two summers. They’re both lovely old houses in the quarter so no long drives as in the plantation houses. Here’s their website with hours and such. http://www.gnofn.org/~hggh/ The Gallier house was built by James Gallier, a famous architect for his family. They also do cooking demonstrations at that one. It’s at the 1100 block of Royal. The Hermann-Grima is an antebellum mansion owned by the Hermanns and the Grimas (whoo, imagine that!) The main thing I remember about it is that the movie Double Jeopardy with Ashley Judd and Tommy Lee Jones was filmed in it (mainly the courtyard) while I was working there. Anyway, the tours are both very good at those houses. Hermann-Grima house is on St. Louis at Bourbon. Just turn left if you’re walking from Canal and you’ll see it on the left.
Jadis, I forgot to mention that the cemetary tour we took was a lot of fun - very silly and touristy, but still fun.
Also, we had dinner and drinks with some local (and not so local) dopers there, so you might want to start a mini fest thread once you’ve decided when you’re going. I think Jazz fest is in April, so the hotel prices go up again then, so you might want to go between Mardi Gras and Jazz fest.
CrazyCatLady and I got married in NO about three weeks ago, in the park at Jackson Square.
She would definitely recommend the aquarium. I would suggest hitting the jazz clubs–my favorites are Snug Harbor (on Frenchman St., just outside the Quarter) and the Funky Butt (on Rampart, on the north edge of the Quarter–be careful).
There’s a really good ghost tour (as opposed to the cheesy ones–this one was given by a history professor when I took it) that leaves from Laffite’s Blacksmith Shop on Bourbon St. You should be able to find brochures for it there. It’s the one that has the cover charge at the Funky Butt included in the price.
Too many good restaurants to mention. Our reception was at the Acme Oyster House, and it was fantastic.
You’re right about the reservations at Emeril’s, but may I suggest Christian’s It is fantastic, and just a short bus ride from the French Quarters. If you can swing it make the early bird prix fix(?) dinner, I think it runs from 4-6. If you’re in east coast time it works out pretty well.
By the way, bring good walking shoes, the city is made for walking.
Here are some random thoughts about NO - I stayed at the Ponchatrain Hotel on St. James Ave - very nice and quiet, out in the Garden District. The streetcar stops in front of the hotel - we didn’t need a car at all…
The FUnky Pirate bar on Bourbon has great blues…
The nightime vampire/haunted tours are touristy but fun…
Take the Save Our Cemetery tour of Lafayette and St. Louis #1 - non-profit entity that restores the tombs, guides are volunteers and knowledgeable…
Take a walking tour of the Garden District if you are into architecture or like seeing homes of the rich and/or famous…
Maison Rue (I think is the name) on Bourbon street has great jazz and swing music. If you want to wait in line, Preservation Hall is worth it…
Have lunch at the Court of the Two Sisters…
Get a daiquiri to go and head out to the river and chill…
Don’t go north of bourbon st at night if you value your life or possesions…
Go to Cafe Du Monde at 1am and laugh at the Lestat freaks…
Jadis -New Orleans is definately a great place to go! I went there recently, and asked the same question you did. I have to say that Cafe’ DuMonde was spectacular. The coffee and the pastery…mmmm…
Here’s my original thread in case you wanted some more ideas.
