Guess its best suited for IMHO instead of GQ. I’m going there with the wife and kid. We’ll be staying just off the French Quarter on Gravier. I’m open for ideas on what to do for the week.
I’ve read some literature, cruised the internet and have gotten some ideas. Anything anyone want to suggest that I might consider? We’ll spend most of the time in the French Quarter, but will probably go to the zoo, take the ferry to Algiers; cable car rides, maybe a cemetary tour. I think we’ll be there for “super Sunday” (with the Indians??) but I don’t know where to go for that or if we should. Any help there would be appreciated
I’m concerned about personal safety; so I need to impress, but not terrify, the family about being safe.
I also plan on heading to the coast and outlying areas (swamp tours, Avery Island), but don’t know details on that yet. Any nice little out of the way places for day trips from New Orleans would be a help.
Are you looking advice on specific places to eat? I can certainly help with that…
As far as stuff for the whole family to do----How old is your kid?
Saftey issues----Like anywhere else, common sense is crucial. The Quarter is typically safe, especially in a group. There are some questionable areas, to be sure, but those are generally not on the beaten path.
New Orleans is one of America’s most amazing cities, and there are many aspects of the very best (and worst) that our country has to offer. Between the history of the city, the amazing food, and the musicial heritage, you should have a wealth of options to explore and enjoy!!!
Yeah walking around the quarter is great. Get brunch at ‘The Court of the Two Sisters’, and sit in the very courtyard where Jean Lafitte killed three men in three duels in the same night. You might need a reservation. We had one and turned out to be one of like a dozen tables filled in the huge restaurant. We were right next to the Jazz ensemble which was fabulous. I hear their eggs benedict are great. They have a couple things you can order from the kitchen otherwise it’s a buffet. The Mimosa’s are fresh squeezed so definitely try one.
If you are out at night without the kids at all, try the carousel bar at the Montelione for a single drink. It’s a bit of a gimmick but a pretty fun one. We had exactly one drink in one revolution and got off right where we got on.
Cafe du Monde for Begenet’s (sp?) and a Latte, right next to the river, great for the evening when it’s nice and cool.
Get your Tarot read (whether you believe in it or not) next to the guy who plays any pop song you can think of on his crystal glasses.
Even the Monday Night Cover bands on Bourbon street are more talented than the average band I hear in NYC. Get yourself some gigantic Daquiri and wander around with it just because you can.
And if you find yourself on Pirate Alley at the Olde Absinthe House, stay away from the Lucid Absinthe it’s disgusting and left my wife and I hungover for two days.
If you like tours with a little kick - I really enjoyed the http://www.hauntedhistorytours.com/. I went on the Garden District tour in the afternoon and then at night we went on the French Quarter. When I go back I will definately go on the Cemetary tour and Vampire tours and maybe the Vodoo one. There’s also a little tour when you take a carriage ride in the French Quarter. And if you are in to the novelty, stop by the Bottom of the Tea Cup.
If you like Mexican/Cuban food, try the Country Flame at 620 Iberville St. on the corner of Iberville and Exchange Place which is more of a pedestrian walkway than a proper street. It’s a hole in the wall place between Royal and Chartres, one block off of Canal St. Good food for an inexpensive price.
Took my kids there a few times. One thing to remember is that any place with video poker is 21 and up. Most of the smaller places have them, but you should be okay at the restaurants. New Orleans has many good places to eat, so don’t just fall for the tourist trap places. A fun trip is to take the street car uptown to a place called Jacque-Imos. Good food, fun atmosphere.
She’ll probably enjoy the shopping. Lots of small places, plus you can hit the French Market and the Riverwalk.
Remember that you can drink on the streets, so you can grab a beer while walking around. If your daughter is sheltered like you say, keep in mind that Bourbon Street has a few strip clubs and adult shops. Past St Ann there are a few gay bars, so a walk down there might un-naive her a little.
The ferry to Algiers gives you a real nice view of the city and skyline. It’s free and takes about 1/2 hour round trip (walk down where cars are for the best ride).
Be safe. If you’re on Gravier, consider taking cabs after dark (the bars and restaurants will call them for you). Know where you’re heading, and don’t cross Rampart. I’ve been visiting the city for decades (and will be there this week!) and have never had an issue, but you do need to use your street-sense.
My kids found the city fascinating, so I doubt she’ll get bored. They made a list of everything New Orleans/Louisiana they could think of (muffalettas, po-boys, crawfish, biegnets, jambalaya, gumbo, etc) and made a point of trying to sample each one.
Hope its not too late to post in this thread. I’m also planning a trip to New Orleans with my girlfriend for the mid April time frame and am looking for hotel recommendations.
Context:
We’re both in our mid thirties.
Plan on staying about 4-5 nights.
We both love to eat (and drink!) so something within walking distance to great restaurants would be awesome.
My girlfriend is kind of a neat freak. She would prefer modern hotels but would do an ‘historic’ one if it we’re really kept up well and had modern amenities.
I would prefer stumbling distance from the French Quarter :D. She seems to think that its too dangerous.
Any ideas?
I would have started my own thread but thought it was just too similar to this one.
ETA: typos
I’ve gotten some smokin deals from Hotwire, especially if there’s no major event going on. We’ve gotten 4* hotels in the $60-$80 range. They’re usually the major hotels on Canal (Mariott, Astor, etc) right on the edge of the Quarter. You can use a site called Betterbidding to see what hotels other people are getting at what price on Hotwire (Hotwire gives a price, but the not hotel name). If you see some deals in the CBD (Central Business District), that’s only like 2 blocks across Canal from the Quarter.
If you’re not concerned with price so much, look into the Monteleone. Nice popular place in the Quarter.
Right near Jackson Square is a decent one called Place d’ Armes. Nice location, nice courtyard.
New Orleans has a ton of hotels, so do a little research on places like Tripadvisor or VirtualTourist.
