My best friend is the spontaneous type and booked two tickets to New Orleans arriving in the morning of Fat Tuesday and leaving on Friday.
We’re staying at Wyndham Garden Baronne Plaza.
I’ve never been except for some college road trips that I remember nothing about.
I assume we will do the Fat Tuesday stuff, but not sure what else to do the rest of the time? I’m coming from Chicago so the weather will be milder although I know it’s not t shirts and shorts, I went to college in Tallahassee so similar latitude.
Art museums? Interesting neighborhoods to explore? Historical sights. Definitely won’t have a car.
My friend is a sous chef so I assume he’s making lists and talking with his contacts about restaurants, I know New Orleans is known for its food scene.
I see there‘s a casino nearby, that might be an option. I like video poker, blackjack and craps.
Historic cemetery tours. Garden District to check out old Southern homes. The streetcar lines to the end of each (one takes you thru the aforementioned Garden District, another up to the Art Museum which I liked and has a fine sculpture garden). The National WW2 Museum is huge with a lot of content and participation activity. The Cabildo (Old town hall) and Cathedral are interesting visits as is the old Mint. Royale street has a bunch of interesting galleries to it. Frenchman street for a more sensible-adult music and club scene in evenings than Bourbon’s.
The casino is smack dab in between downtown business district, convention center, and the Quarter, so convenient.
And yes, you will incur some *serious *caloric intake. Goes with the territory.
While you’re around Harrahs, stop by the Riverwalk shops. That area was the site of the 1984 World’s Fair.
About a mile north on the riverfront is another mall, this one had been a brewery in the 19th Century and has been the home of the city’s New Year’s celebrations.
Be aware that Fat Tuesday is the culmination of Mardi Gras. So the downtown will be packed that day.
Rex rolls starting at 10:00AM. There will be a couple of formal and more informal parades following. Zulu rolls at 8:00AM. I assume you will be too late for that. And if you miss all the parades the party in the Quarter will last right up till midnight. Then the bell tolls and the police clear the streets. Oh, it won’t matter to almost anyone, but no fire trucks this year. The traditional symbol of the end of a parade is a fire truck. The department is having trouble with finding enough fire fighters to man the stations and the chief canceled the parade trucks. Though for Rex he might make an exception. There are lots of exceptions made for Rex.
When you arrive at the airport, take a cab into the city and check in advance that the driver believes he can get you to where you are going. Taking an Uber is taking a bigger chance. Might pay off might not. You will need an experienced driver to get you to your hotel. Many of the major roads near the hotel will be blocked-especially with the Hard Rock collapse right in the middle of it all.
Once safely in your hotel plan on taking the street car uptown to the restaurants. I like them better than the Quarter ones if only because the restaurants in the Quarter are even more expensive that those uptown. That said, I like to recommend Broussards. It is an old-line restaurant that went through some hard times several years ago and new management brought it back. But it isn’t (last time I was there) quite as popular as the other big names. Your friend will know more but that is one idea.
You might be interested in the Pythian Market. It is a collection of small food stalls that primarily serves the football fans headed to the Dome and the office workers during the day. But it is only a block or so from your hotel. It might be worth a try. https://pythianmarket.com/gc/pm.nsf/pages/home
As for things outside the Quarter, try Longue Vue house and Gardens.
You will need a ride there, the street car doesn’t go that far. But it is a nice piece of old city.
The Aquarium is near Harrahs down by the river. Somewhat expensive but a I like to visit when I am in that part of town.
The hotel will be able to arrange tours of Audubon and Uptown if you want to see the grand old homes. I wouldn’t try wandering on your own even Uptown since the streets quickly turn twisted and run down as you get away from St Charles. Some are nice and safe-some are not.
When I was there a couple of years ago we took a riverboat ride down to Chalmette battlefield. It was a fun ride and the battlefield was pretty interesting.
We took an Uber down into the bayou for a swamp tour. It’s about a 30 minute drive. They shuttle you around the bayou in a fanboat and try to find alligators. They always succeed; those things are everywhere out there.
I suppose a stop at Cafe du Monde is obligatory, but be aware, it’s kind of gross. I mean, the beignets and café au lait are good, but the whole place is literally crawling with people 24/7 and it is entirely covered in powdered sugar. You don’t need to be there long and you really don’t want to. Don’t be intimidated by the long line, it’s always that long and it moves incredibly fast.
Oh my, this should be interesting. The hotel does have mixed reviews on trip adviser, but I assume they’re mainly from those who thought it was a full service Wyndham rather than their next step down Wyndham Garden brand.