New Orleans Vacation Guide

French Quarter Walking Tour

French Quarter Fountain

Discover the mystery and magic of the Creole people that made the French Quarter their own. 

When you think of New Orleans, it's not hard to instantly associate it with Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street. While Mardi Gras is a completely unique festival and Bourbon Street is one of the most famous nightlife destinations in the world, there is so much more to New Orleans, and plenty of reasons to make it your home.

New Orleans French Quarter

At the core of New Orleans is the French Quarter, which was established by the French Creoles in 1718. It was turned over to the U.S. as a possession in 1803. While the direct French influence lasted less than a 100 years, its impact remains and makes New Orleans a completely unique city with a distinctly European feel. You'll sense it as soon as you walk down the cobblestone streets of the French Quarter and hear the clip-clop of a horse drawn carriage go by.

New Orleans Architecture

You'll see it in the unique architecture all over the city, ranging from the grand mansions of the Garden District with stately Victorian, Italianate and Greek Revival homes; to the soaring St. Louis Cathedral to the intricate details of lacy iron fences. You can even claim a little Creole cottage for yourself in the colorful neighborhoods just outside the French quarter.

New Orleans Attractions

There are also some completely unique attractions, such as the city cemeteries and the Voodoo Museum. When you start going to the dozens of music festivals, museums, zoos and aquariums, you may start to wonder if you're spending enough time inside your new home!

New Orleans Food

The food of New Orleans is world renowned and a full-fledged passion for anyone who lives here. With more than 3,000 restaurants, you'll be able to sample Creole and Cajun cuisine as well as anything else that strikes your fancy. Imagine dinners of rich gumbo or spicy jambalaya or the uniquely New Orleans breakfast of caf' au lait with a sugary beignet.

New Orleans Gardens & Parks

Gardens and parks abound in the city, ranging from manicured parks and gardens like those at the Longue Vue House and Gardens to the Louisiana Nature and Science Center that features bottomland forest and wetlands. Not to be missed are the majestic live oaks laced with shawls of Spanish moss that grace the landscape of the urban Audubon Park and Zoological gardens.

Mississippi River Moon Walk

You'll really feel like a local when you go and sit on the Moon Walk, a wooden promenade on the Mississippi River. Listen to waves lapping at the shore and perhaps you'll hear some jazz playing off in the distance. Throw in a low cost of living, and you'll know why New Orleans is known for its excellent quality of life and as one of the best cities in America.