Things To Experience On A New Orleans Vacation

French Quarter Walking Tour

French Quarter Fountain

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

Whenever you put together a list of things to do on vacation, you should start off with those things that you can't do anywhere else. There are couple of things in New Orleans that should definitely make your short list.

New Orleans Jazz

First, experience the music the city is famous for, and New Orleans is the Birthplace of Jazz. The New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park is located in the French Quarter. It houses a museum that commemorates the history of Jazz and the park itself is a hotbed of Jazz performances. Take an Off the Beaten Path Tour and see the neighborhood that legend Louis Armstrong grew up in.

Don't stop there. Be sure to spend some nights cruising through the French Quarter, tooling along the crescent that is the shoreline of the city overlooking the Mississippi. Stop in the piano bars and the clubs where the local Jazz favorites are playing. Find out where the future of Jazz might be. Be a part of it. Soak it in.

New Orleans Cuisine

The second thing on your short list should be Food -- authentic Cajun food, Creole dishes, local beverages that they don't sell anywhere else, French pastries that don't skimp on the calories at the expense of taste. Hey, you're on vacation! You don't have to dine in a fancy restaurant to find authentic dishes either. This is what people here normally eat. Eat like a native...like a Creole.

• Dinner/Jazz Cruise and Super City Tour - the Super City motorcoach tour takes you into the heart of the French Quarter to soak up the ambience of the artists, shops and restaurants. The Steamboat Natchez takes you on a leisurely cruise down the Mississippi while you sample an array of traditional New Orleans dishes, served buffet-style, and listen to the jazz musings of the Dukes of Dixieland..
  
• Crescent City Nights Walking Tour - Start with a 3-course meal at Tujague's Restaurant, followed by some cool jazz at a nearby club. Then head on over to Bourbon Street and to Cafe du Monde for a cafe au lait and beignets.
  
• Praline Connection Sunday Gospel Brunch -- Take a respite from all that jazz and immerse yourself in the soulful sound of southern Gospel. Enjoy the buffet at the Gospel and Blues Hall while being entertained by a full gospel choir.
  
• New Orleans School of Cooking - Take a little bit of authentic New Orleans cooking home with you by learning how to prepare classics like gumbo, jambalaya, bread pudding and pralines. And the best part of this half-day experience? You get to eat the results of your lesson!
  

For the long list, you can experience the Audubon Zoo, the Aquarium of the Americas, or a combination of Audubon Adventures. You may want to discover the Swamps and Bayous of Louisiana, or one of the many historic homes and plantations. Regardless of your preferences, the one thing you'll find in New Orleans is the never-ending list of things to do!