Travel with Duck

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New Orleans is magical; the energy and excitement is intoxicating. I have visited there a few times, and each time, I find something new to fall more and more in love with this city. Here are my favorite places to see and visit and some tips to make your trip memorable.

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street, the nightlife that is there is unlike anywhere else. There is live music in each bar; if you are looking for country, jazz, rock, rap, pop, or dancing, there is a bar there for you; you have to walk around to find it. Enjoy it all because it is busy, and there is a lot to take in. Grab a drink and walk around. Some of my tips for navigating Bourbon Street: try to watch where you are walking; wet ground could be anything, and trash is all over the place the later at night it gets. Watch for pickpockets and scams; they will try to give you beads or some trinket “welcoming you to the Quarter,” and if you take it, they want you to pay them; if someone says, “I bet I can guess where your shoes are from,” just keep walking they are trying to get you near them so they can pickpocket you. Keep your valuables near you, and just be aware of your surroundings. I warn you of these things so you are aware, not to deter you from going.

Hotel St. Marie

Hotel St. Marie, in the heart of the French Quarter, is my all-time favorite hotel in New Orleans, which sits almost a block off Bourbon Street, 827 Toulouse Street. The charm of this hotel, as well as the location, makes it the hotel I will always stay at when I visit New Orleans. Having a street balcony is hands down the way to go when you stay here; enjoy your coffee or cocktail while listening to music and people-watching. From our balcony, we saw multiple second lines; more on those later. There is a little coffee shop downstairs, which is expensive and could be better; I recommend going out for coffee. There is also a fantastic bar downstairs, and they have some small plates, which are also very good. If you drive in, there is onsite valet-only parking. If you want to go somewhere outside the Quarter, you don’t have to wait long for your car. The location of this hotel is perfect. You are in the heart of the Quarter, so you can walk everywhere and be a part of the nightlife but step away when you need a break. Being close to Bourbon, you have some noise of people walking past, but it didn’t interfere with our sleep. The staff is welcoming and helpful if you have a problem and gives incredible suggestions for restaurants and things to do. (https://hotelstmarie.com)

The National WWII Museum

The National WWII Museum is a must-see; the abundance of artifacts and information here is unbelievable. We only had one day to visit, but I wish we had two because you need two days to take the time to see, read, and fully take it all in. I recommend spending extra money on the Beyond All Boundaries 4D movie, my favorite thing of the day. You get a digital dog tag of someone who served in the war and can follow that person throughout the museum, which was a nice addition. Six buildings are full of artifacts, stories, and videos organized by different parts of the war. I will repeat it if you can get the two-day pass. Take your time, as there is much to see and do here. (https://www.nationalww2museum.org)

Jackson Square

Jackson Square, musicians and artists gather with the beautiful backdrop of the Cathedral- Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France. Artists sell their work around the outer edge of Jackson Square. If you are looking for unique art to take home from your trip, you will likely find it there. While visiting Jackson Square, go inside the Cathedral. As long as it is not mass or a private event, you are welcome to enter, but remember this is an active church and to be respectful of those not touring. As the sign says when you walk in, “Please maintain an atmosphere of reverence.” At night, the back of the Cathedral has a shadow; you can see it from Bourbon Street. (https://www.stlouiscathedral.org)

Cafe du Monde

Cafe du Monde, yes, it’s worth the hype. Multiple locations exist, but the one right across from Jackson Square, 800 Decatur St., is my favorite. The beignets and Cafe Au Lait are amazing. Visiting here must be done at least once on each trip to New Orleans. They have a seating area outside under cover, which sometimes is a self-seat, and by that, I mean if you see someone get up from the table, go sit down. Other times, they have someone seating people. There is also a takeout window if you want to enjoy your beignets on the balcony of your room. Stay away between 11 am and 3 pm to avoid a large crowd. Also, learn from our mistakes and don’t wear dark colors when visiting because you will be covered in powdered sugar. Trust me, you want to eat here. Make sure you bring cash.

City Bus Tour

City-Sightseeing Bus is a hop-on hop-off tour with 19 stops all over the city, and they also offer two walking tours, one in the French Quarter and one in the Garden District. I highly recommend riding the bus one full loop before getting off to get all the information and see the sights of the city. If you are in town for multiple days, splurge and get the multiple-day pass; it’s worth it. We used it on our second day to get to and from the National WWII Museum. We bought our ticket right from the first stop at 700 Decatur Street. That’s how we discovered the multiple-day tickets and walking tours, which I did not see on their websites. (https://city-sightseeing.com/en/33/new-orleans)

Second Line

Second Line is a popular tradition among New Orleans weddings and funerals. In the evening in the French Quarter, you typically see second lines for weddings. It signifies the beginning of a new life together. Typically, the second line brings the wedding guests and bridal party from the ceremony to the reception. The newlyweds lead the procession, custom umbrellas in hand, while the wedding party and guests follow the band, cheering with handkerchiefs. If you are around Bourbon Street at night, there is a high possibility you will witness one of these celebrations, and you can join in at the back and cheer for the bride and groom as they make their way to their destination. The second line is one of my favorite things; the energy and magic you experience when witnessing these are amazing. If you hear loud jazz music and see a police car coming, get ready to see one.

Food is My Love Language

Coop’s Place, 1109 Decatur Street, is a 21+ bar and restaurant I recommend for dinner. We waited around 30 minutes to get a table, but it was worth it. The food was excellent. Specifically, the jambalaya and the service was even better. 

French Toast, 1035 Decatur Street, breakfast spot. We went early and only had to wait around 2 minutes for a clean table. We ordered omelets and french toast for the table. We had to try it; after all, it is the name of the place. The omelet was delicious, and the french toast is a must-have. They have a king cake french toast that looks amazing if you are feeling adventurous. 

Ruby Slipper Cafe, 2802 Magazine Street, brunch spot. There are multiple locations for this restaurant. If you are willing to wait over an hour, go to the ones closer to the French Quarter. However, we went to this location because it is a bit outside the French Quarter, and we didn’t wait. The ‘Sweet Heat Chicken and French Toast Bites’ are the way to go if you like heat. The service was terrific, and I would eat here again. 

Joey K’s, 3001 Magazine Street, is a restaurant for lunch, dinner, or drinks after shopping. The chicken parmesan, trout Tchoupitoulas, and cheeseburger were all amazing. It was the perfect place to stop after walking around and shopping all afternoon. 

Cornet, 700 Bourbon Street, I recommend coming here for lunch or dinner. The burgers are fantastic, and the bread pudding is even better, but the best is their spicy Bloody Mary (also available in nonspicy). Its location on Bourbon Street allows you to listen to live music and people watch from the upstairs balcony.

Hansen’s Sno-Bliz,  4801 Tchoupitoulas Street, is the best sno-cones you will ever have. Before you visit, check their hours. Typically, they are 1 pm-7 pm, but when I was there last time, it said 12 pm – 6 pm; also, know they are not open year-round, so if you are there in winter months, you probably will miss this stop. We stopped here multiple times on our trips, and trust me, it is worth the trip over. 

What I wish I knew

French Market (Shops of the Colonnade), 1008 N Peters Street. This open market on the edge of the French Quarter is worth the trip. Multiple vendors and artists are selling their work. We found an older gentleman selling stained glass that he had hand-made, and it was stunning. He definitely went home with a piece or four. There are also a couple places to eat here; I haven’t been to all of them, but Loretta’s has a beignet filled with praline, and it is a nice change from the traditional beignets.

The Roosevelt New Orleans a Woldof Astoria Hotel, 130 Roosevelt Way. If you are in the city during Christmas, you must walk through the lobby; the decorations are breathtaking. We were told they change each year and get more impressive.

Public Transportation RTA, ride the bus, the green street cars, and the ferry with your Jazzy Pass. A 1-Day Jazzy Pass is $3.00. There are other passes available on their website (http://www.norta.com). You can use this to get around the city cost-efficiently while also seeing some of the city’s history on the green street cars.

Frenchmen Street is where jazz comes to life, but not until 11 pm. We didn’t know this until we were on Frenchmen Street, walking around at 9 pm and struggling to find the live music. Frenchmen Street is on the edge of the French Quarter, and if you want to feel like you stepped back in time, go around 12 pm to watch the Jazz come to life.

Cemetery– Most cemeteries in New Orleans are very old. Lafayette Cemetary No. 1 is shown in a couple of shows and movies, and you can typically walk through it alone; however, it is closed when they are doing repairs and maintenance. Just check before you go to see if you can walk through. St. Louis Cemetary No. 1 is by tour only; if you do the city sightseeing bus tour, they have a rate for this tour; this is the cemetery where VooDoo Queen Marie Laveau was laid to rest. If you are interested in seeing one of these fantastic cemeteries, get tickets for the tours or check that they are open before going.

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