New Orleans
Jazz, jambalaya, and joie de vivre in America's party
Look, New Orleans doesn't play by anyone else's rules. This is a city where jazz spills from doorways at 2 PM on a Tuesday, where strangers become family over a shared plate of crawfish, and where the dead get above-ground tombs because the living know how to party below sea level.
The French Quarter pulses with 300-year-old stories. Bourbon Street gets the headlines, but Royal Street holds the real magic—antique shops, street musicians, and galleries tucked between Creole cottages. But here's what the guidebooks won't tell you: the best New Orleans happens in neighborhoods like Bywater and Marigny, where locals still outnumber tourists and the music feels more honest.
Yes, it's hot. Yes, it floods. And yes, you'll probably eat your weight in beignets at Café du Monde. But New Orleans rewards the curious with late-night jazz at Preservation Hall, second-line parades that materialize from nowhere, and conversations with bartenders who've been perfecting Sazerac cocktails since before you were born.
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New Orleans Itineraries
Money-Saving Tips
- 1.Happy hour runs 3-6 PM at most bars—half-price drinks and discounted appetizers help stretch your budget
- 2.Many museums offer free admission on certain days; the Ogden Museum is free for Louisiana residents on Thursdays
- 3.Street parking meters stop charging after 8 PM and on Sundays—save $20-40 on nightlife parking
- 4.Po-boys cost $8-12 at neighborhood joints versus $18-25 in the French Quarter for the same sandwich
- 5.Second-line parades are free entertainment—follow the brass bands through the neighborhoods
- 6.Streetcar day passes cost $3 versus $1.25 per ride—break even after 3 trips
- 7.BYOB restaurants like Clancy's let you skip inflated wine markups while enjoying top-tier food
- 8.Festival grounds often allow you to bring sealed water bottles—stay hydrated without $5 venue pricing
Travel Tips
- •Download the RTA GoMobile app for real-time streetcar tracking—schedules are more like suggestions
- •Carry cash—many local spots don't take cards, and ATM fees add up quickly
- •Pack comfortable walking shoes with good grip; those cobblestones get slippery when wet
- •Learn basic second-line etiquette: follow behind the brass band, don't walk through the musicians
- •Restaurant reservations book fast during festival seasons—call ahead even for lunch
- •Keep your phone charged for rideshares—cell service can be spotty in older buildings
- •Tipping culture runs strong here; 20% minimum for good service, especially at bars
- •Weather changes fast—carry a light rain jacket even on sunny days
- •Mardi Gras throws are free, but catching them requires strategy and quick reflexes
- •Local pronunciation guide: New OR-lins (not New Or-LEANS), and it's the Quarter, not French Quarter
Frequently Asked Questions
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