jseakoi

My wife and I are heading to New Orleans this month for a few days. We are from Texas and are driving in. It will be a short trip but will be our first time in the city.

We are staying in Elmwood at a friend's place. We are a couple in our 30's. We want to eat great food and do some fun partying but would also like to check out some cool spots unique to New Orleans.

I am wondering about the following:

1. What are the best things for a first timer to do in the French Quarter? Since its our first time we want to do some touristy things but also want to avoid anything that's excessively overrated and waste of time/money.

2. Any particular tours that are interesting or fun/different?

3. Must eat restaurant recs?

4. Any suggestions of things to do near where we will be staying (Elmwood).

Thanks in advance!

november_moon

1. It really depends on your interests, but generally - wander around the FQ and see what you can see, check out Jackson Square, go up on the levy and look at the river, take an historic house tour, do a walking tour/bike tour, culinary tour, eat, drink, listen to music, visit the Cabildo and Presbetyre, visit St Louis Cathedral, the cemetery...

2. We liked the bike tour we took with Confederacy of Cruisers a couple years ago - that was a lot of fun.

3. This list can be very looooooong How many days do you have? As a start - Muriels, brisket po boys in the bar at Tujaques, Gumbo Shop, Kingfisher, take out from Verdi Mart, muffaletas at Napoleon House, beignets at Cafe du Monde and Cafe Beignet.

4. I'm not familiar with the area where you are staying, so hopefully someone else will give you some info on that. Any reason why you aren't staying in the FQ itself? It's August, so rates should be cheap.

DebitNM

LOTS of threads on Fodors:

http://www.fodors.com/search/results...ml?search=Nola

Also read the info under DESTINATIONS.

RESTAURANTS -price ranges
TOURS - different? It's your 1st trip, why different?

diann24

I personally love history and find it very interesting. I loved taking the plantation tours. One was called Laura's plantation. It is very good. I cannot remember what the tour company was called but there are 2 plantations that were visited huge houses One serves a mint Julep upon leaving. There is such interesting history in New Orleans and I don't feel a trip there is complete without these tours.

Brian_in_Charlotte

1. Agree the best thing to do in the Quarter is just wander and come across what you may, just make sure to wander broadly and don't spend much time in the thick of Bourbon Street. Try to get lost - but use a map so you don't actually get lost and wander into not so safe areas.

See a cool little bar? Hop in. Strolling and bar hopping is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon in the Quarter.

And even if you're into or curious about such things, do not go to the strip clubs/sex shows on Bourbon or elsewhere. Total tourist ripoffs.

BigRuss

>

Not Laura's plantation, it's Laura Plantation. No possessive - Laura herself is deceased and it's not like she ran a diner there before.

The other plantation diann is on about is likely Oak Alley because it's thisclose to Laura.

To the OP: you do NOT have to take a tour from NOLA to the plantations. You can drive there yourself because you'll have a car. The plantation staffs run tours. Oak Alley is the paradigm plantation that people associate with Louisiana plantations - it's huge and at least 10 movies have filmed there, according to its website.

sf7307

NM, they're staying in Elmwood "at a friend's place".

Loved breakfasts at Camellia Grill (the original in the Garden District, haven't been to the newer one in the FQ) and Johnny's Po Boy (didn't like the much-touted Mother's at all). Muffaletta is also great at Cooter Brown's, a really good sports bar near-ish to Tulane (also Garden District?) if you happen to be in that area.

Heading back next spring - yea!

fmpden

If you have any interest in WWII or your parents participated in WWII, then the WWII museum is an absolute must. It is exceptional well done and could absorb a whole day. So pace yourself. There is also a student art glass gallery in the same area if into glass art.

fmpden

Slow on math, probably your grandparents would have participated in WWII.

Gekko

3. Patois http://www.patoisnola.com/

Cochon http://www.cochonrestaurant.com/

sf7307

Ditto the WWII museum. Fantastic museum.