Sheila

Just returned from a great week in New Orleans (second trip for us). We tried a few different things on this trip. We did the House of Blues Gospel Brunch (great music but food was just ok) - we still had lots of fun there. We also took a riverboat jazz cruise, went to Mulates (great fun and food) and bowling at Mid-City Rock & Bowl (the band was great and it was lots of fun).
I had white chocolate bread pudding at the Palace Cafe - yummy, shrimp poboy from Johnny's and gumbo from the Gumbo Shop (all very good). We also enjoyed a meal at Remoulade on Bourbon St. Our son wanted to go to Bubba Gumps and we also had a great steak at the Star Restaurant near Bubba's.
We took a carriage ride through the Garden District and visited the D-Day Museum (very interesting). We enjoyed good zydeco music at Patout's and Cajun Cabin (I even played the washboard and spoons with the band). We ate beignets at Cafe Dumonde and shopped in the french market. I also enjoyed the shops on Royal Street. It was a fun trip even though it was very hot. Can't wait to go back.

Cathi

Thanks for the trip report.
We went there last year and had a great time. I wish I had kept track of things as good as you. Hard to remember where we ate etc.
I LOVED the zydeco music. It was so much fun to listen to.
Where did you stay?
We stayed at a really small, old place on the corner of Chartres and something.
Chateau Hotel it was called. Free parking was nice.
Thanks again for taking the time to post your report. We would love to go back again and always nice to get recommendations on places to see and where to eat.
Wanted to do the Plantations but only had three days there.

J Correa

We went to New Orleans in May and I can't wait to go back again. The riverboat jazz cruise is definitely on our list, as is the carriage ride through the Garden District.

chris

Susan, thanks for the report. I will be going to NO for the first time in Oct and I can't wait. What part of town do you recommend I stay? Some have told me French Quarter and some say The Faubourg Marigny section. We're a group of fun-loving 30 year olds so we'll definately be enjoying the food, drink, and music. I've found a home to rent in the FM section for $375 a day for two bedrooms, sleeping 6. I think this is reasonable, what do you think?

J Correa

Chris - I would vote for staying in the French Quarter rather than Faubourg Marigny for a first trip to NO. The Faubourg Marigny neighborhood is next to the French Quarter, just down river, and is a nice area, but I think it's more fun to be right in the Quarter where all the action is. Staying in Faubourg Marigny you will probably have to take more cabs to get where you want to go. $375 a night for a 2 br house sounds like a good price for the area though. I think you could rent a decent couple B&B or hotel rooms for less, but with a house you have more room. It all depends on what you are looking for. We were in NOLA for a week and weren't in our rooms much at all beyond sleeping or coming back to change before dinner.

ezron

I agree with J.--------Stay in the Quarter.

Carla

At your age, the Faubourg Marigny may be preferable. Kerlerec Street is near Frenchman Street, one of my favorite music/restaurant rows! The Quarter, esp. Bourbon Street, is overrun with kids.

Sheila

We stayed in the Quarter House on Chartres - very convenient for walking. We had a small kitchen and enjoyed having the refrigerator for snacks, etc. I would recommend the French Quarter but I have only been twice so I am no expert. If you like zydeco music, the band was great at Mid-City Rock and Bowl on Thursday night. They have other types of music like Rock & Roll and Swing on different nights. I just called and asked them which night was zydeco. Two places we enjoyed on our first trip was Commander's Palace and Nola's. We also took a swamp and plantation tour in March with Tours by Isabelle but decided it was too hot for July. I would recommend this tour company. New Orleans is a great place for food and music.

J Correa

I have heard good things about Tours by Isabelle. We were going to take a plantation tour with them, but ended up with Spinato Tours because the tour we wanted with Isabelle was full. Spinato Tours is very similar - small groups, pick up and drop off at your hotel in a 10-14 passenger van rather than a big bus, knowledgable guides. We went to Laura and Oak Alley plantations - both were very interesting.

We stayed in the Quarter on Royal Street, which was a great loacation. We were only a block off Bourbon, but our street was very quiet. There were people around, but it definitely wasn't overrun. It was nice to be able to walk to restaurants, museums, and so on. And we were within walking distance of Canal Street which is where the St Charles Street car line ends, so getting over to teh Garden district was very convenient.

Kathleen

FYI: The recipe for Palace Cafe's White Choc bread pudding is available on the epicurious.com website. Do a recipe search on White Chocolate Bread Pudding. Easy to make (but I substituted a Bourbon sauce to pour on top.)

Sheila

Thanks Kathleen. It was very good. I'll have to try it. My husband made gumbo the day after we got home. Just can't get enough cajun food.

cathi

Thanks for the info on the hotel and good zydeco music. I am looking forward to being able to go back there again real soon.