JDMarie

I*m visiting New Orleans for 4 Days mid-July. I would like to hear everyone's favorite things to do, or places to see,eat at or stay... so that I don*t miss the good stuff.
Thanks for any help

volcam

Riding the St. Charles streetcar from Canal Street, through the lower and upper Garden District, through Uptown (Loyola and Tulane Universities, Audubon Park), and through Riverbend to the end of the line and Carrollton Avenue and then back again. Seeing the live oaks and all the beautiful mansions along the way are incredible. You can easily step off the streetcar at many points and then get back on, as your time allows. There are many convenient stops along the route.

A ghost tour in the French Quarter at night.

Cafe de Monde in the wee hours of the morning.

House tours: Beauregard-Keyes House on Chartres Street in the Quarter.

River Road plantations: Destrehan, San Francisco, Oak Alley.

Restaurants: Galatoire's, Bayona, Bella Luna, Commander's Palace (the Sunday brunch is fabulous and the most reasonably priced option), Upperline.

Jon_Eric

Volcams suggestions are good ones. Regarding places to eat I'd like to add Peristyle. Other historic homes are Hermann Grima house and Gallier house.

As to where to stay, take your pick! July will be a bargain in any hotel including the Windsor Court and Ritz Carleton. They all have drastically reduced rates in summer and for obvious reasons.

alliegator

I really enjoyed a restaurant called Mother's for breakfast. Not fancy, just good ole southern style cooking. It was in the CBD if I'm not mistaken.

ccolor

Also a steamboat ride on the Natchez, pick up beads for souveniers at the French Market, a city tour with Gray Line that includes a cemetary stop, a half day swamp tour and a stroll through Jackson Square. Good food at Petunia's, a local place called Deja Vu and Felix's or Acme Oysters. Be brave and try a Lucky Dog. We stay at the Ramada Inn on Bourbon, and love it, but it depends on what you're looking for. They're centrally located in the Quarter and pretty noisy if you want a room with a fun view (Bourbon St.) but there are rooms facing the courtyard/pool and Toulouse St. that aren't so loud. Have fun!

jende

The previous posters gave you some great suggestions. I just need to put in my vote for the best restaurant in N.O. (just my opinion, of course). Dinner at Emeril's was my favorite dining experience to-date. The food, service and atmosphere are all exceptional. It's not cheap, but unlike a lot of high-end places it's actually worth the cost (I think it was about $120 for two with tip).

snowrooster

Hotel: Royal Sonesta on Bourbon
Fav Restaurnts: Acme, Mothers, Commanders Palace, Arnauds (jazz room), Brennans for breakfast, NOLA (one of Emerils but not as expensive), Cafe du Monde
Avoid: Galatoires - over priced, over rated, snooty bad service
Favorite thing to do: Natchez and just wandering the French Quarter. You don't even need a plan - the city is magical and will show you a great time no matter what!

rnbtr

I am lesving for NO next Thursday. I am staying at the Royal Sensoita. I was planning on Nolas for Friday night Do I need reservations?
Can anyone suggest a Plantation TOur for a 1/2 day on Saturday? We are leaving late Sunday afternoon Is brunch out of the question?

Kal

I may sound like a broken NOLA record but Jacques Imo's in R'bend/Carrolton area was very nice!
If you can't have fun there, or in the places next to it, you should not go to NOLA!
I will def. get the table in the back of the pick up truck next trip!

We also had fun sitting around the piano at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop singing and drinking Purple Voodoos until around 3:00a.m.

And before we die, we have to see The Neville Bros and/or Dr John in NOLA.
Kal

mdv

Good suggestions so far.

MBTR-you need reservations. I called a week in advance and had limited choices. VERY good meal.

If you are planning on eating at Peristyle, call now. I called them two weeks in advance ( early April) and couldn't get a table .

Another suggestions: Petunia's in the Fench Quarter. Pretty Creole cottage with very good food; known for their crepes, but I was too full after the shrimp curry. (good ribs, too).

Bri_Neelan

Allyson works for the NO Ghost Tour so she's a bit biased. There are many good companies that do the same tours.

Heartburn3

Alliegator mentioned b'fast at MOTHER'S. We had a delicious lunch. Best Po' Boys in NO. My mom grew up in NO and we searched high and low for the best Po' Boy sandwich. It's not what I'd call a cheap lunch, but man was it ever good. It's in a nice section of the business district. We walked there from Canal and St. Charles. We stayed at a boutique hotel, Royal St. Charles a block off Canal Street/French Quarter. It was very nice, but I think next time we'll try to stay directly IN the French Quarter, only because the heat get to you after a while. We walked through the lobby of the Ramada Inn French Quarter and thought it looked like a nice place to stay. Had a nice courtyard w/pool. Check it out. Very nice jewelry store attached (if it's still there.)

We were there the end of June last year and it was definitely HOT HOT HOT. Take plenty of shorts!! Check out the Aquarium, we thought it was great, and we live in Fort Lauderdale near the ocean. ENJOY YOUR TRIP!

puddy

Coop's Place... the best fried chicken I've ever had.

PamSF

Go to Snug Harbor for jazz(you might catch the Neville brothers -or Charlene there); try the burgers at Port o Call on Esplanade. I, too, am a fan of Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. We have stayed several times at the LaFitte Guesthouse just across the street which I would highly recommend. Check out the galleries on Julia Street.Take a guided cemetary tour(with the Park Service~see their kiosk in the French Market) and make certain to visit the grave of Marie LaVeau.Go and sit in the cathedral of St Louis. It's magnificent. Check out Hovier Perfumerie on Royal Street. Buy yourself some vetiver. Wander around the Garden District. Take a peek at the houses in Audobon Place. Read some Anne Rice before you go. Have a plate of oysters bienville at the Acme Oyster House. Don't just try beignets..eat them no less than once a day(you'll have no choice)

EnglishOne

I went to NO last month these are my fav things that I did:
St Charles Streetcar ride through amazing Garden District, River ride on the Steamboat Natchez. Aquarium of the Americas, Swamp tour with Dr Wagner, Plantations: Laura and Oak Alley
Eats: Cafe du monde beignets, Commanders Palace Lunch, Bayona (our favourite restaurant while we were there), Cafe Sbisa

suzy

Ah, my favorite city in the U.S. (been there 5 times).
Just being there is enough for me (but only in cooler weather).
Love visiting all the local historic sites as well as the plantations beyond.
New Orleans Museum of Art has some good stuff.
Strolling around the Quarter at night in the safer quieter areas (like on Chartres Street) - very atmospheric. (I'm not a lover of Bourbon St.)
Eating in little out of the way places in the Quarter.

cartera45

Favorite hotel - Soniat House
Favorite restaurant - Peristyle
Favorite brunch - commanders palace
Fascinating - the tour of the Mardi Gras museum across the river - free ferry