Hi
I am flying dowm to New Orleans October 21, spending a few days there and then renting a car for another week or so with no fixed itinerary. Would love some recommendations on where to drive from New Orleans. I don't want to spend my whole time driving from one city to the next so I think that 2 destinations where I can spend a few days in each would be ideal. In terms of my interest: walking in attractive cities/areas, museums, all types of music. I am a single woman who travels a lot on her own so I don't have any real security concerns - I just don't find myself hanging out at bars at night 
Also if you have any suggestions for what to do in New Orleans it would be most appreciated.
Thanks everyone. I always appreciate the info I get from this forum!
Where do I go from New Orleans? Memphis? Nashville? Birmingham?
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What about a night in St. Francisville, then a night in Natchez and then Nashville or Memphis for the music. Look at the websites to get an idea of how attractive St. Francisville and Natchez are.
During our ships reunion in Baton Rouge, our group went on a bus tour to St Francisville where we had a guided tour of the town and visited two plantations. Everyone loved it. We also toured the WWII museum in New Orleans.
On the drive back to VA, DW and I stopped at Natchitoches, Natchez, and Vicksburg. We then took the Natchez Trace Parkway to its end. (444miles) The parkway has many interesting stops along the way, but with a 50 MPH speed limit it took us two and a half days to drive it. We were in no hurry though and it was our way of unwinding after putting on the reunion.
If you wanted to drive just part of the parkway, I would suggest going as far as Tupelo and then on to your other choices from there.
San Antonio
San Antonio is too far of a drive. I would go to St. Francisville & Natchez, or if you feel like the beach Navarre in Florida.
I agree with mah190... Navarre Beach in Fla (3 1/2 hours) or Gulf shores Ala. (3 hours). Nothing to do at Navarre Beach except enjoy the country's most beautiful beach. Will not see many people there at this time of the year. Those there will be from New Orleans!
walking in attractive cities/areas, museums, all types of music
None of these on Gulf Shores
The OP can get most of her fill of that in New Orleans, and then relax somewhere else. And driving to San Antonio would definitely not satisfy her criteria of not driving too far.
Fairhope: I'm surprised you aren't recommending she survey some of the antique and gift shops in your town on the way to the Gulf. It's quite a lovely, if small town!
The town planted new mums this week--aren't quite in bloom yet but downtown will be ablaze in flowers soon. The new library is almost finished and the Art Centre will have a new roofline.
Sandra's had her 10th anniversery Fri so we had wine and her famous chicken salad sandwiches on the street from 4-6.
My wife walked down to some new shops yesterday. A new complex of condos and shops is underway downtown on my same street--lots of changes--but I don't mind like some do
Just want to say thanks to everyone for your input! I am booking my flight tonight and really looking forward to my trip. Have also decided to stay in NO for at least a week and do some volunteer work - have received good responses from organizations needing help - even if just for a week!
Take a look at the Natchez Trace, Natchez & Jackson, Ms. Particularly if you like architecture &/or Civil War Battlefields & such.
*Vicksburg for Civil War battlefields.
*Natchez for antebellum homes (the homes are like museums); great history (nearly all of our country's millionaires lived in Natchez prior to the Civil War); downtown shopping and walking tours; casino.
*St. Francisville for antebellum homes, Angola Prison rodeo
*Natchitoches - history, historic homes, tours, etc.
*New Iberia for wonderful restaurants, quaint downtown shopping, music.
*St. Tammany Parish - Christmas Shopping, Lee Lane, Covington; Boat Museum and restaurants, Madisonville; Swamp tours, Slidell area; tubing, canoeing, etc, Isabelle.
Mississippi Gulf Coast - Casinos, view shocking storm damage, restaurants, shopping.
If you'd like further info on any of these areas, I will try to help. Enjoy your visit!
Since you'll be here around the end of October, you might find this interesting:
Haunted New Orleans: http://www.nola.com/haunted/
Please add Breaux Bridge to the list for New Iberia. Actually, I prefer Breaux Bridge a little more than New Iberia.
I can definitely recommend St. Tammany Parish as I live there. During the holidays there are many festivals, esp. in downtown Covington.
The MS gulf coast would be good, too. You could stay at the Beau Rivage, which is really nice.
mah, maybe you could come up with a list of St. Tammany activities and post it here (or on a new thread). It'd be great to have a list we could top for travelers to the area. St. Tammany is beautiful (my mom lives there) even with the storm/tree damage, and we seldom point travelers in that direction. Thanks!
You should consider spending the time in Cajun Country: Lafayette, New Iberia, and St. Martinville. Search for "Cajun Country" and read that thread for some good advice. Plenty of museums, music, and attractive towns/cities are in Cajun Country.
Some ideas include touring the Tabasco factory and gardens, visiting some plantations, visiting the town square of St. Martinville, and eating some great Cajun food.