In NO for three-four days. We want to go on either a plantation or swamp tour. Which one is recommended? Which companies pick you up at your hotel?

Any other musts for first time visitors?
We have reservations at Emerils and are staying at the Windsor Court.

We've done both tours and liked them. However, if you've never done either I would recommend the plantation tour as first choice. It is quite representative of a wonderful time in the history of the South. Most include lunch at one of the plantations. Try for a tour that includes the home "Oak Alley" as it is beautiful and seen in many movies and tv commercials. The swamp tour was fun, but not nearly the "write home about" experience that the plantation tour provided. Have fun.

I agree with TC. Oak Alley is beautiful and really should not be missed. Once you've been there, you'll be surprised by often you'll see it in movies. We picked up acorns during our visit and are growing our own Oak Alley oaks.

I agree about Oak Alley, but if you do make time for a swamp tour, I recommend Honey Island Swamp Tours. The guides are real naturalists, and the swamps are magical. Be warned: a lot of the tours that advertise drinks, food and music are just cheesy "luaus on the swamp" and must be avoided at all costs!

You don't say when you will be here, but if it's soon, I'd definitely opt for the plantation tour. Even the half day swamp tour would be too much heat for me this time of year - and I live here! Oak Alley is beautiful, but I enjoyed the grounds much more than the tour, which is done by high school girls who can't answer any questions whatsoever. Laura is another plantation that I highly recommend - great house, great history, very informative tour.

First time visitors should: ride the streetcar up St. Charles Avenue to the riverbend; get a muffaletta at Central Grocery and sit on the riverfront enjoying it; have beignets at Cafe du Monde; have a drink at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop; wander through the Garden District (you can get off the streetcar at Washington and walk towards the river for a few blocks - you'll hit Prytania - great houses); shop Magazine Street if you like to shop; check out some of the museums in the Quarter (The Cabildo and Mardi Gras Museum at Jackson Square, Parkinson-Keyes House on the lower end of Chartes, the wax museum on Conti is even interesting and has great a/c on a hot afternoon), see the Aquarium of the Americas (again - another great place for a hot afternoon), stroll Royal Street and window shop, and check out Jackson Square.

Thanks everyone for the info about the tours. Is there any way we can see the plantations without a tour and with no access to a car?

Meg, we are actually coming to NO next weekend so it will be hot!! I really don't mind the heat...and I have always wanted to experience NO. Thanks for the list of other must do's.

This place sounds wonderful - but I don't have a clue where you talking about... What is NO

New Orleans

Oak Alley and Laura are both beautiful plantations, but my favorite was San Francisco, because the house is painted and decorated very colorfully in the creole style, which I think is more uncommon than the neo-classical style of the anglo plantation homes. The house has a lot of personality. The guided tour is interesting, too, though the grounds are less interesting. Actually, much of the "grounds" of San Francisco have been taken away by the Mississippi over the years.

Ummm, TC...
Not to be overly picky, but the plantation era was NOT "a wonderful time in the history of the South" for everyone. Some people might call it a disgrace.

Correction to my post above: Laura is a creole plantation as well (not anglo). Guess they're running together in my head.