halogal21

My husband and I are planning our first visit to New Orleans either in May or October. We usually cover a lot of ground in the first couple days of any trip and start losing steam towards the end of our trip. I've scheduled 'naps' because I have a feeling we'll be up early and out late.

As far as meals are concerned, I'm looking to make lunch our big meal. We're not on a budget per se, but usually don't like spending so much money on fancy dinners. We don't plan on going anywhere with a dress code ~ we're casual.

We are both 40, but in our mind, we're 29. We want to experience quintessential New Orleans food, drink, music, architecture and culture. We both like history, which is why we want to make time for both WWII Museum and a Plantation Tour. We're young enough to enjoy nightlife, but too old for dance clubs.

Please critique ~ thank you! Suggestions are welcome!

Day 1 – Thursday
Red-eye flight - arrive MSY at 8:30am
Check in to HIEX French Quarter (free with hotel points)
Purchase VisiTour Pass for unlimited public transportation ($12 for 3 days)
Lunch @ Acme Oyster House [opens at 11am]
Frommer’s self-guided walking tour of the French Quarter (2 hours)
Café Du Monde for beignets and café au lait
Nap
8pm dinner @ Eat Restaurant (byob)
Evening on Bourbon Street

Day 2 - Friday
WWII Museum shortly after it opens at 9am
Friday lunch at August at 12:30pm
St. Charles Streetcar to Garden District
Frommer’s self-guided walking tour of the Garden District (2 hours)
Nap
8pm Dinner @ Adolfo’s
Frenchmen Street for live music (d.b.a, Snug Harbor)

Day 3 – Saturday
Old River Plantation Tour of Evergreen & Oak Alley [8:00am-1:30pm]
Lunch @ Muriel’s
Shopping at French Market
Nap
8pm dinner @ Royal House
Burlesque Show – any other suggestions?

Day 4 – Sunday
9am Mass at St. Louis Cathedral
Sunday Jazz Brunch @ Mr. B’s Bistro at 11:00am
Purchase muffulettas from Café Maspero for plane ride back home
Depart MSY @ 5:50pm

kjosker

I'm wondering if it's necessary to purchase VisiTour Passes? I see only one day of use- the Garden District-WWII museum day, amounting to less than $10.00 in regular fares. I don't know if there is convenient public transportation to Adolfo's and Frenchman Street, but I do know Frenchman is an easy walk from the French Quarter.

november_moon

There is a riverfront street car that is pretty convinient for getting from one end of the FQ to the other. It runs between Decatur and the river levy, from around Esplanade to the Riverfront mall area. Whether you would utilize it really depends on how much walking you like to do. Frenchman is not far from the FQ and we have always walked - or taken a cab coming back late at night.

milkmaid46

Yes, yes to August & Acme as lunch choices! What is your preference as to cuisine style? Where is your hotel? Where does the walking tour of the Garden District take you as there are definitely places to NOT walk in the Garden District. More later; waiting to know where you are staying ... PS: The aquarium and zoo are world class; Magazine Street is classic New Orleans as is a picnic in Woldenburg Park watching traffic on the river and a ferry to the Mardi Gras Museum on the other side of the City.

halogal21

Thank you for your replies. As far as purchasing the VisiTour passes, it's only $12. I don't know how much walking vs public transportation we'd be taking. The riverfront street car sounds lovely.

milkmaid46 - We plan to stay at the Holiday Inn Express Downtown French Quarter. It's on Carondelet, just on the outskirts of the FQ. We are Priority Club members, and this hotel is the the best value for the points we'd be spending.

november_moon

I'd probably buy the pass for the convinience even if I didn't know if I was going to use public transportation enough to quite cover the cost. The difference wont be that much and I like being able to hop on a streetcar or bus without having to make sure I have exact fare.

I think that your hotel is right on the St Charles street car line - if memory serves, between Lee Circle and Canal, it is on St Charles going one direction and then Carondelet going the other. So that will be very convinient for going uptown.

Since you are on the the CBD side of the FQ, Frenchman street is a bit of a walk. The riverfront street car might come in quite handy.

milkmaid46

The chef/owner of August has opened a new restaurant inside the WWII Museum if you don't want to walk to August ... You can get all day tickets on the red and green line street cars for each day and they are available on the street car generally. The red one goes up and down the river side of the Quarter. The green line is only a block or so from your hotel, going into the Garden District. I would give serious consideration about where I walked in the Garden District as some are not quite as safe as others. See other comments. Have fun!

bachslunch

Your itinerary sounds leisurely, but good. If you're thorough, expect to spend 3 hours easily at the WWII Museum -- it's large and excellent.

How reliable is your plantation tour company? I would make very, very sure they don't have a minimum -- and press them if they say no, as some companies lie about this. Almost all of them do have minimums. My experience suggests that any plantation tour other than ones to Laura and Oak Alley are very chancy on whether they will really happen or not -- and tour companies normally will not go on a tour unless they meet a minimum number going, even if they accept a reservation.

bachslunch

I did the Garden District walk in Frommer's 2009 NOLA book that the OP referred to, and am thinking it should be safe during the daytime -- no dicey parts of the area here, pretty much in a rectangle outlined by Prytania Street, First Street, Coliseum Street, and Washington Avenue (with a small jag running down First Street to Camp Street to Second Street back to Coliseum). Still, may not be wise to walk here later at night or into secluded nooks and crannies in Lafayette #1 Cemetery at any hour.