Going to NOLA for Anniversary
 

My husband & I are going to New Orleans for our Anniv. Have decided where to stay, but looking for nice restaurants. Also, we are quite interested in history. Any tours anyone could suggest would be appreciated. Thanks

You must go the the Sunday jazz brunch at Commander's Palace. Ask for a table overlooking the garden. We've been going there for years, and the service and food has always been wonderful. You won't be disappointed!

Judith, try www.nola.com & www.nawlins.com for more information. We were there a year ago and ate at Mike Anderson's, The Gumbo Shop, Acme Oyster house, Praline connection and a few other smaller, out of the way ones. Do NOT miss Cafe du Monde! All are casual dress--Commander's Palace requires something more than shorts. <BR>The National Park Service has tours--we found out about them too late. I think they are somewhere near Cafe du Monde-in a building behind it. I would imagine those tours would be wonderful. You'll find all sorts of information at different places around NO. I used Fodor's guide to NO. Take a St. Charles street car ride to the end and back--$1 each way per person. Have a wonderful time.

Thanks for the prompt reply.Have written down your suggestions for future reference.

I agree with JoAnn, definitely take the streetcar all the way down St Charles - beautiful homes to see. We took a Gray Line city tour which was full of information and a very informative visit to one of the city's cemeteries. Our favorite restaurants are Nola's (make reserv. before you get to N.O) and K-Pauls (for lunch). Also heard Mothers is a local favorite. <BR>

Do you recall the name of the cemetary you visited? Did you stay on the St.Charles street car for the loop or did you get off. We will have a camcorder and are interested in seeing Anne Rice's home amongst others. Also did you take a Steamboat cruise? Would you recommend any??

For a great meal, try NOLA's, one of Emeril's restaurants. Make sure to get reservations in advance. The atmosphere there is fairly casual, not a suit and tie restaurant. <BR> <BR>I personally didn't care for Commander's but I'm apparently in the minority. If you go, make sure to have reservations. Our friends who rave over Commander's said they thought the food was better when they weren't having Sunday Brunch. Take the streetcar over and wander around looking at some of the fabulous houses. Anne Rice's house is in the neighborhood around Commander's, any guide book should have the location. <BR> <BR>Court of Two Sisters was my favorite place for a jazz brunch. They have it every day, once again try to have reservations. <BR> <BR>You must go to Cafe DuMonde for beignets! <BR> <BR>There are many voodoo, ghost, cemetery tours in NO. Most of them are part fact, part fiction, but are still quite entertaining. I would recommend the one to the cemetery. They only do those during the day. I don't think you need reservations for most of the tours, just show up. <BR> <BR>There is an interesting history museum near Jackson Square, I believe it's the Louisiana State Museum. <BR> <BR>We did take a steamboat, the one that went out to the battlefield. I wasn't overly impressed. <BR> <BR>We also found out about the Park Service tours too late but they looked interesting. I think they go in the morning and are limited to so many people. I believe its the building for Jean Lafitte National Park, near Cafe Du Monde where they start. <BR> <BR>If you have any extra days, you might consider visiting some of the plantations. Nottoway and Oak Alley are the most impressive and are within driving distance of NO. I'm sure they also do Grey Line tours there.

Kristi: Wow, thanks for all the information. I have written eveything for future reference. Do you live in New Orleans or is this travelling info you have gained? Am having a great time getting all this info together for our Anniversary. Didn't want to stay at a chain of hotels so we have decided on the Bienville House. Have heard great things.

You should have a wonderful trip, we've been there twice and really enjoyed both trips. We stayed at the Bourbon Orleans last year but they overbooked the rooms so we stayed at the Bienville House for one night. The hotel was nice, the staff was courteous and best of all it was free! The area around the hotel gets a little quiet at night, unlike Bourbon Street, so just make sure you're alert if wandering around late at night. <BR> <BR>If you do decide to go to Commander's, your hubby should at least pack a suit jacket/sport coat or he will have to wear one of the restaurant provided ones. <BR> <BR>An off the beaten path restaurant that all six of us liked, was the Quarter Scene Restaurant at 900 Dumaine Street. The waiters/owner were very friendly and the food was good-pretty much standard cajun/creole food. <BR> <BR>You will be staying close to the Aquarium and IMAX theater. If you have any extra time, I thought it was a very nice aquarium. <BR> <BR>Have a great trip!

WE've been to NO a dozen times over the past 10 years, and love it every time. Two favorite restaurants -- Palace Cafe, on Canal, is a 'cousin' to Commanders, less expensive but great food and white chocolate bread pudding worth the cost of the plane ticket. Another place we really like is La Madeleine, on Jackson Square near the Cathedral -- fabulous croissants and cafe, a great place for after Mass (even if you're not Catholic) or the high point of an early-morning stroll. If you have time, it's fun to take the ferry across the river (near Riverwalk) to Algiers -- there's a pretty interesting Mardi Gras museum over there, and the ferry's free (or it was . . .). City Cemetery is intriguing, and the street car, all the way to the end, makes for a pleasant view of the city. We've done the river cruise, but we had free tickets -- I don't know if it's worthwhile if it's very expensive. <BR> <BR>Have a great time!

Judith: I don't hit many of the restaurants listed above (other than Commanders for their business lunch, which is wonderful). My recommendations are (1) Bayona for lunch or dinner. Weather permitting, ask for a courtyard table. (2) Peristyle for lunch (Friday only) and dinner. (3) Galatoire's for a traditional creole meal at lunch or dinner. (4) Irene's for italian, but get there early (no reservations). (5) Napoleon House for muffelatas. All of the above are in the Quarter. Uptown, most of which are near the streetcar line or a short cab ride, you can't miss with Gautreau's (fancy), Brigsten's (fancy/casual), Jacque-Imos (casual, no reservations). <BR> <BR>I eat at at least one of these places each week and recommend them all highly.

Ditto on the recommendations for breakfast at Cafe du Monde, lunch at K Paul's, and dinner at Peristyle -- do not miss these wonderful places! There was also a very casual place we liked that was NOT in the French Quarter which I think was called Frankie & Johnny's -- great stuffed artichokes -- I wonder if that place is still there. <BR> <BR>For after dinner fun, good local music, dancing, etc. try Tipitina's or the Maple Leaf. <BR> <BR>Also loved the streetcar ride.