We are looking for a guided riding (in some sort of vehicle rather than on foot) tour of New Orleans - French Quarter and/or Garden District. We're going to do a guided walking cemetary tour and have done a guided walking haunted history tour in the past (cheesy but fun!). However we thought it might be fun to be driven around in some sort of open air vehicle (not a bus or van) while getting some local history on the sites. DH wanted to do duck boats like we've seen in other cities but I couldn't find this for NO. Has anyone done the horse (or are they mules?) drawn carriage rides that run from Jackson Square? I would imagine the quality of the tour would depend on the guide you get, no? Suggestions?

My son did a swamp tour and loved it. Sorry don't know which tour company.

We did a swamp tour on our last visit and loved it as well. It was great having the smaller air boat with just a few people - our guide was a real cajun boy from the bayou (told us stories of he & his dad collecting alligator eggs for $$!!).

We did a carriage ride of the FQ and had a lot of fun. It was kind of pricey, but I think we probably could have negotiated a lower rate because there were a lot of carriages hanging around waiting for someone to come up.

We had a great driver who told us all sorts of stories. Most were legends and tall tails, which was really fun.

Snowrooster,
Check out www.neworleanscarraiges.com. There are tours in the Quarter & Garden District.

You might also consider the Segway tours? The carriage rides are generally good. I found them a bargain at about $12pp.

When you mention Segway, are you referring to the stand up riding things? Sorry, not sure how else to describe them. They have tours on them?

There is a company in NO giving Segway tours - one I hear of is the group riding over on the ferry from Canal Street over to what's called Algiers, with a short ride to Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World for a tour of his float factory. It's a good tour whether you do it on a Segway, or on your own. The Algiers ferry is free for pedestrians, and a nice ride - Blaine Kern runs a mini-van shuttle and has it timed for picking up groups at the ferry landing to take you to his factory and back. I think the tour is about 45 minutes - 1 hr.

There are carriage companies who give tours in the Garden District. As far as taking a carriage ride on your own, the surrey type of carriage with multiple seats are the best bargains. For about a 30 minute tour of the French Quater,I believe the ususal rate is $10 a person.

Sounds like fun! I'm glad you mentioned Blane Kern's. I've never really thought to do it since I've been to Mardi Gras so many times (having grown up in the area). I actually marched in two parades in high school as well (one was Endemiun) as my school here in Ohio goes down every 3 years. However I bet dh would really get a kick out of it, and I bet I would enjoy it as well.

I think you would really enjoy the tour, building floats is a year round business, and so interesting to see how it's done. You also see a short video.

Our LA state museum - the Presbytere facing Jackson Square is also a Mardi Gras museum, and very inexpensive.

If you go to Blaine Kern's, make sure you get coupons from the Good Times Guide or Big Easy (formerly Visitor) magazine. I think it's overpriced for what is offered but agree that in combo with the ferry ride many people enjoy it!

While doing my trip research I came across this: http://www.cityscootertours.com/neworleans.htm

3-hour guided tours on scooters for $65!

You must go on a swamp tour, but NOT on an airboat(too loud and obnoxious). We went with Pearl River Eco-Tours on a small boat that took us deep into the swamp. It was a blast. Capt. Neil was very knowledgeable and the alligators, nutria, turtles, etc. came very close to the boat. They were also able to pick-up us at our hotel in New Orleans. And, they let us use one of their canoes to paddle around the swamp in for free. We had a great time.