Greetings From Portland Oregon,

We have a week in late April early May 2006 that we would like to go somewhere different (in the US) instead of the usual one week ski trip we normally take earlier in the year.

Have never been to NO so I am looking for suggestions.

We are considering SC ( Hilton Head, Savanah & Charleston)or NC (Outer Banks) as well.

Thanks for any suggestions you can provide!

I don't think so...And late April/early May would be a lovely time weatherwise to visit.

I don't think it's too long, either. In late April/early May you will run into the Jazz Fest. Expect BIG hotel rates but the fest is FUN!

Too long!! Unless you have extensive day trips in mind--which you can do. Look for references to River Road Plantations-but I would take these days on the road and not in New Orleans. You can stay in Plantation homes or B&B on the way
For instance look at NO--Houma--Morgan City--Avery Island (Tabasco)--Lafayette(swamp tour)--Baton Rouge--St Francesville(plantation). There are other versions around the river.
The Natchez Trace is also nearby in Miss.
You can see the gulf and the barrier islands in Gulfport/Biloxi.. Bay St Louis is still a hidden gem. Fairhope in Alabama is only 3 hours on I-10
So there is a lot to do in addition to NO

My husband and I spent a week there a few years ago. We didn't see everything we wanted to and as the plane lifted off for the flight home, we were already talking about a return trip. It is a wonderful city and I would love to have the time to explore it further.

Too long for what??? If you love food, music & people watching then you will find plenty to occupy you. Spring is the prettiest time here. The azaleas will be blooming, strawberries & crawfish will be in season so that satisfies most of my needs. The weather is usually pretty pleasant & even with Jazz Fest there is room for everyone. If you could come the beginning of May you would miss that crowd but still enjoy the other things I mentioned.

It depends on what you're in to and what you like to do. Personally, I think a few days is good enough. If all I wanted to do was eat at all the different restaurants, I could easily spend a few weeks there! But as far as things to see and do, there isn't that much that would take up a whole week. How many times can you do Bourbon St. and the French Quarter?? True, there are other activites such as the plantation tours, swamp tours, cemetary tours, tour of the French Quarter, tour of the Garden District. And I suppose if you do each of them per day, you would be able to spend a week there.

I spent a week in New Orleans one night.

Me too.

I've been for several days, but working a conference during the day and enjoying nice dinners at night. I can't imagine what I'd do in NO for a week with both days and nights open. If I HAD to be there a week, I'd head out to the countryside and bayous.

I would have no problem spending a week, happily, in New Orleans. Historic houses in the Garden District, museums, walking tours, etc. etc. But then I don't drink, so I'm not wasting my time on hangovers.
That said, I would also take a day trip to see a Cajun area and a swamp tour. We did the swamp tour and it was not at all what we had expected. Gorgeous! Might possibly take a plantation tour, also.
Vera

May is a great time too visit New Orleans usually weather is not too hot. I would avoid the Jazz Festival Weekends. Huge crowds and the prices in the hotels will be higher.
Usually around the 14th of April before the jazz festival they have the French Quarter Festival. A smaller Festival that can be fun, lots of music and food in the Quarter.

I grew up in New Orleans and have played tour guide for family and friends. You could easily spend a week in a New Orleans. In fact we usually can’t get everything in a week. It would depend on your interest and what you want to do.

The D- Day museum will take a full day to tour and is a must see.
Walking the French Quarter would be another day. This includes Jackson Square and
The St. Louis Catherdral. ,the Calibdo and the flee market is always fun too walk through. Jackson Brewery has interesting gift shops. You could also take a cooking class at the New Orleans School of Cooking.

Do you like antiques? Many antique shops in the French Quarter and then again on Magazine street.

Streetcar ride down St. Charles Street too see the Garden District.

The aquarium and Imax would take another day is also very impressive.
The zoo is a great experience.

A riverboat cruise on the river.

A plantation tour.
A swamp tour is also a great experience.
A cemetery tour. Yes we are know for our cemeteries but make sure you take a tour. I wouldn’t walk around the cemeteries by myself.

Bourbon street at night. Pat O’Briens a New Orleans tradition. They have a piano bar that can be fun, The courtyard has great atmosphere. Be careful of the hurricane drinks. They are very potent.!!

Preservation hall will have music at night, great New Orleans experience.
Several places too listen too music.

The casino at the foot of Canal Street. Also the riverwalk, a great shopping mall on the river a lot of specialty shops.

A tour of the Superdome can be interesting if you are a football fan.

This does not include the list of all the great places too eat.

I hope this helps you too make a decision.

"7 days is too many and 1,000 isn't enough".

I love NO, but even for me, I'm not sure that I would spend an entire week there. Or if I did, I would include day (or overnight) trips into Cajun Country, the Florida panhandle, etc. (I say "etc." because it must just be me, but I really have a hard time being interested in plantation tours, given their former source of labor, so I wouldn't spend my time visiting plantations.)

So look at all the previous suggestions, and decide how many of them interest you. There are quite a few old/historic houses within New Orleans itself; I've enjoyed visiting them, and haven't seen them all. We took a swamp tour the last time we visited (in early May), and that was worthwhile. The zoo is quite good, and it's fun to take the boat down the Mississippi to the zoo.

Spend a day or two in St. Francisville which is a lovely little town dating from 1720. It is about 45 minutes away from NO.

Absolutely no way you can make it to St. Francisville in less than 2 hours. No way!

Since you've never been there before there will be plenty to do. If you feel the need to get out of the city, however, I would suggest a couple of days in Natchez, Ms. Probably about 3 hours, but well worth the trip.

We were there 5 days and was busy every day. If you have a few extra days, maybe an overnight to Lafayette cajun country something we did not get a chance to do. Bu you cannot do Bourbon every night.