I'm organizing a trip to New Orleans for mid-March, 2004 (2 couples). One member is interested in cemetaries (!?) and the rest of the group in history, music, food and drink (not in that order!) I would appreciate any suggestions, especially from residents or former residents of New Orleans.

Not a resident, but a visitor who fell in love with New Orleans within an hour of being there and can't wait to go back.

I noticed your "!?" next to the cemeteries. Let me tell you, cemeteries are a big attraction in New Orleans and our tour of St Louis #1 was one of the highlights of our trip. We went on a walking tour with the Historic New Orleans Walking Tour Co and it was great. I highly recommend them for walking tours - the guide was very knowlegeable and a lot of fun. You will learn a lot of NO history on that tour.

Another highlight of our trip was a plantation tour. I wasn't sure if I wanted to do it, but we had a lot of fun. We went out with Spinato Tours which picked us up at the hotel and took us out to Laura and Oak Alley plantations. Very interesting.

We also toured the Garden District, road the St Charles Streetcar, walked around Audubon Park a bit, wandered all over the French Quarter. The 1850 Museum was pretty nice - basically an antibellum townhouse you can tour.

Eats - OMG - where to start!!! Cafe du Monde for beignets and cafe au lait. Yum. We had some terrific po boy sandwiches at Mothers. The Red Fish Grill was pretty tasty. There was a little place called Pere Antoines on Roayl where we had some really good catfish - breaded and fried to perfection. And a little place called the Trolley Stop Cafe where the St Charles streetcar turns and goes up Carollton where we had a really good breakfast.

I am a frequent NO visitor. I really like going with Save our Cemeteries as they are nonprofit. I have taken both of their tours with complete satisfaction. http://www.saveourcemeteries.org/
for history consider taking one of the Park Service free walking tours, all different dependending on the ranger. 2 locations- http://www.nps.gov/neor/index.htm
http://www.nps.gov/jela/index.htm

Everyone be in line early as the passes are in short supply. Music- Preservation Hall is a MUST- just pure authentic jazz. Also visit Jackson Square- plenty of impromptu music. Food- my favorites- Clover Grill, Gumbo shop, Petunia's, Quarter Scene, Central Grocery, Mother's. Cafe du Monde. I also have the last 2 trips done the cooking class at the Riverwalk- $15 great multi course meal and something to learn too. Be very selective on where you stay- I like the "edges" of the FQ, recently stayed at the Holiday Inn on Royal St- a perfect location. For perhaps savings- look at airline/hotel combo deals- I saved over $200pp priced separately. A cheap transfer with rolling luggage is the city bus from the airport (yeah I'm cheap), but at $1.60 and a short walk- a bargain indeed. I would recommend instead of an organized tour for 4- rent a car and drive out to the plantations- you will pass Evergreen, Laura, and Oak Alley. Cheap car rental (and walkable from Royal) from Dollar. I've stayed in plenty of areas- like the Marriott, Sheraton location on Canal, less convenient was the Riverside Hilton and W on Poydras. Better to be with in walking distance of where you want to be and the French Quarter certainly offers plenty.

Also be sure to request the Good times guide. Offers some coupons you may be able to use???

In addition to the great info above, I also recommend 3 museums -- Cabildo (history), Presbytere (Mardi Gras), & Old Mint (jazz).

Also, if you rent a car for the plantations, right nearby off the interstate is a swamp tour on the Manchac Swamp provided by Cajun Pride Swamp Tours.

If you are interested in history you may want to check out the D-Day Museum, too.