New Orleans Cemetery Visits
 

My wife & I are doing a road trip in September & October which includes New Orleans. I have been in New Orleans 3 times but have never visited any of the cemeteries. My wife & I plan on taking a tour of St Louis #1 with Grayline on a visit this September. Would also like to visit Lafayette Cemetery #1 in the Garden District and St Louis #3 without a tour. Have always been reluctant to visit these sites because of warnings of muggings. It's
something we haven't done and would like to do it if it's safe. We are not too fond of going with tour groups. Need some locals to give me specifics about safety to the foregoing sites. Thank you.

You've made a very wise choice to see St. Louis #1 with a tour -- it's a safety must. Lafayette Cemetery #1 definitely should be visited with a tour as well.

St. Louis #3 is in a better area and you might get away with seeing it on your own, but there are still some secluded nooks and crannies there that might be a problem. A tour isn't a bad idea here as well.

The best cemeteries to explore on your own are probably Metarie and Greenwood, but keep an eye out even at these two. One never knows with NOLA cemeteries.

Don't even consider St. Louis #2 without an official tour -- and good luck finding one.

Thanks bachslunch. That's what I need to know about the cemeteries. I can't carry my .357 mag & my wife is not a fast runner so I guess we will take a look at St Louis #1 and decide if we want to take any other cemetery tours.

Another question: Is Louis Armstrong Park, during the day, safe to visit without a tour group?

Fodor's says this about the park: "Armstrong Park is patrolled by a security detail, but be very careful when wandering, and do not visit after dark." And note well that the area around the park is not good at all.

I took a trip to NOLA not that long ago for over a week, and I didn't consider a visit here because of possible safety concerns.

I'm not a local, but here are my comments anyway :)

I've never been on a Greyline tour, but my husband and I have done a few walking tours with the Historic New Orleans Walking Tour Co. The tours last a couple hours and the guides are great - very knowledgable and entertaining. We took the Cemetery/Voodoo tour several years ago - a short walk through the FQ, lots of time in St. Louis #1, some time in Armstrong Park and Congo Square, and then a stop at a local voodoo temple. I think their Garden District tour also has a stop at Lafayette cemetery.

Thank you november_moon. I brought up their website. I will acquire tickets before I depart home.

Still planning. We want to visit Mardi Gras World but we will be walking so I need to know, how do we get there. The Mardi Gras World website says they have a bus but don't give any other info on it such as where to catch it, etc. We could take the St Charles Streetcar part way but I don't know which street to disembark and how safe is it in that particular area to walk from the streetcar stop to Mardi Gras World & back.

So, I need help. Thank you!

There is indeed a shuttle bus that runs between Canal Street and Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World. Given that this attraction is not that close by a bus stop, that's indeed helpful. I remember picking it up in front of a large hotel on Canal at the edge of the French Quarter, but can't tell you which one. I'd recommend calling them directly to find out where this pick up spot is -- check their website for the phone number.

There's fortunately no need to try and walk there from St. Charles Avenue.

I was confused about the references to taking the street car to Mardi Gras World because when we went a few years ago, it was in Algiers. So I looked it up and they have moved. Not confused anymore :)

Anyway, the ferry across the river to Algiers is a fun thing to do on its own - and it is free to pedestrians. You get a different view of the city from the water.

Has anyone done a cemetery tour with Bloody Mary's?

http://www.bloodymarystours.com/tours.html

Never mind....apparently Mary is taking off for JazzFest!

I would encourage you to consider a tour with Save our Cemeteries. http://www.saveourcemeteries.org/cemeteries/index.htm

They are a non-profit group that is dedicated to preserving the cemeteries in New Orleans and give wonderful tours. My husband and I are not typically "tour people," either, but we loved the tour of Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 we took with them last fall.