New Orleans during Mardi Gras
 

Husband and I find ourselves in New Orleans during Mardi Gras--Sat, Feb 6-Monday, Feb 8. We have a car (having travelled from San Antonio) and have a hotel reservation at Sheraton in Metairie.
We would like to see some of the parades but we are not wild and crazy. Need suggestions on parking and where to stand, etc. Is parking most difficult at this time? We have been to NOLA about 5 years ago and saw many of the usual attractions but would like to see the Mardi Gras Museum and any other not to miss things. Food is not high on our list of things to do, but something local like Acme Oyster. We like walking tours.

So tell me how to manage this all during Mardi Gras. And suggestions on what not to miss.
Thanks,
Margo

I can relate the way things were some years ago when I lived in Fat City. For the four final days when the "big" parades occurred I either moved into a hotel in the Quarter and stayed parked there or I parked somewhere up St. Charles and walked down to Canal Street and watched the parades there.

Used to be that vehicular traffic was severely restricted in the French Quarter during the final weekend and up until Wednesday due to crowd and fire issues.

Things may be different now, however.

If you want a more laid-back experience, you can try some of the Metairie parades.

Wish I could help more with parking - but I grew up in Metairie and my brother and I usually just walked the couple of blocks up to Veterans Hwy for the Metairie parades. And when we did go to the watch the parades Uptown, we usually parked at my aunt's house (2 blocks off St. Charles). And when I would go with DH, we usually found it easier to walk to St Charles & Napoleon (about 12 blocks).

Hope someone else can add more recent info.
You might also contact the Sheraton to see what they recommend. They may offer shuttles or something.

Just for your reference -
2016 Parade schedule (click on parade name to see route)
http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/schedule.html

Thanks for the Mardi Gras parade schedule. I think that the Krewe of Isis parade on Sat. Feb 6 at 6:30 might be interesting in Metaire. It is an all-female group!. Other than that I guess we will have to ask the hotel people for suggestions.
While I am at it, could I ask you what restaurants would be good to eat "Louisiana" food such as oysters, and shrimp and grits, in Metaire?
Thanks,
Margo

With the location of your hotel - I would recommend either Acme Oyster House (on Veterans, right near Causeway) and Dragos, near Lakeside Mall on N. Arnault.

http://www.acmeoyster.com/
http://www.dragosrestaurant.com/