My husband will turn 50 during the Thanksgiving holidays. The kids and I want to surprise him with a trip to someplace very cool. He thinks he's going to NY, which is very cool, but we've already done that. We're considering New Orleans and would appreciate advice. Is late November a good time to be there? If so, where to stay, where to eat, and what to do? All 5 of us are food and jazz lovers who are interested in history. Kids are teenagers who don't need much in the way of kid-friendly activities. They want to eat good food, see the sights, and hang out in jazz clubs-a good thing, because that's what their dad will want to do.

Go. We went last Thanksgiving, then traveled over the weekend up the Mississippi to Memphis. Wonderful. I did a trip report here: http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...1&tid=34460759

My husband and I went to New Orleans for Thanksgiving about five years ago and enjoyed it. There was a big football game of some kind, so you may want to be aware of higher hotel prices and crowds during that time. I would reccomend that you reserve at the higher end restaurants. We loved Chef Paul Prudhomme's K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen (http://www.kpauls.com/). It's the cheaper of his two restaurants in New Orleans, but it's still a bit pricey. Well worth it, though. You should definitely try to do a swamp tour. We did the Honey Island Swamp Tour (http://www.honeyislandswamp.com/) based on Fodorites' reccomendations and loved it although there are rarely alligators this late into the Fall. Take the old trolley train to get a look at some residential spots. Also, make sure to have a full list of things to do. We were there for 5 days and felt like we had seen it all pretty quickly. Have a great time!

The big football game the latter part of November is the Bayou Classic, and the town will be PACKED that weekend. We were there a few years ago during that time and it was very difficult (and expensive) to find a room and even more difficult to navigate the streets in the French Quarter. Thanksgiving is November 25th, and the next two days are the Bayou Classic weekend. As much as I love NO, I'm not sure that'd be a great time to surprise your husband with a trip there.

Gardyloo, just like to say I loved your trip report. We did exactly the same trip this June. We stayed in NO on Bourbon Street, drove to Natchez for an overnight stay then up to Clarksdale. Must agree with you, we found this leg of the journey the most enjoyable and very touching, seeing Clarksdale and the crossroads! We then stayed in Tunica (Fitzgeralds) for two nights before we drove to the Peabody, which is simply the best hotel! Loved Memphis, especially the Civil Rights Museum and of course Beale Street. Great report.

Sorry Portia, don't want to hijack your thread! We loved New Orleans, so much to see and do. The French Quarter is stunning. I'm sure you'll love it!

I was in NOLA last Thanksgiving, it was my first time over that weekend and I was there for the first night of the Bayou Classic. NOLA is very quiet the day of and night of Thanks giving, but Friday night the area of the Quarter is hopping due to the Bayou Classic. Bourbon Street is really packed, but the more sedate bars that cater to older crowds are not as bad at all, if not deserted.

We were staying at the Astor Crowne Plaza, right on the corner of Bourbon and Canal and were witness from our 3rd floor window to a police raid on Bourbon street at about 2AM. It can get pretty crazy that weekend and I had been warned, but didn't believe it til I saw it. Have to say, it might have been wilder than Mardi Gras in terms of police activity (but not police presence).

I'd try to get down there for the days leading up to Thanksgiving and then leave on the Friday. I bet the airfare will be better for flying home on Friday too.

OR - stay through the weekend, but stay in the Garden District instead. You can avoid a lot of the nonsense in that area. It will stay quiet.