New Orleans logistics
 

For our long weekend in NOLA in October, had planned to rent a car, but am rethinking it. We are staying at the French Market Inn on Decatur, and looking at a map, it seems obvious we can walk anywhere in the French Quarter. The hotel also has an airport shuttle.

We were planning on driving to see the plantations, but I see several acceptable guided tours that would negate needing a car for this. Any thoughts?

Also, we want to have jazz brunch at Commanders Palace, and then do a walking tour of the Garden District. Am I correct that it would be easy to go via streetcar to the restaurant? How long would this trip be.

And parking is $28/da as well. So I am leaning toward not renting a car.

The other question is re: WWII museum. Would this be a taxi ride?

Thanks in advance.

A car would be a burden and a waste of money.

IMD, appreciate your response. Any response to the Commanders Palace and WWII Memorial?

Yes, Commander's Palace is less than 2 blocks from the St. Charles Streetcar line -
http://www.commanderspalace.com/location-hours

You get off at the Lee Circle for the WWII museum -
http://www.commanderspalace.com/location-hours

Ditto for the walk from the line to the museum = .2 mile (less than 2 blocks)

When you are out that way, be sure to visit some of the restaurants and/or shops on Magazine street (near Commmander's Palace). My favorite is Sucre, for macarons, chocolates and gelato -
http://www.shopsucre.com/

The World War II Museum is well done and we ate at Commander's Palace so long ago, my opinion is worthless. But the best meal we had in NOLA in April was at Mr. B's Bistro and the Cafe de Monde is one of the few tourist eateries that continues to exceed it reputation.

Just saved myself a couple of hundred bucks, which can be recycled into food and beverage.

No car for us. Thanks IMD and Starrs for your useful, as always, advice.

And yes, Mr. B Bistro is on our list, as well as Muriel, Commanders Palace and Bayona

Laissez les bon temps roulez

Add Café du Monde and Sucre for beignets, macarons, and gelato :-)
http://www.cafedumonde.com/
http://www.shopsucre.com/

Drago's for charbroiled oysters -
http://www.dragosrestaurant.com/

We REALLY enjoyed the walking and tasting tour -
http://noculinarytours.com/about-us/
A great way to see some of the most famous restaurants in NOLA and taste their specialties. Highly recommend.

Cafe du Monde, surely you jest that we would leave it out. And just steps from our hotel.

Did a great food walk tour in NYC, sadly no time in NOLA. reason for another visit, right?

Everyone leaves Cafe de Monde with enough powdered sugar on their face to look like a coke addict in need of rehab.

"reason for another visit, right?"

Right!

I've taken two of the foodsofny.com tours. I took the Greenwich Village tour when it was the only option. The NOLA tours are similar but a bit different. Definitely come back!

<<You get off at the Lee Circle for the WWII museum>>

What Starrs means is you take the St Charles trolley to Lee Circle and then it's a short walk to the WWII museum. There are three trolley lines. The St. Charles has the green-and-brown cars. It's the same line you take to Commanders' Palace.

And we loved walking around the cemetery across the street from Commanders' Palace!

"What Starrs means is you take the St Charles trolley to Lee Circle and then it's a short walk to the WWII museum"

Not sure why a "translation" was needed since I cited the "St. Charles Streetcar line" in the previous sentence.
"It's the same line you take to Commanders' Palace."
See first sentence. ;)


"And we loved walking around the cemetery across the street from Commanders' Palace!"

cd, me too!
I think I'm going to take a tour this time!

Appreciate all the visual clues I can get to find the correct street car, i.e., green and brown.

This is the tour we are planning: Garden district AND cemetery:

http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/new-o...cemetery-tour/

We went to the WWII museum last year and it was great! My husband, 2 boys and I thought it was well worth the morning we spent there. Close by is the confederate museum, also good but can be skipped. Definitely go to Cochon restaurant for lunch when you are in the area. Just a few blocks from the museum. It was hands down our favorite casual dining experience an meal during our trip!

The sculpture garden is a great place to take a walk and enjoy a nice day.

Again, don't bother with the car in the quarter. If you want to see plantations, pick one day for a tour.

Take the ferry over to Algiers just to get on the river and see the city from the West Bank.

http://www.neworleansonline.com/tool...und/ferry.html

rncheryl -- we took that exact tour of the garden district and cemetery this past December. Highly recommended. Definitely take the time for the WWII museum, if you have any interest in history. I agree that you will not need a car.

Noo, you don't need to rent a car!! The museum is great and so is Mr. B's Bistro...Enjoy!!!