isabel

We want to briefly visit New Orleans as part of a six week road trip next fall. We will probably be there early in Thanksgiving week. I am mostly interested in the French Quarter, and primarily interested in the architecture. Won't be doing any museums or (sadly) any indoor dining - just outside with table service or take away (I am very high risk and since mask mandates are gone I need to be very careful). But I still think I can enjoy a self guided walking tour and some great food. I have seen some good walking tours (Frommers has one) that claim to take about 2 hours. I am thinking we would arrive mid afternoon one day and stay about 24 hours. We will stay at a hotel in (or on the edge of) the French Quarter. My question: is this enough time? I can stretch it to be there for 2 nights but the trip is already getting longer than I had wanted and if all we are doing is walking around and fairly fast meals and poking around in a few antique shops I don't know if we need a full day and a half. Thanks

Sassafrass

IMHO, the French Quarter is more about music, community life, food and shopping, and the Garden District is the place for architecture.

While the front facades in the French Quarter are certainly of interest, they were more so people could sit on balconies and see all of the street life and activities below. It seemed to me that in the French quarter the insides and interior courtyards with patios, stables, etc., were of more architectural and cultural interest, and where family life took place. So, seeing at least one interior space like the Hermann-Grima House is worthwhile. I saw only the H-G house and loved the tour, but wish I had seen the Gallier House also.

Since architecture is your major interest, where NOLA really shines is the Garden District! It is house after house, block after block of houses that are everything from majestic with great porches and columns to artistic creations of decorative balustrades and curlicues. You could walk yourself or take a walking tour, which would be informative and interesting.

I also thought the cemetery, with many architectural tombs, at the end of the Garden District, was most interesting (and beautiful).

I too am immune compromised, and have not traveled at all, even to a local museum in two years, so understand your reluctance. There will be many more people outside on the streets of NOLA than inside any of the old homes. Even outdoor seating tended to be crowded, at least where we were, so you might want to research that and plan ahead. I hope things are better by time you are there.

If this link does not work just google it.
images of the Garden District, NOLA

www.neworleans.com/plan/neighborhoods/french-

tomfuller

Plan on eating begniets from cafe du monde and then walk around the French Quarter. Take the St. Charles St. streetcar from Canal Street into the Garden District.

isabel

Sassafras - good point about seeing a house interior, and you are right, they are often not at all crowded. So I will put those houses on my list. I'm now thinking two nights (so one full day and a small part of the afternoon arrival day/morning departure day). That would give me enough time to also see the Garden District. I'm a little worried it might be too much time but it does work better that way with the rest of my itinerary.

Tom- I realize there is a streetcar and normally that is what I'd do. I'll have to see how crowded they are. Otherwise we would have to drive and find parking which I know will be a pain.

tomfuller

Take a taxi (Uber/Lyft) out St Charles Ave from Canal St. into the Garden District. If you see a streetcar that doesn't have many people on it you could take it to get back. I depends on how far you want to walk.
There may be walking tours in the cemetery if that interests you.