New Orleans visit
 

We have 3 1/2 days in New Orleans the end of this month. How would you spend your days? We want to get the most out of our short visit there (first time in NO) Thanks

we took a day tour which included the city, plantations and a swamp tour. it was worth the money.

Try doing a search of this site using "New Orleans". There's an immense amount of good information ready for you to wade through! Enjoy the city - it's wonderful!!

I would definitely avoid the boat tours on the Mississippi River -- it is so, so<BR>filthy and not much to see of any value.

judi, All sorts of things to do and as Cindy points out, try the text search.<BR><BR>As for me, I'd spend my 3.5 days eating, drinking, dancing and listening to some good music. Geez. Wait a min... I've done that! Guess I gotta go again!<BR><BR>One warning...watch out for short gals from Ohio! ;^D<BR>Kal

Judi, on the other hand you might want to keep an eye out for any great big fellas from California who want to bet you they know where you got your shoes. <BR>(That's a joke, but DO beware of that scam!)

Judi: We were there the first week of March so we had more time than you will have. Some of the things we enjoyed were a carriage ride through French Quarter, Tours by Isabelle grand Tour (swamp and plantations), hurricane at Pat O'Briens, Bananas Foster at Brennans, Imax theatre and Aquariam, shrimp poboy at Johnny's, muffilita at Central Grocery, beignets at Cafe du Monde, jazz brunch at Commander's Palace and Court of Two Sisters, walking around Jackson Square enjoying the street performers, shopping, bars on Bourbon (our favorite Lastrada), cooking class at New Orleans School of Cooking, French market and much more. The food is great and the people are friendly. It is a fun city.

Sheila, Could you tell us a bit more of your first hand experience at the cooking school? Sounds interesting.<BR><BR>I hear Ohio gals may need some cooking lessons,too. ;^D<BR><BR>Save your money...The answer is: On your feet!<BR>Kal

I am having trouble posting so 3 answers may show up. We were seated at tables in front of Michael, our instructor. He prepared gumbo, jambalaya, bread pudding and pralines. We received huge samples plus tea, water and beer. The class was 3 hours (10 - 1) and located at 524 St. Louis St. I made reservations from their website and the cost was $25 each. It was one of our favorite things that we did. Hope this posts this time.

The National Park Service offers some really good walking tours of the French Quarter, cemetaries, and the Garden District. They are free but you have to sign up in advance. They're located in the French Market area. I'd spend an hour or so at the Cafe in the French Market sipping chicory coffee and eating beignets while watching the people and the street entertainers. Another favorite of ours is Uglesich's.

Plummie's info is old. The Park Service only does tours of the Quarter and only one per day, with a limit of 20-30 people, first come first serve. Also, the Park Service office is now across from Tower Records on Decatur.

try the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, it's fantastic, nothing is behind bars with the exception of a 11 ft. Burmese Python. You can also take tours of cemeteries with them!

Sheila: Do you know if you can tell ahead what the menu is going to be at the cooking classes or is it the same the whole time? I don't want my poor husband to have to drink beer ALL the time because he doesn't happen to be interested in the courses being prepared....yeah, right.....like that could happen.....

Sheila, Thx for the info. I would love to do it. Mrs Kal would love FOR me to do it!<BR><BR>If there is any beer after Cindy and hubby leave, we may sign up! ;^D. <BR>God forbid we are in town and in the SAME class!<BR>Kal

Cindy: Go to website: thelouisianageneralstore.com/Merchant/schoolframeindex.html. Where it says "open" lunch classes, click on menu and it tells their menu for each day of the week. I think on Mondays they do red beans and rice. The food was very good and it was a lot of fun.

Sheila, Thx for the site. I'm there!<BR>Since I'm almost as big as Paul Prudhomme, I'll fit right in. <BR>Kal

EVERYONE does red beans and rice on Monday in New Orleans!! It's wash day, after all, and the simmering beans can cook all day.