Hi. We'll be staying in Hammond with a rental car, but we'd like to take in a day of Mardi Gras, (probably Lundi Gras). We'd like to find a place to park for the day and then take public transport into see the festivities; where should we park the car?

I would normally say "DON'T DO IT" as far as a car during Mardi Gras. HOWEVER, try the lot at Elysian Fields and Decatur. It's near the French Market, is secure, and is only $5 per day! You can take I-610 to Elysian fields and then turn right, 2 miles.

If you park where John suggested, you can then hop on the riverfront streetcar that runs along Decatur - and, as the name suggests, the river. This will take you up to the Aquarium/Canal Street area. Most of the big downtown parades run along Canal and St. Charles which is about 3 blocks or so up from the river. If you want to go further uptown to see the parades on St. Charles, you can get on the St. Charles steetcar at Canal Street or on Poydras (a few blocks over from Canal in the CBD). The streetcar fare is $1.25 or $1.50. Exact change required.

Boz - here's your first post with the info. It just sank.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Because we're driving from Hammond, the rental car isn't optional. The easier-to-find, cheaper, and closer-to-public-transportation to the festivities that we can park it, the better.

Meg, I'm not sure what you were saying about the first message? Sank?