My friends and I will be driving to New Orleans from Iowa in late March for brief vacation. Would appreciate ideas for reasonable restaurants, motels, attractions. Also, nearby beaches?

I hate to be a party pooper, but March is the busiest month of the year in New Orleans. Even though Mardi Gras is over, March is packed with conventions and finding anything at all might present a problem. Having said that, I think there may be a youth hostel there, so you might look into it. The closest beaches to New Orleans aren't necessarily the best, but if you want to take the time, you can drive over to Biloxi...it's about 90 miles away.