Suggestions for NOLA Weekend
Jan 11th, 2011, 11:16 AM
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Suggestions for NOLA Weekend
My girlfriend and I are hitting New Orleans for the weekend at the end of the month. We have already booked a plantation tour for Saturday. We were going to take the Steamboat tour but it seems that is in dry dock for repairs. Any suggestions for the rest of the weekend? We will be staying at a B&B on Esplanade Avenue. Thanks for any help you may be able to offer.
Jan 11th, 2011, 11:37 AM
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This is a word document that is my standard answer to anybody with your question. Please pick-and-choose as you wish and enjoy the city!!
This is long, but it’s full of good info (at least as far as I’m concerned *smile*). We aren’t big spenders while on vacations, so restaurants will be pretty inexpensive. The Inn on Bourbon is a great place to stay - that’s where most of our money goes because we get a Bourbon Street balcony room. When you need a break you can sit out front and just watch everybody coming and going on the street and all their antics. The bad part is that if you’re on Bourbon Street, you’re going to have noise at night. And I mean a LOT of noise! About the time the revelers are done for the night, the street car cleaners begin and they go at it with a purpose! If you want to keep beverages in your room there’s a Rouses market in the Quarter (701 Royal St) that sells cheap coolers (along with pop, beer, liquor, wine, snacks, etc.) which is good since IOB doesn’t have refrigerators in the rooms. They are located pretty close to the center of the Quarter so you don’t need a car for most of your travels.
If you want a swamp or plantation tour most of them will pick you up at your hotel so that’s no problem (if you decide on a swamp tour, just go for ½ a day, that‘s plenty long enough.)
For other things to do:
Ride the Canal Street Streetcar to the Garden District to see the mansions - it’s only $1.25 each way and you get a lot of sights.
Take a walk through Jackson Square, the French Market and of course Bourbon Street - Frenchman Street is located just at the end of the Quarter and is great for jazz.
Gray Line has a city tour that has a short cemetery stop so you can see one without spending much time on it.
Along with the artists and palm readers, there is a ton of history at Jackson Square - three buildings to see are the Cabildo, St. Louis Cathedral, and the Presbytère.
At the far end of Jackson Square is Café DuMonde which is a definite breakfast stop for beignets and café au lait. Use the to-go window and take them up on the Riverwalk to watch the Mississippi as you eat.
There are a couple cooking classes you can take that are fun.
A ride on the Steamboat Natchez is ok but don’t go for a dinner cruise, there are too many places in NOLA with much better food.
Which brings us to food (all located within walking distance in the Quarter):
Acme Oyster House
Oceana Grill
YoMama’s (the best burgers in the Quarter, but it’s a dive!)
Maspero’s on Decatur
Central Grocery if you want to try a muffuletta
Court of Two Sisters for brunch
Pat O’Brien’s for hurricanes (might want to stick with one, if any!)
Johnny‘s Po-Boys
If you‘re really brave try a Lucky Dog.
Razoo’s and Cat’s Meow are crazy 3-1 drink bars located right on Bourbon Street.
Lafitte’s Bar for “atmosphere”
Clover Grill for breakfast
Margaritaville (should you happen to be a Parrothead)
Déjà vu (another dive but great food)
Pier 424 (great seafood)
More high class meals would be Emeril’s NOLA.
Here are some websites that can also help out. The first two are free guides you can order - the neworleansonline site has a link with a good map of the Quarter but I think most hotels have those available. The third through fifth have discount coupon links and the last explains Lucky Dogs. They’re a staple for hangover cures and, according to locals, are lethal. Personally, we love them.
The webcams are to get you in the mood - I love to watch the people…..
http://www.louisianatravel.com/guide-order
http://www.neworleansonline.com/
http://www.neworleansschoolofcooking.com/
http://www.mangodaiquiris.com/
http://www.experienceneworleans.com/...ons/index.html
http://www.luckydogs.us/
Webcams
http://www.nola.com/jacksonsquarecam/
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/louisian...bourbonstreet/
This is long, but it’s full of good info (at least as far as I’m concerned *smile*). We aren’t big spenders while on vacations, so restaurants will be pretty inexpensive. The Inn on Bourbon is a great place to stay - that’s where most of our money goes because we get a Bourbon Street balcony room. When you need a break you can sit out front and just watch everybody coming and going on the street and all their antics. The bad part is that if you’re on Bourbon Street, you’re going to have noise at night. And I mean a LOT of noise! About the time the revelers are done for the night, the street car cleaners begin and they go at it with a purpose! If you want to keep beverages in your room there’s a Rouses market in the Quarter (701 Royal St) that sells cheap coolers (along with pop, beer, liquor, wine, snacks, etc.) which is good since IOB doesn’t have refrigerators in the rooms. They are located pretty close to the center of the Quarter so you don’t need a car for most of your travels.
If you want a swamp or plantation tour most of them will pick you up at your hotel so that’s no problem (if you decide on a swamp tour, just go for ½ a day, that‘s plenty long enough.)
For other things to do:
Ride the Canal Street Streetcar to the Garden District to see the mansions - it’s only $1.25 each way and you get a lot of sights.
Take a walk through Jackson Square, the French Market and of course Bourbon Street - Frenchman Street is located just at the end of the Quarter and is great for jazz.
Gray Line has a city tour that has a short cemetery stop so you can see one without spending much time on it.
Along with the artists and palm readers, there is a ton of history at Jackson Square - three buildings to see are the Cabildo, St. Louis Cathedral, and the Presbytère.
At the far end of Jackson Square is Café DuMonde which is a definite breakfast stop for beignets and café au lait. Use the to-go window and take them up on the Riverwalk to watch the Mississippi as you eat.
There are a couple cooking classes you can take that are fun.
A ride on the Steamboat Natchez is ok but don’t go for a dinner cruise, there are too many places in NOLA with much better food.
Which brings us to food (all located within walking distance in the Quarter):
Acme Oyster House
Oceana Grill
YoMama’s (the best burgers in the Quarter, but it’s a dive!)
Maspero’s on Decatur
Central Grocery if you want to try a muffuletta
Court of Two Sisters for brunch
Pat O’Brien’s for hurricanes (might want to stick with one, if any!)
Johnny‘s Po-Boys
If you‘re really brave try a Lucky Dog.
Razoo’s and Cat’s Meow are crazy 3-1 drink bars located right on Bourbon Street.
Lafitte’s Bar for “atmosphere”
Clover Grill for breakfast
Margaritaville (should you happen to be a Parrothead)
Déjà vu (another dive but great food)
Pier 424 (great seafood)
More high class meals would be Emeril’s NOLA.
Here are some websites that can also help out. The first two are free guides you can order - the neworleansonline site has a link with a good map of the Quarter but I think most hotels have those available. The third through fifth have discount coupon links and the last explains Lucky Dogs. They’re a staple for hangover cures and, according to locals, are lethal. Personally, we love them.
The webcams are to get you in the mood - I love to watch the people…..
http://www.louisianatravel.com/guide-order
http://www.neworleansonline.com/
http://www.neworleansschoolofcooking.com/
http://www.mangodaiquiris.com/
http://www.experienceneworleans.com/...ons/index.html
http://www.luckydogs.us/
Webcams
http://www.nola.com/jacksonsquarecam/
http://www.earthcam.com/usa/louisian...bourbonstreet/
Jan 11th, 2011, 12:55 PM
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If you only plan to be there for a weekend (¬ been prior) I would skip the Plantation Tour & most anything else that drags you away from the Quarter & its' environs. There are tons of excellent trip reports on here & Nola is a wonderful city to just meander. Also curious as to where you may be staying, exactly. It could be OK....or not.
Jan 11th, 2011, 01:34 PM
#4
If you tire of the French Quarter, the Garden District is nice.
The Canal Street streetcar is the newest line. The Saint Charles goes into the Garden District. Stay out of the Lower 9th Ward. Katrina really wrecked that place.
The Canal Street streetcar is the newest line. The Saint Charles goes into the Garden District. Stay out of the Lower 9th Ward. Katrina really wrecked that place.
Jan 11th, 2011, 01:53 PM
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I agree- unless you have a deep love of old homes in the country- skip the plantation tour. Plenty of gorgeous architecture in the city. I love to take the St Charles streetcar through the Garden District, seeing all the beautiful homes, then get off at the Riverbend and have lunch at Cooter Browns, then walk around Audubon Park and back toward the quarter on Magazine, stopping at funky stores and bars along the way, cutting over on cross streets to see gorgeous homes, then when we get tired, hop in a taxi or on the bus to head back to the Quarter/Marigny.
If you like live music, check out the Frenchmen St scene in the Marigny.
Have fun- sometimes the best laid plans get sidetracked in the "city that care forgot" and you end up spending the day eating something delicious and talking to an interesting local at a bar... all part of the experience!
If you like live music, check out the Frenchmen St scene in the Marigny.
Have fun- sometimes the best laid plans get sidetracked in the "city that care forgot" and you end up spending the day eating something delicious and talking to an interesting local at a bar... all part of the experience!
Jan 14th, 2011, 05:40 AM
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cccolor...Thanks for your great tips. I have seen your posts on other questions and appreciate your info.
SAnParis 2...We are booked at The Rathbone Mansions on Esplanade. My daughter just stayed there for three days and liked it. And we are already booked on the Oak Alley Tour. It was a must do for my girlfriend. And I have to say I am looking forward to it.
We are looking forward to traveling on the street cars as well. Sunday and Monday are for just letting whatever happens, happen. Thank you everyone for your help!
SAnParis 2...We are booked at The Rathbone Mansions on Esplanade. My daughter just stayed there for three days and liked it. And we are already booked on the Oak Alley Tour. It was a must do for my girlfriend. And I have to say I am looking forward to it.
We are looking forward to traveling on the street cars as well. Sunday and Monday are for just letting whatever happens, happen. Thank you everyone for your help!
Jan 16th, 2011, 02:31 PM
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Oak Alley is worth seeing...the oaks are amazing. I tend to agree with others that it would not be on my list for a 1st trip to NOLA, but you want to keep your girlfriend happy. We actually stayed one night in one of the cottages on the grounds during a trip.
I would highly recommend a cemetary/voodoo tour. They are very informative and different. We went on one that visited St. Louis Cemetary No.1, which was used in a scene from Easy Rider. They lock the gates, so you can't just walk in whenever you want, but it is not too far from your lodging.
Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World is also quite interesting, but does take a little bit of time. You can take a free ferry across the river to Algiers, and they have a van that will pick you up and bring you to their facility. They talk about making the floats, have some costumes, etc.
Preservation Hall is famous for its jazz, but you have to get there early to get a seat and most people sit on the floor. You can pay extra for seats, but I think you have to reserve those ahead of time. I've never actually gone inside, but it's fun to walk by and stand out on the sidewalk and listen for awhile.
For food...Napolean House is a great NOLA fixture in the quarter. Their muffulettas are very good and they have a huge beautiful wood bar. I still like Galatiore's for dinner and Commander's Palace for brunch. Muriel's in Jackson Square was good the last time I was there, but that was in April of the year Katrina hit. I haven't been back since, but will be going this year for Mardi Gras!
I would highly recommend a cemetary/voodoo tour. They are very informative and different. We went on one that visited St. Louis Cemetary No.1, which was used in a scene from Easy Rider. They lock the gates, so you can't just walk in whenever you want, but it is not too far from your lodging.
Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World is also quite interesting, but does take a little bit of time. You can take a free ferry across the river to Algiers, and they have a van that will pick you up and bring you to their facility. They talk about making the floats, have some costumes, etc.
Preservation Hall is famous for its jazz, but you have to get there early to get a seat and most people sit on the floor. You can pay extra for seats, but I think you have to reserve those ahead of time. I've never actually gone inside, but it's fun to walk by and stand out on the sidewalk and listen for awhile.
For food...Napolean House is a great NOLA fixture in the quarter. Their muffulettas are very good and they have a huge beautiful wood bar. I still like Galatiore's for dinner and Commander's Palace for brunch. Muriel's in Jackson Square was good the last time I was there, but that was in April of the year Katrina hit. I haven't been back since, but will be going this year for Mardi Gras!
