snowrooster

Taking our teens the New Orleans for the first time in the spring (dh and I have been many times) and would like to ride the St. Charles streetcar as it will give them a ride on the streetcar and a glimpse of the Garden District. That said, I think riding it to the end, getting off, then riding it back again may be a little dull for them (I believe it would take about 2 hours) so I would like to get off and do something prior to riding back towards the French Quarter (where we are staying).

I've read other posts on this and am considering either lunch at Cooter Browns (is this along the St Charles streetcar route?) or Sucre for a snack. Am I correct in assuming that Sucre is actually in the Garden District, whereas Cooter Browns is past it? We have a lot of things to fit in to our itinerary so whichever is closer/more convenient is probably best.

Any other suggestions for a quick stop along the St Charles streetcar route?

Thanks!

starrs

That sounds like my suggestion. Fodorites recommended Cooter Brown at the riverbend and it was great. There were other restaurants there (including the Camellia Grill), but CB is very casual and the food is great. I had the best po-boy there. Then we got back on the streetcar heading back into town and got off at the 8th street stop (but any would work) and walked down Harmony St. to Magazine St. After strolling along Magazine for a while, we headed back towards the streetcar, wandered in the cemetery for a while, (with Commander's Palace on the corner) and then headed back on the streetcar.

Another stop we really enjoyed was Meyer the Hatter (get off at Common Street). A fabulous family hat store with the tiny little grand-mère still working there, helping folks find the perfect hat.

http://www.meyerthehatter.com/history.aspx

sf7307

We've been to the end of the line and eaten at both Cooter Brown's and Camellia Grill. For lunch, I'd pick Camellia Grill - all counter, good food, the way the waiters (in uniforms!) treat everyone, and everyone treats everyone else, you'd think you'd been there a hundred times. For dinner or later I'd do Cooter Brown's, great atmosphere, good food (I had a delicious muffaletta there).

longhorn55

I'd recommned doing one of the following free self-guided walking tours so you can "see" some of the Garden District and not just look at it at a distance from the streetcar or spend the little time you have in a shop or restaurant. We did the first of the two listed tours and it took us only 45 minutes.

1. http://www.frommers.com/destinations....mfLqhw9s.dpbs

2. http://www.bigboytravel.com/louisian...ictwalkingtour

DebitNM

Go to the cemetary: Lafayetter No. 1 is there.

http://www.freetoursbyfoot.com/new-orleans-tours/

DebitNM

This is almost at the end of the streetcar line; GREAT food!

http://boucherie-nola.com/

snowrooster

We would love to do everything, but we are trying to cram a lot of stuff into 4 full days, including leaving the city to tour Laura Plantation one day and doing an airboat adventure another, so time is limited. Ideally, we would love to spend more time in the Garden District but for this trip, it isn't in the cards. We are going to Commanders Palace for dinner our final night (already have reservations) and we are going to tour a cemetery, but it will be St Louis since my kids are familiar w Marie Leveau (sp?).

So, if we wanted to ride the St Charles streetcar and not take up an entire afternoon doing so, would getting off to have a snack at Sucre and then riding it back the other way be the best option?

So much to do (and eat!) and so little time!!

starrs

"So, if we wanted to ride the St Charles streetcar and not take up an entire afternoon"

It won't take an entire afternoon. It will take as long as you want. Ride it to a stop near Sucre, walk a few blocks, you're there, eat a macaron or gelato or other dessert at Sucre, walk a few blocks and ride back. It could be an hour. It could be two. I doubt we spent three hours, shopping at the hat store, riding to the curve, eating lunch, riding back, getting off to walk to Magazine street, getting back on and riding back. I don't remember it taking more than three hours at the most. We wandered through the cemetery (no tour) and probably spent 10-15 minutes there.

I think you are overthinking this.

starrs

I just "timed" it using Google maps.
It's 39 minutes from Meyer the Hatter's to Cooter Brown's
(you don't have to go to the hat store, but I used it because it's a good starting point near the start of the line.

It's 26 minutes from Commander's Palace to CB (at the curve).
21 minutes on the streetcar. 4 min and 1 min walk at each end.

It's a 6 to 8 minute walk from Sucre to Commander's Palace.
We sauntered and spent a few minutes more cutting through the cemetery, stopping to look and take photos.

Get on the streetcar. Go as far as you want. Get off. Walk around. Get back on. Ride back.

snowrooster

Is Sucre on Magazine within the Garden District?

DebitNM

Yes, it is within Garden District.

http://www.neworleansonline.com/tool...tion/maps.html

starrs

Yes.

Snowrooster, use Google maps to "see" these places. It will really help you see what we are describing. I don't think writing a fourth (or fifth) description of the same thing is going to work.

DebitNM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_...t,_New_Orleans

snowrooster

Thanks, starrs and DebitNM, this is all very helpful.

I am totally overthinking, but I want to squeeze everything in as chances are this will be our one and only family trip to NOLA.

I would love to take a leisurely ride on the steetcar, but I think the kids would get bored. Would like to try Cooter Browns, but then we would have to bump one of our other lunches off the itinerary, which would likely be Johnnys Po Boys, and dh really wants to go there.

For me, the more I plan ahead of time, the less there is to worry about and figure out once we are there which allows me to relax and enjoy the trip!

starrs

Okay, here's a map.
http://www.norta.com/Maps-Schedules/...12&direction=1

Here are my recommendations -
Get on near "B" = near Canal St (my landmark is Meyer the Hatter)
Ride the streetcar to the "turn" -
See the 90 degree turn between G and H?
That's where the Camellia Grill and Cooter Brown's Tavern are.

That's about a 39 minute ride.

Get back on going on in the other direction.

Zoom in between D and C. Do you see the green square (cemetery) with Commander's Palace at the corner?
Magazine street is 3 blocks to the south.

Get off the streetcar somewhere in the general area and walk to Magazine Street.
We got off at 8th street and walked down Harmony (beautiful street with beautiful homes and lemon trees in December), walked along Magazine Street for a while, stopped at Sucre, etc. When you've had enough (10 min? 20 min?) walk back toward the streetcar, get back on and ride back.
(We walked up 8th, through the cemetery, past CM and on to a stop - and got a great photo of Mardi Gras beads still up in the branches of the live oaks.

Just wander a bit. It's a lovely area.

snowrooster

What if we want to go to the zoo? Just kidding!!! Thanks for all of this - it is very helpful!!

starrs

I started working New Orleans (the state) in 1985. The local rep drove me all over the state and we'd stop at the hole in the wall places (with oyster shell parking lots that "tore up" the heels of my pumps). I've eaten po-boys all over the state of Louisiana. The ones at Cooter Brown's are as good as any I've had anywhere. But if your husband wants Johnny's, go there).

If that's the case, ride the streetcar to around 6th, walk down to Magazine St., stop at Sucre (there are some cool stores nearby that your teens would like) and then head back. That's about an hour "adventure".

starrs

I'd skip the zoo.

Grcxx3

Something to consider at Cooter Brown's (as much as I love it) - I don't believe anyone under 21 is allowed inside. You can go inside and order your food, but you can't stay inside.

The last time we were there with our sons, both were under 21 and we had to eat at the tables outside. Still great food, but it would be a bummer if the weather isn't nice.

starrs

Excellent point.
I noticed the tables outside but didn't think about the under 21 thing.