We have 10 days holiday in mid-November and thinking of visiting New Orleans and touring around the surrounding area. How's the weather that time of year - I understand it's still (just) inside the hurricane season, but more generally what could we expect? Ideas for places we could visit by car elsewhere in Louisiana welcome too!

Sorry for my ham-fisted typing in the title - I meant New Orleans of course. (Why doesn't this forum have a spell-checker???)

Where will you be coming from ? It would actually be a hindrance & added cost to have a car in the Quarter. Many posts on here you should fine helpful incl. trip reports. I wouldn't concern myself w/the hurricanes, I'm headed there in a few weeks.

We're from the UK. In fact our plan would be to fly in ad spend a few days carless in the city before picking up a car and touring round for the second half of the trip. Been to the US more times than I can remember but have never got round to New Orleans before.

An excellent plan. I would recommend (outside NOLA) perhaps visiting Natchez & even Vicksburg, MS. - http://www.natchez.ms.us/, http://web.vicksburg.org/vicksburg/default.aspx
Closer to town I would also consider a 'swamp tour'.

You haven't said what kind of travel you enjoy - walking, architecture, foodie, history - ? If you could give us an idea of what interests you, I think that you'll get more specific suggestions.

HST, DH and I have visited NOLA as often as we can get down (from Canada), and have adopted it as a second home. Never had a bad time, never had a bad meal (pre- and post-Katrina).

Anyway, let us know what interests you.

Late October to November is usually a lovely time in New Orleans. Getting cool, but not cold. Sometimes rainy, but not too often.

Also agree with Natchez, and then maybe add Port Gibson if you head up to Vicksburg. Otherwise, Cajun Country (Lafayette area) is always fun - good music and food!

Thanks for the positive feedback so far on the weather - just wanted to check it's not a clear no-go time of year. We're not put off by the odd shower of rain, as long as it's better than we'll experience back home in the UK (which I'm sure it will be).

We're interested in many of the things I believe New Orleans has in abundance: history, good food, music, museums... also enjoy driving/touring around independently.

Supposing we booked a hotel in the French Quarter, is there somewhere convenient to pick up a car when we leave to tour outside the city?