WOW A Big thankyou to all of you good people for taking the time to help me get the best out of New Orleans. Weimer, we are actually from Sydney, pity about the lack of good Aussie beer but we are quite partial to a Bud so will no doubt survive.

Thanks again everyone.

Jenny

First, be prepared for the French Quarter. It is lovely and interesting, but a mixed bag--ie.charm mixed with smelly streets and the occasional pile of puke ('specially on a Sunday morning) i alwasy think it is better to know ALL aspects of waht to expect in a place.
Things to do--don't miss a ride (cab, car, or streetcar) along St Charles Ave toward uptown, at NIGHT when you see through the gorgeous etched glass doors and windows .The light makes their beauty even more remarkable. Def'lly take the St Charles Streetcar at least once. Walk through the Garden District and part of Magazine Street for some local shops.
Begnets at Cafe Du Monde, as mentioned (the orignal one, nr the French mkt--they also have branches at malls).
Cafe Boucherie for great coffee and atmosphere (Chartres at Conti Street) and Cafe Masperro for N.O. food at unbelieveably low prices (and $1 glasses of wine or strawberry daiquiris) . Camellia Grill , which is open til 3 a.m.. for more local flavor--hamburgers, etc, and GREAT waiters and 1940s ambiance.
I'd carefull consider choice of areas in which to stay. Persoanally, I wouldn't recommend staying right in the Fr Quarter. This is something to research over your next few months, a choice based on the kind of environment and accomodation you like. Check out wqww.tripadvisor.com. Ask on Fodors, and youi'll get more ideas.
Bon Voyage for next winter!

What about at night???....besides Bourbon St.

BigJim-
The bars on Frenchman Street (dba, Cafe Brasil, etc) have great live music with the same walk in the street type atmostphere.
Also, you can check out Tipitina's on Tchoupitoulas for more good music.
Sitting on the porch at Columns Hotel on St. Charles Avenue having cocktail watching the streecar and the people makes for a nice evening, too.
If you're looking for non-bar activities at night, hmmmm.... I might have to think more on that one!

Where is the Dday museum? And where is the Presbetere with the Mardi Gras history? Are these both in the French Q?

The D-Day Museum is outside of the Quarter. The Presbytere is right next to St Louis Cathedral & Jackson Square in the heart of the Quarter. The Old Mint (LA State Museum) is at the edge of the Quarter by the French Market & it had a Mardi Gras museum there too.

"charm mixed with smelly streets and the occasional pile of puke ('specially on a Sunday morning) " >> exactly !

but folks keep going back..

L

Grayline tours does an evening dinner tour called Crescent City Nights - starts about 5:45, includes dinner at Tujague's restaurant, a cocktail and show at a jazz club, which for now is the Bienville House Hotel for the excellent "Satchmo Review" which incidentally, you can do on your own as well. The tour finishes with beignets and cafe au lait. It's over by 10 pm and includes transportation back to your hotel. What's nice about it, you are accompanied by a tour guide who gives you a little of history of NO, you see a little of Bourbon Street, and pass other restaurants and clubs you might want to go to later.

Don't think there are any other tour companies doing evening tours like this, other than dinner on the Natchez paddlewheel.

After 15 min. of walking down Bourbon (just to say you did) make arrangements as fast as you can to see the tribute to "Satchmo" by the Louis Armstrong Society Jazz Band at the Bienville House Hotel, at 320 Decatur in the French Qtr..
My family and I have been visiting the Big Easy for many years, and this year was made the most memorable; We had seen a blurb in the Dallas Morning News on this cabaret show and only two weeks ago, purchased tickets at the door and had the best hour of fun and jazz memories of Louis Armstrong with the band and singer Julie Jules.
If you like jazz, and don't want to settle for the silly, cheap souvenirs, this is the best "memory souvenir" you can take home!!! Fun,fun, fun, with the favorite songs brought back right in front of you! You will be glad you did! Call ahead for nights and times!!

Oops, I forgot, I agree, the riverboat is great, the zoo is fun, and the Acme Oyster House is tops!! For cheap souvenirs go to the French Mkt. on Fri. or Sat. AM.
Most of the places to stay in the Qtr. are terribly overpriced, and loud at night, do not, I repeat, do not even think about staying at St. Vincents B&B on Magazine! They will use your VISA card as their own!!!