Weekend of Dec. 11 - Good time for First-timer New Orleans visit?
 

Pondering a short trip to New Orleans early December. Never been there, and I would like to go in winter. Sounds very atmospheric in the pre-Christmas weeks. So, is there any reason - like a big sporting event - which would make this a bad time to go? I do appreciate any advice. Thanks.

dovima -- i am going to NOLA the same weekend you are with mom & sister -- all of us first timers. We have found plenty of hotel options (check out my thread). I did a historical weather check, looks like mid-60's -- warm enough not to bring heavy sweaters/coats, cool enough to be comfortable.

However, I would still love to know the answer to your question!

Thanks, SenecaGirl!
I am so clueless as to football and the like - it would be just like me to plan a vacation for the biggest game weekend of the year.

I have lived in NO for the 1st 30 yrs of my life and definitely would not rule out at least a heavy jacket. It can get into the 30's or 40's at night. That said, definitely do not miss "Christmas in the Oaks" in City park. It is a Christmas light display and decorations in our gorgeous City Park, With massive, moss draped live oaks. You can even take a horse drawn carriage for the tour, for an extra fee. I promise you will not be disappointed!
Have a great time!!!

There are no big events that weekend that I'm aware of; except the Bonfires Festival, and that's not in New Orleans, it is outside of town.

Go to http://fqfi.org/ and look at Christmas in New Orleans, for hotel specials and for events. A Reveillon dinner is always fun, too.

Bring a coat and especially gloves, but mostly, wear clothes that can be layered, so that you can take off a layer or two if it gets too hot. Silk longies are a good idea; they pack a lot of extra warmth in a small package, and you can always duck into a restroom and take them off it the day warms up.

yesu39470 - Have you ever driven by the Copeland's house and seen their XMas light display? It is a fond memory from my childhood - we would drive by (after waiting behind other cars) and just be in awe. My mom said she saw somewhere that it was picked as one of the best individual home xmas light displays in the country.

This is a great time to visit N.O. We always try to go one or two weekends before Xmas. It only backfired (slightly) last year when we went during the bicentenial of the LA Purchase. You're smart to try to avoid events. N.O. is much better (in my opinion) when the number of tourists is lower.

As for what to wear, make that decision after checking the forecast just prior to your trip. We've seen 80's and 30's on our December trips.

If you go to the weather channel website (www.weather.com) they'll give you a forecast 10 days in advance and can also show you historically what the averages are for any city any given dates of the year.

dovima -- The rates on the www.fqfi.com are great -- it separates out the hotel locations (downtown, french quarter, garden district, et) and includes phone #, web-site, rates, and amenities, and short description of the hotel. Really helpful!!

Thanks to Ryn2691 for the info...SenecaGirl

Thank you everyone - I really appreciate the input!

A further question - Reveillon dinners - I always understood they were a Christmas Eve or New Years Eve event? Or has the custom spread out to include more of the pre-Christmas season? I would love to hear a description of such dinners. Any recommendations for a restaurant to go to for a Reveillon menu? I would be by myself ( I have no qualms about dining alone) and would like a nice, not super-fancy place to go for this experience. Thank you.

The website I noted earlier has menus for all the ongoing Reveillon dinner menus in the city. These days there is a Reveillon event associated with the Christmas in New Orleans promotions, and they run all through the month of December, not just Xmas week. Many of the restaurants compete with one another in this program; the chefs like to come up with some really innovative menus for these events, and the prices tend to be wonderful for what is being offered.

As everywhere, locals don't go out to restaurants as much in December because they tend to be busy with family/kids events; this is a way to draw people in.