Headed to NOLA for a quick trip (a few more miles were needed for Medallion st.atus). We've both been before for business and leisure travel, so this is not a "see everything" trip but more of a Favorite Things and Find New Things trip. The favorite hotel is booked, and time to decide on what to do.

Already on the list -
Beignets at Cafe du Monde
http://www.cafedumonde.com/
BBQ Shrimp at Pascale's Manale
http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com.../overview.html
New - Walking and tasting tour (I hope it's as good as the Greenwich Village tour in NYC)
http://www.noculinarytours.com/

What are YOUR favorites?

I have a huge list I give to NOLA "virgins" but since you've already been there I'm just going to say I envy you and have a great time!!!

ccolor, send the list! I'd love to see it.

Thanks. We literally "shopped" the Delta map and looked for the cheapest airfares possible. The lowest two were Ft Lauderdale and New Orleans. We were very surprised at the "shopping" results.

No kidding - NOLA for us is usually pretty steep so I'm even more impressed.
Here ya go, sweetie. Remember this is already written up so the info about the hotel, etc. doesn't pertain to you but I'm too lazy to edit right now (it's football Saturday so I'm working on getting into the mood!!). Y'all have a good time, now!! *smile*



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
Mango Mango for a daiquiri and/or beer (these are located all over Bourbon St)
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 and with Mardi Gras right around the corner it’ll get more and more crowded and fun.

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/

Two places I ALWAYS go when in New Orleans:

1) Seafood at RioMar Seafood - a shot walk from the quarter - it's near the convention center. Un - be - lieve- a- ble! Get the garlic shrimp and ceviche assortment. http://www.riomarseafood.com/

2) Breakfast at Elizabeths - I always stay in the French Quarter but end up taking a 5 minute taxi to go here at least once during each stay for a breakfast (havn't made it for lunch or dinner though). The praline bacon is ADDICTIVE! http://www.elizabeths-restaurant.com/

Not a must do every trip, but this place is wonderful - especially if you like beer and/or oysters. Very nice vibe and the 'po boys beaty anything in the quarter. A nice excuse to take the St. Charles streetcar (it's steps away from the "riverbend" stop on the streetcar line).
http://www.cooterbrowns.com/main.html

What a great list, ccolor! Thanks and I'm glad you didn't edit it.

bardo, you are a genius. We were talking about riding the streetcar and checking out the Garden District WHILE talking about wanting a great place for po' boys. You've given us the destination for the streetcar ride AND the place for po' boys.
And who DOESN'T like beer and oysters

This trip is coming together really fast in just a couple of hours.

Dinner in the courtyard at Bayona

Thanks rncheryl.
I checked the website. It sounds fabulous.

This is also a big spooky. It is literally steps (STEPS!) away from where we are staying.

Re Cooter Brown's - we loved the place, but we love local funky places. This is a college bar, so be prepared. FWIW, the muffaletta there is excellent! (Also love breakfast at Johnny's Po Boy --- again, you have to like a certain vibe (think Diners, Drive-ins and Dives!). Another great place at the end of the streetcar is Camellia Grill -- outstanding omelettes.

Thanks, sf. I checked out the website and funky places are good. One of my favorite places is the Indian Pass Raw Bar so funky is right up our alley.

This is an impromptu trip and, although we may splurge, it's more for experiences than ambiance. I've been lucky enough to travel to NOLA on an expense budget. This is just a "fly somewhere and knock around" kind of trip.

I'll check out Camellia Grill too. Thanks.

If you care to escape the crush of people, take a step back to the Royal Tea Room & enjoy a light breakfast & decide your plans for the day. http://www.royalblendcoffee.com/gallery.html I also believe that Cafe Maspero has the best muffalettas, avoid the crowd & sit at the bar, it can be quite entertaining & you'll avoid a wait. I agree w/the Clover Grill for Breakfast, if you are eating at about 3am. I also like these joints for music - http://spottedcatmusicclub.com/ & http://www.snugjazz.com/site/ & for another place to 'escape' - http://garden.neworleanscitypark.com/

We love Irene's Cuisine. Red Fish is another favorite. The House of Blues can be fun. We go to Snug Harbor for jazz (not Dixieland). You might like to tour the World War II Museum. We've been a couple of times and they keep adding to their exhibits, and it's very well done. Such a wonderful city! Have a great time!!

I love going to Preservation Hall. There is just something timeless about the old building and the jazz musicians who play there.

And who DOESN'T like beer and oysters
__________________________________________________ ___________
We had so many great meals on our recent trip to NOLA- Galatoire's Friday lunch (OMG what an event), K-Paul's, Acme's, Lilette's, Domenica's(unbelievable pizza), Stanley's(breakfast was so good- we ate there twice), Cochon's(least impressive), Emeril's(excellent)just to name a few and of course Cafe du Monde(although the beignets weren't as good as I had remembered), Central Grocery(better than I remembered)etc.
BUT the ONE place that was really unexpected and blew us away were the grilled oysters at Drago's. My DH dislikes most seafood, especially oysters and even he rated it as his favorite dish. Our concierge recommended trying them, which we had no intention since DH frowns at the word 'oysters' but we stopped in the Hilton Riverside bar to quench our thirst with a beer during our stroll. Sitting next to us was a business man groaning away eating their grilled oysters, so we gave it a shot. THEY WERE OUT OF THIS WORLD!
For the most part, we're not creatures of habit and enjoy new experiences but on our next trip to NOLA we won't be leaving without having grilled oysters at Drago's!
Have a great trip in one of my favorite US cities! Sounds like you go often. Lucky you!

I'll muddy the water further by referencing my food and attractions trip reports from NOLA:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...y-184065-2.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...experience.cfm

Experienced much I that enjoyed on both fronts.

There are some interesting historic houses you can tour in the FQ - these are interesting, lowkey sorts of tours, so perfect for the knock-around sort of trip. I've been to the Gallier House, the 1850 House, and the Herman-Grimmer house - all were very interesting. The Beauregard-Keyes house was closed last time I was there, so I didn't get to tour that one, but it is probably (hopefully) open by now.

Bayona, it was meant to be!

Thanks for the great suggestions. This unexpected trip is going to be full of new experiences. Many thanks!

Firming up the plans. Any additional ideas?

Don't know if you're interested in getting out of town a bit, but a tour of Laura Plantation might be in order. It's different than any of the others we've visited and we really enjoyed our tour. Great gift shop too.

Once again, laissez les bons temps rouler, as they say in New Orleans.