Feeling the itch to get out of Miami? Take a road trip to New Orleans. New Orleans is known for its cuisine, music and festivals.
Here is a list of what you can do there:
- Loaded with three floors of art, the New Orleans Museum of Art will give you plenty to gaze at. Their exhibit features recent Acquisitions in Modern and Contemporary Art. You can find art work by Jim Steg, who is the most influential printmaker to be based out of New Orleans in the twentieth century. Also, Nineteenth-Century American Landscape Photography and more.
- The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is conveniently located next to the New Orleans Museum of Art. This sculpture park takes up five acres of City Park. Here you will feast your eyes on sculpture artists such:
- Indiana, Robert (known predominantly for his LOVE, Red Blue sculpture)
- Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg
- Fernando Botero. You would recognize his work from the bust that was located outside of the American Airline Arena during the 2012 NBA Finals. Remember, the bust had a Miami HEAT jersey painted on it?
And many more.
3. Among one of the oldest parks in the nation, City Park has been around since 1854. Conveniently, the art museum and sculpture garden are located within City Park. It’s the perfect place for:
- A family stroll
- Paddle boating on the lake
- Viewing the 12-acre botanical garden which is home to more than 2,000 plants
And more.
4. Located within the French Quarter, add Carousel Piano Bar & Lounge to your itinerary as an evening cocktail stop. The picturesque bar which is located at the Hotel Monteleone, slowly rotates. Think of it has the carousel for adults.
5. Take a walk around Woldenberg Park. If you’ve never seen the Mississippi River, this is the perfect spot to snap your pictures. It’s close to the French Quarter and easily accessible to more activities nearby.
6. After or before your walk at Woldenberg Park, grab a cup of Joe (Black or Au Lait) and an order of beignets (brings 3) at Cafe Du Monde. The coffee stand is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Make sure to bring cash as that’s the only form of payment accepted. There is indoor and outdoor seating and street musicians are often playing jazz adjacent to the stand.
7. You can find Groupons for activities such as a Ghost Tour. Check back often on the Groupon site/app to see those deals.
8. Anytime you’re a tourist in another city, there is a chance you’re spending time in an expensive part of town. Ask the locals where to eat and get out of the touristy areas. In New Orleans, you can check out Neyow’s Creole Cafe for authentic southern food.
9. When you’re ready for breakfast. Head over to Toast on Laurel street. You can grab jumbo sized cinnamon rolls, Aebleskivers (order of 3 puffed pancake balls) and different Toasts with topping such as eggs, prosciutto, and more.
10. If you’re nocturnal, check out Harrah’s. The casino offers late night bites from Fuddrucker’s.
11. If you’re in need of a cold beer, make your way to the NOLA Brewery Company. Fully equipped with various beers on draft and two floors of seating. The second floor patio is great for viewing cars driving down tchoupitoulas.
12. Shopping options are great on Magazine Street. This strip is nice to stroll down and grab a bite to eat or have a drink during happy hour.
13. If you’re looking for a hole-in-the-wall kind of atmosphere, Cunada is a good place for tacos and Micheladas. The decor is low-dimm and upbeat.
14. If you have over stayed your welcome at Cafe Du Monde, grab some beignets at the cafe inside the Musical Legends Park. Here you can also enjoy coffee or a cocktail while listening to live jazz in the evening. Cafe closes at 10 p.m.
15. A must have on your tourist list is a stop at Preservation Hall, where you experience live music shows at 6 p.m., 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. The tip here is to show up early, make the line and get a seat.