5 days in New Orleans
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TravelGalSee one of the most haunted cities in the world when the ghosts and goblins are out to play. Dine at haunted restaurants and rest your head in an authentic haunted hotel, if you dare. Another Halloween tradition is Voodoo Fest, a three day rock concert which takes place every year in City Park.
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New Orleans is the largest city in Louisiana, as well as the state's top tourist destination. The Crescent City has a reputation for historical roots, hot and muggy weather, good food, good music and non-stop partying. Despite the damage from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans welcomes visitors to incredible restaurants, beautiful sites (such as the French Quarter and Garden District) and hot live music clubs.
Nicknamed the Big Easy by some, New Orleans has long had a reputation as a city of vice. However, the city also offers many attractions for families with children and those interested in culture and the arts. Its famous Creole food, nearby swamps and plantations, 18th and 19th century architecture, streetcars and museums offer a unique cultural experience travelers will never forget.
Famous festivals like Mardi Gras and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival bring in tourists by the millions, and are the two times of the year when one needs to be sure to book accommodations well in advance to be sure of a room.
The Hotel Provincial is located in the heart of the French Quarter, just two blocks from Bourbon Street and Jackson Square. Local attractions include the Aquarium of the Americas and Riverwalk shopping, both located less than one mile away.Hotel amenities include two swimming pools, complimentary continental breakfast, award-winning Stella restaurant, safe deposit boxes (at the front desk), and valet parking.Guest rooms feature complimentary wireless internet access, flat screen television with cable, air-conditioning, alarm clocks, voicemail, irons and ironing boards and hairdryers.
Contact Information: 1024 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States 1-504-581 4995
An almost colonial façade yields to elegant dining rooms with a rather romantic ambiance. Part of the huge Hotel Provincial, the Stella! restaurant has undergone several facelifts to emerge as a chic dining spot. Its acclaimed chef digs into his Louisiana roots to come up with tantalizing recipes that he brushes up with his creative streak. Comfort, cleanliness and excellent service, earn the restaurant its much deserved praise.
Contact Information: 1032 Chartres Street, Hotel Provincial, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States +1 504 587 0091
Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, the following description may no longer be accurate. Please consider this when making your travel plans.
Whenever you are in New Orleans for business or pleasure, a must stop is Magazine Street. This is the street that has it all no matter what your shopping needs are. Whatever you're looking for, be it women's fashion (Total Woman), men's fashion (Style Lab for Men), vintage clothing (Recycled), children's clothing (Pippen Lane), shoes (Feet First), or accessories (Filly Handbags & Accessories), Magazine Street is the place to be. When you start to work up an appetite, try seafood (Casamento's Restaurant), French cuisine(Lilette Restaurant), Mexican (Nacho Mama's Mexican Grill), southern (Upperline Restaurant), farmer's markets (Crescent City Farmers Market), chocolates (Blue Frog Chocolates), cafe's (PJ's Coffee and Tea Co.), or bars (St. Joe's Bar).
Contact Information: Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States +1 504 342 4435 / +1 866 679 4764
Some of the biggest names in rock gravitate towards the land of voodoo every October to shake up the city and party hard. The Voodoo Music Experience is a weekend of big stars and their guitars with a lineup any music fan would drool over. Past festivals have had such acts as Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, New York Dolls, Billy Idol, and more. Weekend tickets and camping is available. Check out their website for full details including a schedule, maps, ticket info, and videos from past years. Held at New Orleans City Park.
Contact Information: 1 Palm Drive, City Park, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States +1 504 482 4888
This cozy little spot is the place to come when you just need a burger. Its small size is made even smaller by the influx of hungry folks looking for lunch. After 7p when the business crowds disperse the restaurant is not quite as crowded. Locals have announced the hamburgers to be the best in town. They are served with a baked potato if their large size is not enough to fill you. The attentive staff at Port of Call also serves pizzas, filet mignon, rib eye steak and New York strip.
Contact Information: 838 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States +1 504 523 0120
If you are a history buff or just love a good scare, then consider one of the Haunted History Tours. These are walking tours led by one of a number of area experts who specialize in the history of ghosts, voodoo and haunted places. Featured attractions include the Saint Louis Cemetery Number One and areas related to voodoo and witchcraft, as well as French Quarter locations that have had documented ghost sightings. There is nothing quite comparable to a good ghost story outside the cemetery gates at dusk.
Contact Information: 97 Fontainebleau Drive, New Orleans, LA 70125, United States +1 504 861 2727
Some of the biggest names in rock gravitate towards the land of voodoo every October to shake up the city and party hard. The Voodoo Music Experience is a weekend of big stars and their guitars with a lineup any music fan would drool over. Past festivals have had such acts as Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, New York Dolls, Billy Idol, and more. Weekend tickets and camping is available. Check out their website for full details including a schedule, maps, ticket info, and videos from past years. Held at New Orleans City Park.
Contact Information: 1 Palm Drive, City Park, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States +1 504 482 4888
This French-market coffee stand, established in 1862, offers a menu of dark coffee and chicory, beignets, white or chocolate milk and freshly-squeezed orange juice. Cafe Du Monde is one of the most popular places in New Orleans for singles, couples and families. You may have to wait for a table during the busiest morning hours. While the coffee is certainly good, most people come for the famous, fresh-from-the-fryer beignets. They are brought to your table in such a hurry that they are still hot when you take that first melt-in-your-mouth bite. If you feel hungry at anytime of the day, hop in to devour this delicious array!
Contact Information: 800 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States +1 504 525 4544
A dream that began with Arnaud Cazenave in 1918 lives on today. In 1978, Arnaud's Restaurant was acquired by Archie and Jane Casbarian and restored to its original splendor. The refurbished mosaic tile floor, as well as interior columns and antique ceiling fans, recapture the aura or early 20th century New Orleans. This grande dame of Creole cuisine is a sparkling jewel in the crown of New Orleans' fine restaurants. The menu features classic dishes as well as more nouvelle creations. Always excellent is the Shrimp Arnaud in remoulade sauce, the Oyster Stew and the Beef Wellington. Of course, the favorite for dessert is the fine Creme Brulee.
Contact Information: 813 Rue Bienville, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States +1 504 523 5133
Some of the biggest names in rock gravitate towards the land of voodoo every October to shake up the city and party hard. The Voodoo Music Experience is a weekend of big stars and their guitars with a lineup any music fan would drool over. Past festivals have had such acts as Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, New York Dolls, Billy Idol, and more. Weekend tickets and camping is available. Check out their website for full details including a schedule, maps, ticket info, and videos from past years. Held at New Orleans City Park.
Contact Information: 1 Palm Drive, City Park, New Orleans, LA 70124, United States +1 504 482 4888
In the heart of the French Quarter, this voodoo shop doubles as a shrine to the famous Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau of New Orleans. Psychic readings, voodoo dolls, statues and altars are the real thing, not found in other touristy spots. Whether you come to the Big Easy for business or pleasure, you can find an original souvenir and even learn a little something of the black arts from around the world at Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo.
Contact Information: 739 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States +1 504 581 3751
Step into Muriel's for a taste of New Orleans. Barbecued shrimps, gumbo, grilled drums, oysters and a list of appetizers keep you company as the entrees are prepared. Try the Pecan Crusted Puppy Drum, or the Creole Eggs Benedict. The Chocolate Decadence speaks its own language. Spaced out tables keep the conversations private. Events like dinner theatres happen seasonally.
Contact Information: 801 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States +1 504 568 1885
Located on the boundary of the French Quarter, Saint Louis Cemetery Number One is the oldest cemetery in the city. The above ground burial practices are typical of swampy New Orleans, where early settlers soon discovered that coffins buried in the ground would float to the surface after a hard rain. There are many ornate family tombs and vaults, but for safety reasons you are encouraged to visit these attractions with a tour group.
Contact Information: 3421 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States +1 504 482 5065
If the name "New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum" does not bring you inside, nothing will. There are Voodoo walking-tours featuring artifacts and sacred objects related to the realm of "voodoo." Learn everything you wanted to know about this spiritual practice and its history in the Crescent City. There are also guided swamp, plantation and cemetery tours. Be sure to stop by the gift shop to pick-up a voodoo doll, love potion or T-shirt.
Contact Information: 724 Dumaine Street, New Orleans, LA 70116, United States +1 504 680 0128
This historic establishment has enchanted New Orleans patrons for over 200 years. The combination of classical music and local flavor at Napoleon House incorporates Cajun with French, creating an atmosphere of living history. A Parisian style cafe-bar features the French Quarter's most charming courtyard. Boasting the "Best Muffulettas in Town" this restaurant is recognized by Gourmet Magazine as "Tops when it comes to a drink".
Contact Information: 500 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States +1 504 524 9752
