A few questions:Am taking my wife there for the Tulane game and then some sightseeing., I've been there once and know a little about touring there but would love suggestions. Anyone?
Thank you so much. All the ideas sound really good. We'll definitely try some and report back.First off, you’re going at a good time of year. March is the prettiest month of the year there, when everything is blooming, but even though you’ll be in advance of that, the weather is likely to be quite temperate. In that regard, while your idea of doing some sightseeing by bus, given physical limitations, is smart, should the weather be nice I’d recommend the Hop On Hop Off double-decker tour. It’s well-guided, but offers the open-air option which is very pleasant. Then, even if you’re unable to do much hopping on and off, you’ll get a nice, concentrated tour that hits all the top highlights.
I endorse the Frenchmen St idea for music, especially because of Snug Harbor, a particularly good venue.
New Orleans, eating-wise, is a great place to be, even on a tight budget, because so much of the best food is found in joints. When I say joints, I mean that literally, but, don’t worry...you won’t be disappointed. Great poorboy sandwiches at Domilise’s, corner Annunciation and Bellcastle Sts. The italian Muffaletta sandwich, at Central Grocery on Decatur St in the quarter, near where you’re staying, is to die for. On game day, since you’ll be eating an early, pre-game meal, you might consider stopping at Superior Seafood on St Charles Ave at Napoleon Ave...great happy hour oysters ( for cheap!), good gumbo, etc., then it’s just a bit farther down the Avenue to Tulane.
For dinner one night, if you’d like to try a venue for true New Orleans cuisine at very moderate prices, check out Elizabeth’s Cafe, Chartres St at Gallier St. Truly a joint, but popular and good.
Finally, if you want to splurge a bit more, Brigtsen’s ( bright sens), in an old creole cottage in the Riverbend area, has scrumptious local cuisine. Enjoy your time there...I can’t get there myself til early March.
I love both the Renaissance and Pere Marquette Marriott properties in New Orleans. Two of my favorite hotels there. Both great locations.Hey folks, sorry to revisit but I have some NO questions. Looks like wife and I might take a last-minute trip. We'd be there 2/19-2/22. Technically we'll have 2.5 days of sightseeing there. I want to stay at a Marriott property, any recommendations on hotel location? Must see things to do, places/restaurants/bars? We're in our 40's so no crazy partying but we definitely will hit up a few bars/night clubs.
Second this entirely, especially Honey Island Swamp Tour. Except I use Lyft instead of taxi these days. Swamp Tour will pick you up at your hotel for additional cost.We took this tour a few yrs ago.
Honey Island Swamp Tour provided by Historic New Orleans Tours | New Orleans, Louisiana - TripAdvisor
Nearby your hotel for HH oysters is Lüke in the Hilton on St Charles
Car rental is unnecesary, take a taxi from the airport. Same cost as a shuttle.
Of course, no car makes the swamp tour more difficult
Second these, too. At Brigsten's (also my favorite), make sure one of you gets the seafood platter--possibly the best entree, ever.1. Take the St Charles streetcar the entire route to experience several neghboorhoods. Get off at Washington St and have lunch at Commander’s Palace
Bread pudding!! $.25 martinis
Visit the cemetary across the street and do a walking tour of the neighborhood
You can find a self guided tour on line
2. WWII museum
3. City park via streetcar or bus and visit the sculpture garden and NOMA
4. Nearby is Liuzza’s by the track shrimp poboy, gumbo etc
5. Brigsten’s for a tremendous dinner
6. Bacchanal in the Bywater for outdoor music, wine, drinks dinner cheese plates
7. Cafe Beignet on Royal
8. Frenchmen St, we like 3 muses
9. Walk walk walk and if you run or walk, the Crescent City trail is a great area along the river. Starts near the end of Esplande
10. Audobon park for a stroll and under rated zoo
So many more, just a few of my personal faves
We took this tour a few yrs ago.
Honey Island Swamp Tour provided by Historic New Orleans Tours | New Orleans, Louisiana - TripAdvisor
Nearby your hotel for HH oysters is Lüke in the Hilton on St Charles
Car rental is unnecesary, take a taxi from the airport. Same cost as a shuttle.
Of course, no car makes the swamp tour more difficult
@8893 Why? Cooking, charbroiling, frying, etc cooks out some of the heavy metals, chemicals, refinery by-products, etc the Mississippi carries into the Gulf? Just don't like Gulf oystahs? Some hybrid reasons?I love raw oysters, but not in New Orleans; I only eat them cooked there, and the charbroiled ones at Drago's and Acme are tremendous--one of the best bites in all New Orleans imo.
I guess I'd say hybrid.@8893 Why? Cooking, charbroiling, frying, etc cooks out some of the heavy metals, chemicals, refinery by-products, etc the Mississippi carries into the Gulf? Just don't like Gulf oystahs? Some hybrid reasons?
Ah, only oystahs from months with an "ah" in 'em preference. Hence, no Aprils, Mays, Junes, Julys, Augusts oystahs.I guess I'd say hybrid. For starters, I am a big believer in "The colder the water the better the oyster," and I don't think the water ever gets cold enough down there. ...
I was taught only months with 'r' in them, so April is ok.Ah, only oystahs from months with an "ah" in 'em preference. Hence, no Aprils, Mays, Junes, Julys, Augusts oystahs.
Yup, my bad. April “ah” includedI was taught only months with 'r' in them, so April is ok.
Thanks again for the tips- we had a great trip, I’ll provide my experiences for future yarders heading to NO who might peruse this thread.
Those are my cliff notes. Fun trip.
- Hotel was Pere-Marquette. Excellent location. Solid customer service. Serviceable bar/restaurant. We received a complimentary bottle of wine and chocolate truffles. Would return.
- Honey Island swamp tour - this was well worth it for us. About a hour drive and our driver provided us unsolicited stories of taxi cab murders along the way. Raccoons and feral pigs came right up to the boat. We saw herons, egrets, vultures, turtles, snakes and of course a couple of gators. Apparently it was a little too cold for most gators to surface.
- Restaurants included Acme and Brigtsen’s. Overall, the food was great - grilled oysters were our favorite. We ate a LOT of oysters along with some po boys, crawfish and gator.
- Music was great. Saw a cool funk band at Bandstand on Bourbon. Made it to Snug Harbor for one show. Music was on street corners everywhere, it is ingrained in the city’s culture.
- We did a lot of walking- canal to French Market, both along the river and via bourbon. The Frenchman St outlying area was a little sketchy but overall reasonably safe in tourist areas.
- Uber note from a Newby - I did not realize how much the rates swing during busy hours. We switched over to fixed rate taxis as the situation warranted.
- It is incredible how Katrina reshaped the city and region. The ride to Slidell/Honey Island really opens your eyes.