By Cliff Locke
To read about our New Orleans tour Click Here!
It’s easy to find a good time in New Orleans!
Most people think the best time to visit New Orleans is during Mardi Gras, well if you like dealing with large crowds, and I mean large, and not being able to find a parking space then that’s the time to go. I prefer to go when the crowds are not quite as large because you can actually enjoy the Cresent City for the history and culture.
The Big Easy is abundant with history from The Battle of New Orleans in 1814 to Hurricane Katrina. Most tourist head to the French Quarter where they can stroll along Bourbon Street, find that unique item at the French Market or relax with coffee and beignets at Café’ Du Monde. Horse-drawn carriage rides through the narrow streets of the Vieux Carre’ tell the history of the area. This is also the spot in the Mississippi River where the river actually runs backward.
Jackson Square in the center of the French Quarter is the place to be if you want your fortune told, a portrait painted or to see interested street artists honing their craft. The backdrop of the fenced-in park in St. Louis Cathedral which was founded in 1720. This church combines Renaissance, Gothic Revival and Spanish Colonial architecture and is a must see when visiting the area.
And no trip to the New Orleans would be complete without a visit to St. Louis Cemetery, where you can leave a token on Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans’ grave! I would suggest that you do not visit the cemetery at night, even though there are nightly ghost tours, it is a little creepy at night!
The cuisine in New Orleans is as diverse as its people. A dinner cruise on the Steamboat Natchez is a great way to enjoy the river and the scenery of this great southern city. Or grab a po boy at one of the quaint mom and pop places as you walk the cobblestoned streets. You can also enjoy a great meal at the Palace Café where you can dine on Cajun and Creole cuisine and top it off with white chocolate bread pudding or Bananas Foster.
After your meal, take a leisurely walk to Preservation Hall for an evening of authentic New Orleans’ Jazz.
New Orleans has so much to offer you can go back again and again and never get bored. I know that I do and I have never been disappointed!
