1. Like the lazy Mississippi, life here goes by slower than most expect.
As soon as you arrive, take a moment to slow down. Mentally and physically. Life moves slower here, sometimes too slow for visitors. What you call sluggishness, we see as normal pace. Whether it’s a late streetcar, a jazz trio coming on stage an hour after schedule, or a chatty bartender taking their dear sweet time, try not to frustrate yourself. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride that is New Orleans.
2. Locals are everywhere, except Bourbon Street. Get to know them, for they are truly the best tour guides.
Ever heard of Southern Hospitality? Well take that, add some rum, mix it with people, and voila, New Orleans! Don’t be shy. People are friendly here. Ridiculously friendly. Ask a stranger for directions and next thing you know you’re having coffee and beignets together.
3. Chances are, after visiting, you’ll have come up with several nicknames for the city yourself.
Big Easy: We like to take it easy down here, so much so that it’s acceptable to drink before noon. Crescent City: The Mighty Mississippi’s imposing curves gives New Orleans it’s unique shape. The City That Care Forgot: This is a toss up. Some say this name pays tribute to the idea that people can forget their cares here. Yet, others insist that the name refers to New Orleans’ history of trials and tribulation.
4. There’s More Than One Type Of Food
This could really break down into countless classifications, but for convenience’s sake, we’ll go over the big three. Creole: The most distinct New Orleans’ dishes can be found under this overarching genre. New Orleans’ vast influx of diversified populations created a melting pot of cultural deliciousness, with specialties such as gumbo, blackened fish, and red beans and rice. Cajun: Cajun food originated in Louisiana’s bayou country by the exiled Acadians, not New Orleans. Still, many New Orleans’ chefs have mastered the craft of Cajun cooking, serving up dishes like jambalaya, boiled crawfish, and sauce piquante. Soul: While soul food isn’t unique to only New Orleans, it still receives that local flare here that can be matched nowhere else. Favorites include yakameinand sweet potato pie.
5. The Birthplace Of Jazz
No city or culture on Earth can match New Orleans’ contributions to the musical genre of Jazz. While it’s impossible to say exactly who started jazz (it was a evolution and amalgamation of different ideas that took place over time), most historians agree that New Orleans’ own Buddy Bolden was the first true jazz musician. He would pave the way for other local musicians like Jelly Roll Morton, Pete Fountain, and, of course, Louis Armstrong.
6. Don’t confine yourself to cars. Open up and experience the ambiance.
Thanks to millions of years of Mississippi Delta growth, New Orleans has no hills (other than manmade levees). This makes it a perfect opportunity to bring or rent a bike while you’re in town. Also, recent road reconstruction has created almost 100 new miles of bike paths throughout the city. It’s one of the more fun and easier ways to get around. It’s great for your health and the parking is free!
7.One Of The Fastest Growing Cities In America
Making countless top 10 lists, The Big Easy has become a top spot to not only visit, but to live. And why shouldn’t it be? Located on the Gulf Coast, the city serves as a natural gateway. And relatively low taxes and low costs of living make it a no-brainer when you consider the incredible amount of contributions the city has to offer.
8. Festivals Galore!
Without fail, there is almost always a festival going on. If you’re here on a weekend, there’s a strong chance that a festival is going on somewhere. And that means great music, incredible food, friendly people, and strong drinks.
9. Be Adventurous
Explore! This is a city that speaks for itself. Taking tours and reading brochures are helpful and convenient. And I recommend you use those tools to get to know the city. However, you need to do yourself a favor and figure some of it out on your own. The city still holds a wonderful old world quality that makes this particular activity so much fun. Pick a somewhere like the French Quarter or Uptown, and just see what you can find. Consider bringing a bike or at least good walking shoes.
10. Frenchmen Street – Street performers bringing the old neighborhood to life.
More and more out-of-towners find out about this place each day, but the vast majority of the crowd still consists of New Orleanians. Bourbon is fun, but if you want real New Orleans nightlife, then go to Frenchmen Street. Local music, by local musicians, catered to local listeners. Enough said.
11. Uptown
One of the many historic neighborhoods of the city, Uptown differs greatly in style and architecture from the rest of the community. “Why?,” you ask. After Louisiana’s admittance as an American territory and eventually a state, most Americans settling in Louisiana found themselves in the major port city of New Orleans. With the French Quarter/Marigny/Treme area full of curious French and Spanish Creoles and free people of color, the Americans decided to settle immediately upriver. Their grand mansions and stately gardens still coexist among the oaks and magnolias that line the avenues. Some of the finest eating establishments and darkest dive bars rest in the cradle of this fascinating neighborhood.
12. Marigny/Bywater – This once dying neighborhood is coming back stronger than ever!
Located immediately downriver and just across shady Esplanade Avenue, you will find an area going through a modern renaissance. While the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods have historic roots, especially in their preserved architecture, young New Orleanians have reclaimed the mysterious streets that line the river as their own. Dives, eat-ins, and speakeasies pepper the area throughout. And each one gives off its own inimitable vibe. It’s also home to the musical nirvana known as Frenchmen Street.
13. CBD (Central Business District) / Warehouse District
Part of the original American settlements, yet not part of Uptown, the CBD/Warehouse District is as close to “American” as New Orleans possibly gets. And yet, it still carries its own local ambiance. Aside from the towering buildings, here you can find the Superdome, Harrah’s Casino, abundant art galleries, and, you guessed it, terrific restaurants and bars.
14. Mid-City – Grab some treats at one of America’s oldest ice cream parlors.
Mid-City is a classic historic neighborhood, yet locals and tourists alike always tend to overlook this one. You can get there via streetcar and visit classic spots like Angelo Brocato’s Italian pastry shop (over 100 years and counting!) and Rock n Bowl. It’s also the home of the largest Mardi Gras Krewe, Endymion. Do I even have to mention that this location also has amazing restaurants and bars?
15. The ultimate people watching spot: Jackson Square
New Orleans is a city of characters. In reality, every New Orleanian is a character in some form or another. However, some definitely show it more than others. Just grab a bench somewhere in Jackson Square and let the fun begin.
16. Great Public Spaces
Speaking of Jackson Square, this city has some incredibly scenic public spaces. Aside from the aforementioned Jackson Square, you can do some great lounging in Lafayette Square in the CBD, Audubon Park in Uptown, or City Park in the Mid City area, just to name a few. Grab beer or some wine and find a shady spot to relax. You can catch up on your people watching while you’re here too.
17. Like Museums? We’ve got ‘em!
The community of museums in this city features a diverse lineup. There are powerhouses like the National World War II Museum, which features several buildings worth of exhibits, interactive experiences, and amazing history. Yet, just across the street lies the humble Memorial Hall Museum. The oldest museum in the State of Louisiana, it boasts a massive and stunningly preserved collection of Confederate artifacts. Go to the Historic New Orleans Collection to brush up on your local history.
18. Our public transportation is the oldest of its kind.
New Orleans’ famous streetcars have some serious history. In fact, its St. Charles line serves as the oldest continually operating public rail transportation in the entire world! While almost every city in the country “updated” to buses, New Orleans, ever hesitant to embrace change, kept its major streetcar lines. Due to its popularity, cost efficiency, and low pollution, new lines are currently being added throughout the city and more are in the works for the future.
19. Bring Your Drinks (And The Party) Out In The Streets
Many people tend to forget this while they’re in town, but you can drink on the streets here, although you should probably stick to the sidewalk for traffic’s and your safety’s sake. No glass bottles though. Just grab a “to go cup.” Every restaurant and bar will gladly provide you with one. This makes bar hopping much easier and way more fun.
20. Brass music serves as a backbone of the live music scene.
New Orleans has many assets, but nothing really matches the incredible music scene. A band or music hall exists for everyone in this city, and I mean everyone. Whether you like trad-jazz, modern jazz, blues, rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, folk/bluegrass, reggae, electronic, etc, the sky is the limit. We’ve got it all.
21. Mardi Gras is a day. Carnival is an entire holiday season.
There’s honestly way, way too much to discuss when talking Mardi Gras, but we’ll keep this first lesson simple. Carnival is a holiday, beginning on January 6, or Twelfth Night, as it is known locally. The merriment goes all the way through January and culminates with a final day to feast and celebrate before the beginning of lent. This final day of celebration is Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, which is always exactly 47 days before Easter. The city’s government and most local businesses shut down for the day to take part in the festivities.
22. It’s More Than Big Beads And “Super Krewes”
Source: flickr user sfmission.com
Endymion, Thoth, and Bacchus are the kings of the Carnival Super Krewes. Yet Carnival has such an eclectic flare, it would be a shame to limit it to only big parades. Smaller parades like Proteus have paraded New Orleans’ streets since the 1800s. These historic “old line” krewes, as locals refer to them as, harken back to the days of Carnival past when what you caught was not nearly as important as what you saw and experienced.
23. Art!
This city just reverberates with amazing—sometimes crazy—art. Take a stroll along Jackson Square and see the painters, craftspeople, and drawers exhibit their talents. For something more official, consider visiting The New Orleans Museum of Art or the highly underrated art galleries lining Julia Street in the warehouse district.
24. Live And Let Be
Since its inception, this city has always taken the laid back approach to life. The city’s history is riddled with plague, war, environmental disasters, and just plain old bad luck. This constant reminder of misfortune makes us appreciate this life, much more than the average person. That’s why a lot of people here let their freak flag fly high, because life’s too short to not enjoy. Most New Orleanians realize you can’t sweat the small stuff. And hey, we’re all different, so why fight over it when we can just celebrate it, right?
25. You Figure It Out!
This last one has to remain blank, and most certainly not because there are only 24 things to do in New Orleans. The fact is that this list could go to 100 and still not do the city justice. That is why you need to finish it. New Orleans is too special of a place, too important to sum up in a list. Make your own adventure. Find a hidden bar, follow the sound of music, eat somewhere that looks like a hole in the wall. And don’t forget to talk to locals—we’re here and we’d love to show you our city.
