‘The Big Easy’ – 10 things to love about New Orleans 🇺🇸

New Orleans: NOLA, the Big Easy, Crescent City, N’awlins. Whatever you want to call it, it’s vibrant, historic, a ‘good-time’ town and most definitely Bucket List material! Fast on the approach to my 40th Birthday, it seemed as good an excuse as any to tick it off mine….

We spent four, full, fun-packed days in New Orleans and managed to squeeze in a lot of walking, sightseeing and sampling of the local delicacies! If you’re planning a trip to crazy town anytime soon and want to make the most of your stay, here are my 10 must-sees to make it memorable.

1: The famous French Quarter.

If you’ve heard of New Orleans, you’ll have heard of the French Quarter. When the city was founded by France in 1718, the ‘Vieux Carre’ (meaning Old Square) was the original walled city and has been the heart of New Orleans ever since.

In 1763 France gave up control of Louisiana to Spain, apparently as compensation for them having handing Florida over to England after the Seven Years War. The Spanish ruled New Orleans until December 1803 when it was handed over to the United States.

Many of the streets still display a plaque depicting their original Spanish names, for example, the famous ‘Bourbon Street’ was once called ‘Calle D Borbon’. The streets of the French Quarter are set out in blocks, which makes it easy to navigate your way around (think New York and their grid system – it’s similar). The streets are generally named after French royal houses or French Catholic Saints and their names are displayed on tiled pavements throughout the Quarter.

It’s clear to see that New Orleans is still heavily influenced by its Hispanic heritage. The architecture demonstrates this, as the pretty Spanish Colonial Houses sit happily alongside the steeping Creole, brick-raised Shotgun and narrow American Townhouses. The mis-matched styles and colours make for some really diverse and interesting neighbourhoods to explore when you’re in the city.

There’s a house for every taste – and budget!

If you can forgive the fact that the French Quarter is where all the tourists go, in my opinion, it’s definitely the place to stay. Here you will be spoilt for choice with restaurants, shops, cafes, museums, art galleries, nightclubs and bars. We even stayed at the haunted Andrew Jackson Hotel on Royal Street – read my blog to see if I encountered anything paranormal! – and I can’t recommend this hotel enough! You can’t beat an old inn for bags of character and a ghostly tale or two!

Tip: If you do choose to stay at the Andrew Jackson Hotel, ask for a room at the front with a balcony – you’ll be treated to the best spot in town for watching the horse-drawn carriages and world go by.

2. Hit boozy Bourbon Street and grab your ‘Go Cups’!

Those travelling to New Orleans for a party, will no doubt jump off the plane and head straight to Bourbon Street, where they may well take up home for the duration of their stay. This is easily the most iconic street in the entire city – famous and infamous in equal measure. Bourbon Street is the place where folk of all ages go to have a good time, fuelled by super strength cocktails, live music and the offer of getting ‘bourbon faced on shit street’.

Fact is, you simply cannot go to New Orleans and not go to Bourbon Street! That would be a crime. Try as you might, you won’t miss it, because it won’t let you! Bourbon Street is unashamedly in-your-face, loud and tacky. One thing that will grip you instantly is the stomach-churning stench of spilled booze and grime. Am I being a little unkind? Nope – even the locals complain. So much so that the city council wash the entire street down each day!

Here, it’s entirely legal to drink alcohol in the street, unlike so many other places in America. It’s actually encouraged through the promotion of plastic ‘Go Cups’, which are essentially nothing more than a takeaway plastic cup. Boozing in the streets is permitted across the city, not only on Bourbon Street, so you can walk with your Go Cup as you would with a Starbucks.

Although not officially part of Bourbon Street (it’s a mere block or two down), the ‘Hurricane’ cocktail from Pat O’Briens is the most famous drink you’ll find in the city – so it’s one to try. Unlike the cheap and nasty bargain-basement booze that goes into the cocktails on Bourbon Street, this one promises good quality minus the monster of all hangovers the next day!

You will find a lot of drinking holes on Bourbon Street – including the famous House of The Rising Sun – but the best I found was Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, which claims to be the oldest bar in the USA. This was once home to pirate, John Lafitte and rumour has it, the pub is haunted by a number of ghosts, including Lafitte himself. Despite the bar only being lit by candlelight and giving eerie vibes, the only spirit we encountered was the vodka in their famous Purple Voodoo slush cocktail! Thankfully. Definitely one for the itinerary, if only for its story alone!

Tip: Having a good time in the Big Easy is big business and so if Bourbon Street isn’t for you (and it wasn’t really for me), there are lots of nicer places to have a drink and a good time in New Orleans, like the Hotel Monteleone which has a gorgeous carousel bar that spins as you drink! If your head wasn’t already spinning, it soon will be! You can also indulge in champagne cocktails in the stunning courtyard at Brennan’s (both on Royal Street).

3. Get down and funky with NOLA music!

New Orleans is famed for many things and its love of music is at the top of the list. Whatever your persuasion, the streets are filled with blues, hip-hop, RnB, funk – and of course, jazz – the most iconic. The jazz scene actually began in the brothels in the late 1800s as a means of entertaining and enticing the sailors setting foot on the shores of Nola. Nowadays, the best place to find a decent jazz club is on Frenchmen Street, which is notorious for its bluesy bars.

In a city that thrives on its music scene, in all honesty, you really don’t have to go to a club to hear great music; soul singers, brass bands and buskers line the streets of New Orleans from early morning til late at night. Even the local kids play the ‘bucket drums’ in the hope of making a few bucks.

There’s a video on my Instagram and TikTok of the street music in New Orleans – give it a watch!

Tip: It’s considered bad etiquette to film street-performers without giving them some spare change or a dollar bill – so if you want a pic, you should really pay. Them’s the unwritten rules.

4. Indulge in Southern Soul Food, Dixie Style.

New Orleans is known the world over for its hearty, spicy and sugary sweet soul food – and dining here really is a treat for the senses.

Perhaps not the croc lollipop, however…

It would be a cardinal sin to visit New Orleans and not visit the world-famous Cafe Du Monde for their hot beignets, so put that on your list! It was actually my first port of call when I reached the city and for someone with a sweet tooth like myself, these square-shaped sugary doughnuts did not disappoint!

But – in the name of research – it was only right and proper that I try out its competition too – Cafe Beignet. Possibly not as well known as its rival, but equally as popular – Cafe Beignet swung it for me as the beignets were just so much sweeter. Ok, they were bigger too!

‘Gumbo’ is a family-favourite meal in New Orleans and it’s what most locals grew up on. This thick, home-cooked stew is spiced with punchy Cajun flavours and usually comes with rice and seafood (or meat). There’s no shortage of places selling gumbo by the cup or bowl full and it’s really tasty, as well as in-expensive!

I also tried out Jambalaya, another stew and rice dish that you’ll find all over the city. I didn’t really spot much of a difference (I’m sure the locals would disagree).

Before arriving in New Orleans I’d also been told that I had to try a ‘Po’Boy’. So try a Po’Boy I did – at the famous ‘Johnny Po’Boys’ diner. I’m not sure I understand the fuss. It was tasty enough with lots of filling choice, but was it worth the huge queues? No. Call me a heathen but it was barely different to a Subway foot long, in my opinion. Perhaps a little less tasty.

In case you’re wondering, Po’Boy’s get their name from the meaning ‘poor boy’ as these were traditionally given to labourers as a cheap meal.

In conclusion of our culinary adventure, we loved the traditional New Orleans fare – in fact, it was some of the best food we have had in America. Hands down. However, there was a real gem of a place we found that got us through the door twice – and it’s not what you’d call traditional NOLA food. It was a lovely Vietnamese restaurant called ‘9 Roses Cafe’ on Conti Street and it was exceptional. If you’re in town, don’t leave without trying it, especially their oriental spiced rangoons, bao buns and tacos! It’s small, so you have to be lucky to get a table. Proof that the best things do come in small packages!

Tip: I found dining out in New Orleans relatively cheap, at least when compared to the likes of New York and California. Always factor in some extra spending money for tipping the waiting staff. Minimum wage in the Southern States is a mere $2 – $5 per hour – so if you get good service (and you will because the Southern folk are so friendly), you should really add somewhere between 15% and 20% onto your check.

5. Embrace your inner Voodoo (if you dare)

References to the ancient practice of voodoo is everywhere you turn in New Orleans. Anyone visiting the city will see hoards of shops selling all manner of voodoo dolls, lotions, potions, relics and spells – as well as museums solely dedicated to the art.

Voodoo originated in NOLA in the early 1700s through slaves brought into the city from Africa. Combining voodoo practice with the city’s dominant Catholic religion, it very quickly came to be a belief that it would help, heal and provide magic.

If voodoo is something that interests you and you fancy checking out, in addition to the museums, there are plenty of places offering tarot and palm readings behind beaded curtains (though maybe steer clear of the hazy-eyed ‘clairvoyants’ on the curb side of Bourbon Street!).

True magic or a load of old cobblers, even a non-believer can get carried away with voodoo in New Orleans, especially when the ‘Gris Dolls’ (voodoo dolls) in the shops are actually quite cute. Of course, I had to buy myself one as a souvenir, for fear of being cursed if I didn’t!

Tip: Don’t expect to get a receipt if you do decide to visit a voodoo practitioner. No photos, no returns, no nonsense.

6. Get your spook on in the ‘City Of The Dead’.

New Orleans has long had a reputation as the most haunted city in America – a bold statement for a place where the dead reportedly refuse to rest! Hardly surprising with Bourbon Street being there.

No rest for the wicked!

Much like the voodoo magic, the city seizes every opportunity to cash in on the alleged ghostly goings on that are so linked to the haunted histories of New Orleans. Ghost tours are plentiful with lots of guided walks to join along on, should you wish to do so. I didn’t as I think it’s often better to do your own research and go it alone! And I’m a wimp.

The LaLaurie Mansion in the French Quarter is said to be the most haunted house of all in New Orleans; a place that once held slaves in terrible conditions – the horrors of which were only exposed when the building burned down in a huge fire in 1834.

Pirates Alley

Going back to Jean Lafitte the pirate once again, Pirates Alley is also on the ‘most haunted list’. This small and unassuming cobbled street is supposedly haunted by Lafitte and his fellow smugglers. Visitors have reported feeling a ghostly presence when walking down the alley. I didn’t.

New Orleans is also home to many cemeteries. They are different from most in as much as the dead are buried together as families, in large tombs above ground.

Lafayette Cemetery in the Garden District is one of the oldest city-governed cemeteries, founded in 1833. It is on the US National Register of Historic Places and has over 1100 family tombs, housing over 7000 bodies. Can you believe that after a 45 minute walk there, we were met by a sign to say that the cemetery was shut? Boo! Literally.

We took a trip to Cypress Grove instead, because visiting the cemeteries is a unique experience and one that you should consider if you dare.

Tip: Don’t miss taking a look at the back of St Louis Cathedral all lit up in at night when the shadow of Christ can be seen. You can view this from Royal Street.

7. Step back in time and cruise the Mississippi on a steamboat paddlewheeler.

Because the heat in New Orleans makes it tiring to walk around in (even in October), we decided to jump aboard the Natchez and set sail down the Big Muddy on a jazz cruise!

Tickets cost $34 per person ($44 if you chose to have some lunch – which we didn’t). Purposefully old-fashioned, yet with a fully stocked bar, dining room and gift shop, the trip was really good value, especially as there was a live jazz band on board too.

There are two paddlewheeler boats in operation in New Orleans, but the Natchez is the only one solely powered by steam – have a look at the wheel in action for yourself in a video available on my Instagram.

Of course, having such panoramic views of the New Orleans skyline will always be worth the money alone. I can only imagine how pretty it would look from the water, all lit up at night. Night cruises are also available if you fancy that.

Tip: If you want to hop across the Mississippi but don’t want the price tag of an organised boat trip, take the ferry for just $3 per foot passenger. This wasn’t an option for us as it was temporarily closed.

8. The Saints and the Superdome.

Opening in 1975, the Superdome has played host to many of the largest events, including a Mohammed Ali boxing match, Frank Sinatra concerts and six NFL Super Bowls. But many people around the world will remember the Superdome for having housed people during the deadly Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

Being in the US in October means one thing, football season (eye roll). As soon as we flew into New Orleans, my other half went off to watch a game, leaving me to explore the streets and take photographs in peace – perfect! His team (the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) were playing the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome.

Like all US cities, football is huge in New Orleans and Saints fans have a ‘unique’ chant – “Who dat? Who dat? Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?”. Each to their own, I guess.

If you’re wondering, the Saints won!

So whether you like football or not, it’s well worth a walk to the stadium (as we did post-game), to see this iconic building!

Tip: Craig says – fill up on food before you get into the stadium because eating and drinking inside the Superdome ain’t cheap!

9. Breathe in the park life.

New Orleans is such a green and leafy city, so it comes as no surprise that it has some lovely parks to have a stroll through on a lazy afternoon. Like Jackson Square, for example…

Jackson Square is the oldest public garden in New Orleans, established in 1721 by French explorers and subsequently declared a National Landmark in 1960. It comes complete with the impressive St Louis Cathedral which, to some, may resemble Cinderella’s Castle at Disney! At least from the outside.

You’ll find this pretty square in the lower end of the French Quarter, just steps from the Mississippi river – and if you’re an art lover looking for an original piece, it’s here that you will find something unique, for a reasonable price too.

Louis Armstrong Park, about six blocks North on Rampart Street, is also well worth a visit. There’s a clue in the title – this 32 acre park honours the famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong. Inside the park are numerous sculptures depicting jazz musicians, as well as a large duck pond and the oddly-placed Congo Square – now a vacant area but once an important meeting place for slaves in the 1800s. At night, you will see the arched entrance lit up for miles.

Tip: Like many cities, New Orleans is no stranger to homeless folk and pickpockets – so be especially careful in parks, and especially at night.

10. Ride the streetcars!

Walking around New Orleans is great if you want to make sure you take it all in (I even managed to clock up 32,000 steps one day). However, there will be times when your feet just stop and say no, or the heat gets too much to handle and you want to get to places without too much effort.

The old-fashioned street cars (trams) are just the ticket when this happens!

They operate across four lines, starting in the French Quarter or the Canal Street area in downtown and cost just $3 per rider for an all day ‘jazzy pass’ – bargain! (2019 price). Consider it a cheap alternative to the conventional ‘hop on hop off bus’.

The red route (red cars) go up and down Canal Street and the green route (green cars) go through the Garden District.

The street cars will also enable you to see outside of downtown New Orleans, which is something that you can’t do so easily on foot. Why not take a ride to the Garden District and Magazine Street to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter for a while? Here you will be spoilt by boutique shops, cosy coffee houses and impressive mansions to daydream at. Go in October like us and you will also be sure to see many a dressed up house for Halloween too!

Tip: Like any public transport in any big city, be vigilant when riding the street cars. They attract all manner of folk so don’t be surprised to find a man with a chicken on his shoulder jump aboard or a clown hitch a lift. Each a true story. But don’t let that put you off…..this is New Orleans, afterall!

I hope you found my blog useful for your forthcoming trip? Let me know what you think of The Big Easy, by commenting below 👇🏻