New Orleans, LA
Updated: Jul 10, 2025
When: May 2018, August 2019, & May 2022
Danielle’s highlight: Besides my graduation, airboat tour in 2019 and swamp tour in 2022.
Jason’s highlight: Ghost story pub crawl
Itinerary: We have been to NOLA a few times, so instead of a day by day itinerary, we will list out all the activities and restaurants we have experienced and loved!
Lodging: We stayed in Lakeview with family most trips. The second trip we were along the southern border of City Park in an Airbnb (The Solomon House). Both areas were great and we felt safe. It was fun being in walking distance to City Park for a morning stroll to Cafe Du Monde in the park.
Jazz Festival: This occurs late April/early May. Jazz Fest is so fun that even our NOLA family has recommended it over Mardi Gras! There were several concerts with different genres going on at once so you never run out of options.
The food was SO good! There were tents with endless options, like a food fair. I didn't expect Jazz Fest to have some of the best food in NOLA, but it did. The crawfish cheese roll... so good. You have to try a chocolate snowball with the sweetened condensed milk on top.
Uber! I can't imagine trying to find parking around the festival. We ubered and still had to walk about 10 minutes to get to the gate.
Check out the merch tent! We love our Jazz Fest shirts. Jason has a crawfish button down and I have an alligator one. They are so fun and comfy.
Swamp Tours: These are a MUST! We did the pontoon swamp tour with the whole family and an airboat tour just us. Both are excellent, but if I could only pick one I'd do the pontoon.
Pontoon tour: This is slower paced and truly immerses you into the nature of the bayou. We saw gators, hogs, and raccoons. The pontoon is shaded and overall felt comfortable. Make sure you apply bug spray! This would be my preferred option for kids. We booked through Cajun Encounters.
Airboat tour: This was a refreshing way to see the swamps and also the larger water ways. We were more exposed to the sun, so when the boat stopped it can get hot. We saw gators but not as much as the pontoon tour. We did get to hold a little gator which was a fun experience. We booked through Airboat Adventures.
All of these tours are about 45-60 minutes out of town, so you either need to do one that includes transportation or get a rental car.
Museums and Plantations:
WW2: Jason spent two days here while I was in school. He said it was excellent and he could spend a few more days trying to cover everything.
Southern Food and Beverage Museum: This was a quirky, small museum that we spent about 2 hours at. They had a bar attached as well. It wouldn't be a must see, but it is a fun way to fill an afternoon.
Oak Alley Plantation: A must see. It is beautiful but harrowing. We 100% recommend a guided tour of the main house. You can easily spend a few hours here walking the grounds and grabbing a cocktail or snack.
Whitney Plantation: This plantation focused more on the history and experience of the slaves. It was heavy but an experience that I would recommend. If I had to pick, I would do Oak Alley. However, the Whitney Plantation was a great addition to our day and added a deeper layer of history.
Site Seeing: There is so much to see just walking around the city. It is critical that you know exactly where you are going and that you don't stray. New Orleans can quickly go from safe to less-safe, so make sure you stick to the main streets and well-populated areas.
French Quarter: This is the heart of NOLA! The beautiful architecture will leave you amazed on it's own. You can spend a full day just wandering the streets, checking out shops, and trying foods and drinks.
Frenchman Street: This street is a few blocks long and is a must see area. It is known for it's live music and vibrant atmosphere. This is a great way to spend an afternoon-evening by bar hopping, dinner, and then late night music and drinks.
Flea Market/French Market: Located in the French Market right by Cafe Du Monde. It is full of nicknacks, souvenirs, foods and drinks.
Jackson Square: This small park features a statue of President Jackson and is a traditional landmark in NOLA, though it has also been the subject of controversy.
St. Charles Ave: A beautiful road with gorgeous houses (and Loyola University New Orleans!). This area is fun to walk around or drive and admire the architecture. There is also a streetcar that runs along the avenue.
Buckner Mansion: You might recognize this home if you have watched American Horror Story: Coven. It is the mansion in the show and its just as magnificent in person. We loved walking around this neighborhood and seeing the mansions.
Magazine Street: According to Google, this is a 6-mile stretch of eclectic shops and restaurants. We spent a couple hours perusing the street and it was a nice change of pace with more local vibes.
City Park: A breath of fresh air... and beignets. If you want to start your day with a stroll and skip the crowds of the French Quarter Cafe du Monde, you're in luck! There is another cafe in the park.
Bourbon Street: Everyone needs to visit the infamous Bourbon Street. During the day it looks like many other streets, but at night it's wild. Whether you consume alcohol or not, the people watching here is worth the visit.
Tours:
Ghost tour/Pub Crawl: We loved this! We had an awesome guide who was knowledgable and fun. We went to a 3-4 bars but had multiple stops along the way. I am a scardy cat but this was more fun than scary.
Cocktail Making Class: A highlight of the trip. This was at The Maison on Frenchman. It was a small class and we made 4 different cocktails. The bartender who taught the course was engaging and knowledgable. We learned a lot about NOLA and mixology. And the drinks tasted great!
Cooking Class: We did this on two different trips with the New Orleans School of Cooking. The first experience was full of history and fun New Orleans food facts. The second time around was more focused on the cooking lesson. Both were great overall and this is an excellent activity for foodies! Note that the cooking is done as a demonstration, but is still engaging and insightful.
Food and Drink:
Cafe du Monde: A coffee shop that dates back to the 1860s. It's notable for its beignets and Cafe au Lait. A must see in NOLA.
The Carousel Bar & Lounge: Exactly what it sounds like, a bar that is a carousel. We didn't get drinks here because it was so packed, so plan ahead and be prepared for a wait.
Marigny Brasserie: This restaurant is at the end of Frenchman Street. The food was great and sometimes there is live music.
Restaurant des Familles: I never thought I'd eat alligator, but then I did and it was delicious. We ordered the alligator stuffed mushrooms and I would 100% order them again! This was a restaurant near the airboat adventures location, so I would only go here after a swamp tour.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern: The famous po'boys. On the walls are numerous photos of celebrities and even past presidents who have eaten here.
Bayou Beer Garden: A hip spot in MidCity for crawfish! This was a large complex that was perfect for our group of 10.
The Velvet Cactus: If you're staying in the City Park area, this is a tasty Mexican food option with yummy margs.
District Donuts: Donuts and other breakfast items for a quick meal and good coffee. There are a few locations around the city.
Foods to try:
Boudin Balls: "Boo-dan." Made from boudin sausage (a Cajun sausage) and deep fried
Jambalaya: "Jum-buh-lie-uh." Classic NOLA cuisine. It is rice, andouille sausage, sometimes chicken or other seafoods.
Gumbo: "Gum-boe" like chewing gum. Similar to jambalaya, but a soup.
Fried Okra: Another classic southern snack. These remind me of fried pickles but not so tangy.
Shrimp étouffée: "Eh-two-fay." I've had this as a creamy sauce or a stew like sauce. Both are great and this is a flavor intense favorite.
Alligator: I never thought I'd eat alligator, but then I did and it was delicious.
Po'Boys: A big French bread sandwich stuffed with seafood or meats. I love the fried shrimp po'boys.
Crawfish: If you have a chance to go to a crawfish boil, do it! Eating crawfish is more about the flavors rather than getting full IMO, but there are also potatoes and corn you can fill up on. Do youself a favor and YouTube how to eat crawfish beforehand. The best flavor is found by sucking the juices from the head/body like a big straw... yes, it sounds gross... yes, it is worth it. Crawfish season is mid-January to early July so call ahead to make sure they are serving it if you're on the outskirts of this time.
Overall Tips:
Try not to go to New Orleans in August... its HOT! However, we did go in August and still had an amazing time.
Do you research on safe neighborhoods to stay in and areas you should avoid. Here is a list of areas to avoid.
It is pronounced New Or-Linz. NOT New Or-Leens. At least that's the local way :)
If you go in the summer, be ready for the humidity. Curly haired folks will want to buy an anti-frizz spray beforehand!
New Orleans is an incredible city that never gets old. Even after a week, you'll still find plenty to explore. We hope you enjoy your time in NOLA as much as we have!
-- D & J
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