You guys, I’m so excited to write this post. I freakin loooovve New Orleans. I’ve been twice now already and I can’t wait to go back. It’s definitely been one of my most favorite travel destinations so far.
New Orleans has such vibrant history dating back to the early 1700s. The mix of French, African and American culture is seen in every aspect of the city, from the food, to the architecture, to the music and night life.
This is just seriously one of those places that you’ll never get tired of. There’s something to do and see for every type of person. It’s the perfect travel destination for history buffs, paranormal enthusiasts, foodies, starving artists and many more. I only covered a couple of places to experience in New Orleans, typical tourist stuff ya know, but there’s definitely so much more to do there.
This is basically a list of some of my favorite places to see and things to do in New Orleans.
Café Du Monde
This was seriously our drop off and pick up spot for our Uber drivers lol. We ate here at least twice a day. It’s usually not too crowded here early in the morning and late at night.
Café Du Monde is located right in the heart of the French Quarter. They offer indoor and outdoor seating, and it’s a seat yourself kinda restaurant. If you haven’t already guessed, they’re famous for their delicious, powdery beignets. Beignets are really just hot donuts with tons of powdered sugar, but boy are they tasty 😊 and coming in at just $3 for an order of 3 ginormous beignets, you just can’t beat that. Don’t forget to grab a café au lait (coffee) to wash down your beignets.
Café Du Monde is also open 24 hours a day for all you late night partiers.
Saint Louis Cemetery Number 1
If you’re wondering why I have a cemetery on our list of must-see places in New Orleans, let me explain.
Saint Louis Cemetery Number 1, aka The City of the Dead, is actually a place you have to check out if you’re in New Orleans. It’s the oldest active cemetery in New Orleans, with the remains of famous historical figures such as Voodoo Priestess Marie Laveau. Nicolas Cage actually has a tomb here waiting for him!
With walking distance from the French Quarter, tours will usually cost around $15/per person. You can buy tickets for the cemetery tour at almost any gift shop within the French Quarter and prices may vary depending on which shop you buy your tickets at.
*Note* This cemetery is not open to regular tourism. You must be accompanied by a licensed tour guide in order to enter.
Magazine Street
If you’re looking to get out of the French Quarter for a little bit then you gotta check out Magazine Street. Magazine Street travels from the central business district through the Garden District and Uptown. There’s a bus that departs from Canal Street that will take you there, but we took the St. Charles Streetcar and just walked the couple blocks to get there.
Magazine Street is full of cute boutiques, quaint cafes, and super delicious restaurants. It’s a very different kind of vibe from the French Quarter. I would say it’s a little bit more laid back and not so touristy. You can get so many different kinds of food here, and they all taste amazing. Grab a drink to-go and do a little shopping while you’re there.
We ate at a couple of different locations on Magazine Street and they all were awesome. Very different from food you’ll get in the French Quarter. I mean, what else do you do on vacation besides over eat?
Ghost Tours
This is definitely an activity for all you paranormal enthusiasts I spoke of earlier. New Orleans isn’t just known for their Cajun French cuisines or Mardi Gras Festivals. The Big Easy also has a very dark history filled with murder, hauntings, voodoo, the occult, and so much more.
If you love the thrill of being scared, then you should definitely check out one of these ghost tours. The tours themselves aren’t scary, but the dark history behind them are. The tour guides are super knowledgeable and make the tours really exciting and fun. There’re a couple different ghost tours to choose from, and they’re all done on foot throughout the French Quarter. I liked doing the night ghost tours because it gave my experience a little added thrill.
Frenchmen Street
If you want to listen to some awesome live music and get away from the French Quarter for a little bit, then Frenchmen Street is exactly what you’re looking for. Frenchmen Street is where all the locals hang out. This trendy spot has a variety of great restaurants, bars, clubs, and live music. This is where you can go to get traditional New Orleans food, cocktails, and entertainment.
I had so much fun both times I visited New Orleans and I can’t recommend this city enough as a travel destination. I only listed a couple of really cool things to do in New Orleans, but there’s so many more awesome places you have to see.
Enjoy your New Orleans adventure. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve already been to any of these places and what your thoughts are, or other awesome places to check out in New Orleans.