New Orleans is also popularly known as the Crescent City, the Big Easy, Nola, and more. This southern city situated on the Mississippi is famous for its Mardi Gras celebrations, crawfish boils, voodoo history and so much more. New Orleans is a great place to visit for solo travelers, couples, as well as families with kids. Here are 5 of the best things to do in New Orleans.
Jackson Square
Jackson Square is opposite to the Cathedral and a great place to sit, people, watch and enjoy the historic buildings in the area. Jackson Square also has the famous statue of Andrew Jackson riding a horse located inside it. The alleys outside Jackson Square are popular with artists selling their art. Jackson Square is also a great place to take a horse-drawn carriage ride of the French Quarter. Exactly opposite Jackson Square is the original location of Café Du Monde, famous for its beignets and coffee.
French Quarter
The French Quarter has a beautiful architecture with balconies, ferns,and pretty ironwork. Visitors love to take a stroll through the famous, historic streets of the French Quarter and look at the various street artists perform. The French Quarter is a delight for shopping. It has many interesting shops including art galleries, boutique shops, souvenir shops, and even voodoo shops located in its narrow streets. Some of New Orleans best places to stay are located in the French Quarter. French Quarter also has some of New Orleans best restaurants including seafood, Cajun, Creole cuisine.
Cajun / Creole Cuisine
Cajun / Creole cuisine is a New Orleans specialty. Some of the must-try New Orleans dishes include jambalaya, etouffee, gumbo, red beans and rice, and crawfish boils. Other New Orleans specialties include a type of French donuts called beignets and chicory coffee. The most popular destination to eat the beignets is Café Du Monde, a 24/7 open café with long wait lines.
Mardi Gras World
New Orleans is very popular for its Mardi Gras or Carnival season celebrations. New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras on a grand scale with parades, floats, beautiful costumes, masks, and throws. For those who cannot visit New Orleans during the Carnival or Mardi Gras season, Mardi Gras World has the celebratory atmosphere throughout the year. Here visitors can view the process of making floats, see beautiful costumes on display, and understand interesting Mardi Gras history.
Cemeteries
New Orleans cemeteries are one of the Crescent city’s biggest attractions. Since the water table is very high and almost close to the surface at New Orleans, most of the cities cemeteries are located above ground. It is fascinating to walk amidst the towering tombs and read the inscriptions describing the dead people. Many famous people are buried inside the cemeteries including New Orleans famous Voodoo Queen.
A weekend is a perfect time to see this beautiful city and enjoy its many attractions.
