New Orleans

**Syn D** · 01-06-2011, 01:15 AM

Has anyone been there, know any frugal things to do?? I was informed last night that I am taking a trip there in June..

Once a year my oldest daughter and I take a trip to a different state, it is her gift to me.. She covers all my gifts for the year in one trip, either by buying plane tickets, or car rental and gas if we drive where we're going.. She started this 5 yrs ago..

This is not a place I ever had interest in going too, but sense we have a place to stay there, and transportation, I ok'd it..

**Ceashels** · 01-06-2011, 04:34 AM

I've been to the French Quarter which is the fun hopping party district that we always see in movies. There are some great restaurants tucked away and the food is great with some "must try" treats like fresh beignets or a muffaletto sandwich. But there are also plantation homes that offer tours, swamp tours, cemetery tours. There is a lot of history tucked into that little city. Have a wonderful trip and keep in mind it will be hot and humid.

**wjcalderon** · 01-06-2011, 07:51 AM

I don't remember what it costs because it's been awhile since I went, but New Orleans has a fantastic zoo.

**akolb** · 01-06-2011, 09:07 AM

I grew up and still live an hour from there!
The Audobon Zoo and Aquarium are pricy, but they are definitely a full days worth of entertainment if you feel like splurging. Plus, there is a deal where you can get tix for both, plus a riverboat ride between the two, called the Zoo Cruise. I personally LOVE the zoo.

The Quarter is nice to walk around and window shop during the day. There's always artists and performers at Jackson Square. Most of the restaurants are overpriced, but a lot of them post their menus in the windows/outside so you can check them out. Check out Chowhound or Urbanspoon for suggestions and prices.

The French Market is at the far end of the quarter. It's a flea market with a lot of junk, but some cool finds too. We usually find sterling silver jewelry, bags and handmade art type stuff. It's right past Cafe DuMonde which is a MUST for beignets and coffee! There's also some cool little cafes and usually live music in this area too.

City Park is HUGE and has a ton to do. Our parents brought us there all the time when we were kids. You can rent horses to ride in the park and there's a ton of other cool things there like an art gallery and a lake. You can take the streetcar from the quarter uptown to the park/zoo as well. That way you get to see all of the amazing architecture in the Garden District.

Personally my favorite area is uptown on Magazine Street. Lots of great little shops, boutiques, home-ware, thrift shops etc as well as food and bars (The Bulldog!) that aren't quite as touristy.

Also there is the warehouse district not far from the Quarter. It's full of great art galleries, restaurants and bars (Lucy's!) as well as the WWII museum. I LOVE this museum and if you are into history at all, please check it out.

There are also tons of places for live music. House of Blues (go walk through the courtyard or eat there...red beans are fab!) Howling Wolf, Tipitinias, Preservation Hall...look into some before your trip to see the schedule!

If you're into it, St. Louis Cemetery is totally worth checking out. There are some walking cemetery tours which are not very expensive. Amazing design and history in there. Plus if you've never been, a swamp tour is a must do!

Let me know if I can help you with anything and THANK YOU to you and your family for bringing tourism to our amazing state!

**Syn D** · 01-06-2011, 11:42 AM

My daughter is a bit on the morbid side, so the cemeteries might be a good idea..

Thank you all for the good ideas. We are bringing my grandson, so the zoo will prob be a definite do.. He wont of course go everywhere we go, but will be with us as much as possible...

**akolb** · 01-06-2011, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Syn D

My daughter is a bit on the morbid side, so the cemeteries might be a good idea..

Thank you all for the good ideas. We are bringing my grandson, so the zoo will prob be a definite do.. He wont of course go everywhere we go, but will be with us as much as possible...

If you have your grandson with you, yall should go to the Children's Museum. It's in the Warehouse district and it ROCKS!!
(we borrow or friends kids so we can still get away with going!)

Also I believe City Park still has Storybook Land and a carousel. Fair warning, the zoo can definitely take all day, but it's worth it! If you're hungry while you're there the restaurant in the Louisiana area is actually really good! And make sure to get some old fashioned Roman Taffy!

OK...think I have to plan a NOLA trip now

**geckoace** · 01-06-2011, 01:41 PM

The new Orleans school of cooking it's like attending a food network show and the food in all of NOLA is to die for

**bookworm** · 01-06-2011, 02:03 PM

I was in New Orleans on vacation 2 years ago and loved it, going back this year.
Besides what was already mentioned, you can take a day or night cruise on the Mississippi on the steamboat Natchez.
We also went on a bayou tour, bust to a town called Westwego then boat on the bayou. Saw lots of alligators and other beaitiful scenery.
I second the Aquaium and Cafe Demonde, the make the best beignets!!!
Also you can go for a horse drawn carriage ride through the French Quarter,nice and relaxing.

**rosey7415** · 01-06-2011, 03:46 PM

i went to new orleans last year and can't wait to go back!!! i did everything above except what bookworm mentioned. i did go on the natchez in the daytime though. i loved everything there. i researched it to death online before i went. the only thing i would skip would be the authentic voodoo shop. just 2 rooms you walk in and out no one explaining anything......a complete waste in my opinion. every other thing we did we totally enjoyed. sadly i missed the preservation hall.....not enough time on my itinery. i am soooooo jealous of you. have fun!!!!

**TigerGirl1226** · 01-06-2011, 04:16 PM

Woohoo!! I'm in Baton Rouge and I love New Orleans. I will probably post things as I think of them.

The Saint Louis Cathedral: New Orleans Louisiana They offer "self guided" tours following throughout the day. To me that's code for "free entertainment"!

On either side of the Cathedral there are 2 museums: The Cabildo and The Presbytere

The CabildoIt's a beautiful building with rotating displays on Louisiana history.

The PresbytereLast time I was there, Napoleon's death mask was on display. If your daughter likes morbid, that should suit her fancy.

My mom and I did this tour when I was a kid and I loved it.

Friends of the Cabildo This is the historic society associated with the Cabildo and they do a fantastic tour. It's $15/person, but IMO well worth it!

**Syn D** · 01-07-2011, 01:08 AM

Many great ideas, thank you all!!!!

I can research all I want and read all about everything N.O has, but I am a more word of mouth person, I like to know what people thought of things rather than read what the business or city says about it..

We wouldn't normally take my grandson to somewhere like this, but it has been awhile sense he has been on a trip outside of Iowa and we will be staying with a good friend of my daughters and his family..

fyi, I mentioned the St. Louis cemetery and as I figured, my daughter is all for it..

One question tho', what is a beignets??

**Ceashels** · 01-07-2011, 07:30 AM

It is a wonderful fried dough that is sprinkled with powdered sugar right before serving. They typically sell so fast at Cafe du Monde that they are served immediately upon the making.

[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beignet"]Beignet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg" class="image"><img alt="Text document with red question mark.svg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png"@@AMEPARAM@@commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png[/ame]

**TigerGirl1226** · 01-07-2011, 09:52 AM

The places that I mention before are in Jackson Square (in itself a beautiful picture spot). Just across the street from that is Cafe du Monde. IMO the best place for what we call "coffee and donuts" in my family. The coffee is served as an "au lait" where is is basically half coffee, half hot half and half thus making it less pungent.

**latierra84** · 01-07-2011, 11:18 AM

I was just in New Orleans last week! For New Years actually and it was a lot of fun. Now, I don't drink so I was a little bitty iffy if I would even enjoy myself, oh and I don't eat seafood! But that didn't stop me from having a great time and I can't wait to go back.

Cafe Du Monde - must go there.
Jackson Square - a big garden/plaza, great for photos (free)
St. Louis Cathedral - beautiful structure, (free)
French Market - great to walk around at (free)
Waterfront area in front of the Audubon Aquarium, can see tons of boats and just nice sitting area (free)
We did the Aquarium and the IMAX, a film titled Beyond the Bayou was playing. It was awesome, tugged at my heart for sure.

We walked through Bourbon Street during the day and evenings. Tons of live music, tons of street performers.

There are ghost tours ($20) and plantation tours ($55) although there were several and I didn't get prices on more than just the one I stopped at.

The Ursuline Convent was great too. Go to flickr and search New Orleans and you'll see pics of things that people have uploaded. I always go there to see before I go.

**DixieJ** · 01-07-2011, 12:23 PM

I love The Big Easy--there's no other place like it! I agree with the suggestions already mentioned. Without a doubt, try to to a swamp tour. Be sure and ride the streetcar through the garden district. The food is great in the French Quarter, but pricey. Ask around and you can find some great food at reasonable prices.