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What should I do in New Orleans?

I am a Landscape Architecture student interested in outdoor spaces, particularly parks, trails, and significant buildings or plazas. I will be in New Orleans all day this Sunday probably exploring the quarter but would like to also have some destinations in mind. Also I will have two school age boys with me.

Public Comments

1. sit on the dock of the bay and watch the tide roll away
2. The food is great in New Orleans. Try some biegnets, as they are delicious. They are a fried pastry like a doughnut. Your kids will love them. Riverboat tours are alot of fun. Also, the New Orleans Zoo and the Aquarium of the Americas are both worth visiting. Horse carriage rides are fun to do, too. Here's a link to a New Orleans travel website: http://www.neworleansonline.com Have fun in New Orleans!
3. Don't miss Jackson Square and Woldenberg Park: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jackson_Square,_New_Orleans http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/sports/parks/woldenbergpark.html New Orleans' City Park (which is quite large) is being rebuilt after Katrina: http://www.neworleanscitypark.com/ The Zoo is great: http://www.auduboninstitute.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Facility_Zoo The Zoo is several miles from downtown. You can drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter. Other things to do with kids: Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year: www.nola.com/festivals The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a "tourist attraction" in its own right. It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines: www.norta.com Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions). There are strip clubs in the first 5 blocks of Bourbon Street and their outside advertising borders on X-rated, so avoid that area if you want to avoid having to answer awkward questions from your kids. Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park). The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com). The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com). Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn't miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d'Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry. Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635). The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: www.napoleonhouse.com Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome: www.preservationhall.com There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_street_ferry The Aquarium and the new Insectarium are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. The Louisiana State Museum is in the French Quarter: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/ New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking. Go to www.neworleansmuseums.com for info on more museums. Check www.frenchquarter.com and http://www.nola.com/visitor/ for ideas about other things to do. Hope you have a great time!
4. http://www.mardigrasworld.com/ Directions: From Downtown / French Quarter: Take free Canal Street Ferry to Historic Old Algiers
5. I would check out Tulane university if your into Architecture. Tulane is known for its Architecture school and the buildings are just gorgeous. Plus i think for you taking the streetcar from the French quarter to Tulane would be nice so you can see all the beautiful architecture on St. Charles avenue... You could stop and have a drink at the columns hotel then get back on the street car to go down to Tulane. I love sitting outside at the columns it is so relaxing. Also you shoudl have dinner or brunch a Commanders Palace. Yum! Don't forget to just take a stroll in the french quarter. http://www.thecolumns.com/ http://www.commanderspalace.com/new_orle... Also, I suggest listening to music at preservation hall this is kid friendly no alcohal is served and there is no smoking. Have a drink at Lafitttes Blacksmith shop. Have a hurricane at pat's o's and beignets at cafe du monde. http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/architecture/ go see music at Rock n bowl http://www.rockandbowl.com/CalandarPAGE/... go see cajun music and learn cajun dancing at tipitinas on sunday night. Take a ride on the streetcar and/or riverboat. You can take a zoo cruise to the zoo from the aquarium. Also airboat tours are so much fun! Musuems i suggest going to the NOMA new orleans museum of art. DDAY museum- There is a new cocktail museum. Go to the zoo and/ or the aquarium. Go to Mardi Gras world if you want to see Mardi gras floats. Ogden Museum-Southern Art These are my favorites to go eat. www.jacquesimoscafe.com http://www.brigtsens.com/ http://www.one-sl.com/ http://dickandjennys.com/ http://www.galatoires.com/ http://www.muriels.com/ http://www.parasols.com/
6. Try some Cajun foods. They are really good. Check this site. It might help