New Orleans MUST DO Activitities?!?

I am so jelly of you ! Hope you have fun. I personally would want to see what was going on with the Katrina wreakage. Just to drive by. See if there is a huge difference or if its still all broken.

I believe there is a prade for the dead where they march through the cemetary. Ugh my ideas are kinda depressing! Hope you have a blast.

I love NOLA. I wish I could live there. Can I come with? lol What are you guys interested in?

1st thing to do is get the number of the cab company your hotel uses and program it into your cell phone. I wouldn't take the streetcar unless you can spare 30+ minutes to get somewhere, as it stops often. Cabs aren't that pricey - I can go from the business district to the Garden District for $8.

2nd thing - Lagniappe is "lan-yap" and Tchoupitoulas Str. is "chop-a-too-lis", according to the locals.

I would stick to the French Quarter for live music. House of Blues is there - shoddy looking building but its there. Its easy to bar hop in the FQ. Just walk around, listen for the music, and walk right in.

There isn't a bad place to eat in Nola. Make sure to try the grilled oysters at Dragos (in the Hilton off the river). I also recommend The Gumbo Shop for the best gumbo, Mesperos for a mufellata (olive and ham sandwhich), Deenies for the biggest platter of cajun fried seafood you will ever see, VooDoo Cafe on St. Charles for jerk chicken, Mother's for a debris sandwhich or po'boy, Acme Oyster house for raw oysters and tobasco, and The Ruby Slipper for bfast (right around the corner from where you'll be).

If you see Aunt Sally's or Souther Pecan Co. on St. Peters, stop in and try their pralines "prah-leens". Your life will be changed forever.

Commander's Palace is very expensive but it really has the best food around. I recommend their turtle soup and deep fried crab. Also, be on the lookout for anyone famous. The last time I was there, 2 famous politicians stopped in while I was dining. Ask your waiter/waiters (at CP you have several people waiting on you) who they've served. Also, ask if you can get a tour of the place including their pastry kitchen and the big kitchen. The floor manager might have enough time to give you one.

Go shopping on Magazine Street if you like interesting and unique stores and boutiques. FQ is really for souvenirs. There is nothing special about Rivercenter Mall, or The Shops on Canal and Jax Brewery. They are more upscale than the mall but still, nothing there you can't find in any other city.

I actually like shopping across the lake in Covington - cute antiquey shops.

Any of the Emeril's resturaunts, riding the streetcar, Cafe Du Monde, Brennan's Cafe, the Katrina tours are all overrated.

Instead, visit the WWII museum (warehouse district - don't walk there!), sculpture garden behind the museum of fine arts, the Spanish square near Rivercenter Mall, Audubon Park for the huge oak trees and nice houses of famous people, the Mardi Gras museum and Lousiana State museum in Jackson Square. No matter your religious preference, visit St Louis Cathedral - its gorgeous inside. And don't forget to take your picture in front of the Superdome on Poydras.

If you have time, the Insectorium should be right across the street from you. While insects may not be that interesting to most people, its pretty cool inside and I don't know of another one like it in the country. Plus, they have cooking classes where the chefs demo cooking w/bugs and insects. When I was there he made chocolate chip cookies w/crickets and we all got to sample. I didn't.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Oh well, have a great great time!

Cafe Du Monde and have a Beignet and coffee!

http://www.cafedumonde.com/

Definitely take cabs -even for short distances. I go to NOLA quite often, and you can go from nice to terrible in a block. Having said that -it depends on what you like. I primarily go for Jazz Fest and to hit Frenchman Street. Frenchman has become quite crowded, but it's still fantastic and should be wonderful (and not so crowded) in January. There are great clubs there with wonderful blues, jazz and brass music. Spotted Cat, Apple Barrel, Snug Harbor, dba -all great clubs on Frenchman. It's in the Marigny district (Fauborg Marigny).

Wander the Quarter during the daytime. It's actually quite charming with some great shops. Go to Lousiana Music Factory for an outstanding selection of music -they also have live performances on occasion. Molly's on the Market is a great bar. Hit the French Market and have beignets at Cafe du Monde -you gotta do it (and they are delicious) -walk up the steps to view the mighty Mississippi! Acme Oyster Bar is hard to beat if you want platters of raw oysters!

More music venues -Tipitina's Uptown is great if they're having a band you may want to see. So is The Howlin' Wolf.

If you have time, go to Audubon Park. It's really lovely and a part of NOLA that not many tourists see. The Garden District is also lovely, and you can ride the trolley. Eat a cheeseburger at Camellia's Grill (they have one now in the Quarter as well). Other great lunch spots -in the Quarter -before you leave (even if you take one home with you) -you MUST go to Central Grocery in the Quarter near the French Market and get a muffaletta. You won't find a better one -it's the original. It's the biggest, most amazing sandwich EVER. Get a bag of Zaps to eat with it (you may want to get a half sandwich or split it with your sisters).

Another WONDERFUL place for a famous po' boy -and you can get just about any kind imaginable -Johnny's Po Boys -yummy yummy yum! Mother's also has a wonderful selection of fantastic New Orleans and southern dishes. You'll see the line out the door.

And do visit a cemetery -they're amazing and beautiful. Make SURE you go on a guided tour or mid-morning to noon, because they can be a bit unsafe for tourists. If you get the chance to see a second line (jazz funeral), just stand back and enjoy. View it as they do -they're playing and singing that person into heaven.

I love the court of two sisters and the haunted tour of NO they do at midnight.
I have not been since Katrina, but there is a local bar - Port O' Call - was a staple for college crowd, but even as an "old lady" had a great atmosphere and was so much fun! I can't remember where it is as I was with a native NO and she told the cab where to go:)
Have fun!

The Moonwalk and outside fruit, vegetable and peddlers market...all within walking distance of Canal Street...also check out some of the Voodoo shops...pretty entertaining.

I used to spend all my time there, but have not been back post-Katrina. We moved in Jan 2006 and so I'm not sure if my info would be "up to date". I love the Christmas in the Oaks and Christmas New Orleans Style stuff, LOVE it all. But in January, that may be all gone. Ask your hotel. But you should try to see City Park regardless of Christmas decor down or not. What a beautiful place! There's a 100 year old, REAL old-time carousel, storyland, botanical gardens, equestrian lessons, and a phenomenal collection of the grand old oaks with the Spanish moss. So beautiful and romantic! I am not sure what it'd be like post-Katrina, but ask the hotel maybe? It was the largest and oldest collection of oaks in the USA a decade ago, and in the top 10 city parks in the nation. Something to see and have a stroll through. It's around the Garden District and if you're interested in vampire stuff that is not stupid sparkling teens in the daytime, Anne Rice's house (which had a role in at least one of her books) is on first street. (You'd be surprised how many people live out there or who you may bump into, I had drinks with Trent Reznor, tried to buy Lenny Kravitz a drink (but he laughed and bought us all one instead), Anne Rice was there until 2004 when her husband died, John Goodman you'll probably see a lot, we ate a table away from Bernie Mac at Deanies but I don't think he lived there, etc). There's the Shakespeare Festival at Tulane which is a lovely area of New Orleans, it really is. Audobon Park is nice as well, with Louis Armstrong's statue out front (don't let the priestess from the nearby voodoo temple pressure you out of money; she's kind of aggressive acting but won't do anything). The little tidbits that you can pick up from a Haunted History tour (it's not just ghost hunting, lol), or a Vampire tour, or whatever actually really make the place more fun if you go in it with a fun attitude. The guides I had were entertaining and fun. Imagine that New Orleans had the first legal red light district, and that Louis Armstrong used to just haul coal to all the clubs with a wheelbarrow before he became, well, Louis Armstrong. Some of the things that are unique to NO like the beautiful cemetaries are worth taking a stroll through in the daytime (or with a guide on a proper tour). It's neat to hang out in the French Quarter no matter what the weather is like (rain or shine). I always thought a little rain just added to the personality of the quarter, and it's said the rain is "haunted" there. I like visiting the church, seeing the street shows, checking the art around Jackson Square, and everyone talks about Cafe du Monde and it is historical and good, but don't forget to go early in the morning to the French Market down the way a bit and get a REAL praline, while it's still hot and soft. Pralines anywhere else are blech. But let your nose guide you----in where all the produce is, there's a stand that is cooking pralines and you need to try one. You can bring it with you and eat it with your cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde if you like. I don't agree with riding in cabs too much because you'll miss the tempo and rhythm of the city that way. But do have a little study of the city map before you go out and realize that the major roads (Poydras, Canal, etc) are perpendicular to the river, and the little roads are parallel to the river. You shouldn't get lost that way---it's a good grid system. But don't go past the nice hotels on Canal, towards the interstate, without a cab. You MUST have a mufelleta, but I can't remember the name of the place. Walking along the river, across the street, there's a place that has a sign saying "Home of the mufelletta" and that's where you go in; a little Italian place, pretty old school. VERY good. The bread is ridiculously good. Eat it up, because it'd difficult to find bread like that outside of south Louisiana. Don't be around Jackson Square after dusk though. Leave when you notice people leaving, be on Bourbon, a populated area, or in a cab before dark. The WW2 museum is actually a good one! There's some neat info you can pick up there. My grandpa wouldn't leave the place. I like the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audobon Zoo a lot. Some people say the streetcar is overrated. I disagree. It's cheap, it's easy, it gives your legs a rest while you travel to another side of town, it's nice to see the sites without having to walk, where there's nothing you want to shop at. I always hear Stanley shouting "STELLA!" in the back of my mind while riding. Ask about Preservation Hall. It's free, but it's walking distance from everywhere and I truly truly loved the place. The music was grand. My husband and I had our first dance there, when I requested a brassed up version of Stand By Me. There's also the Rebirth Brass Band at the Maple Leaf on Tuesdays that might be good. If there's a tour of courts or homes, I'd hit it just because some of the things you'll see are fantastic. My cousin lived in a part of a house that Napolean had built for his cousin. The hidden courtyards that you won't see unless you're a guest or on a tour are really wonderful (very Secret Garden-ish). And if you want to just party, you'll find PLENTY of opportunities there. Outside of the city, you can do swamp tours, airboat tours, possibly rent kayaks and go into the swamp a bit (depending on the weather). Pat O's for a hurricane, you do want some proper daquiris before leaving, and if you're feeling naughty and wanting a little trouble then you can sneak into Tropical Isle to get a hand grenade (just one) and drink it kind of fast, before it warms up and is impossible to swallow. It tastes delicious......but handle with care if you're not a drinker. If you are, it's fun. Wear good walking shoes, and be game to jump into anything you want. Someone mentioned the jazz funerals. IF you see one, you don't need to stand by the side.....you can join them towards the back and follow them, be a part of it. It's different. I could go on and on, there are so many different things, depending on your interests. I would suggest going to neworleanscvb.com and explore it and see what catched your eye. Have fun!!! (And no, DON'T rent a car, lol). I hope you guys have a lot of laughs and some amazing memories. Try not to rush around too much. There's a unique pace to the place (at least there was?) and it's nice to kinda catch that rhythm and go with it. And pause to enjoy the performers. You'd be surprised who you'll see out there. "Some Old Man" I saw once? Dr freaking John! Another old guy outside a restaurant? Pete Fountaine. And in the 80s, I used to see Harry Connick Jr out on the corner doing his thing. :)

Beignet and coffee at a cafe. French Quarter for a horse and carriage ride!
Jambalaya & other Cajun foods. Pat O'Brians for a Hurricane!
Marie Laveau's House of Voodoo......

We were just there and had a great time. We took a bike tour with Confederacy of Cruisers and it was great. Also took a 2-3 hour bus tour with VIP Tours--ask for Dino-he's a riot. They tour Katrina grounds briefly if you want to see the rebuild. Each was about $45-50 a person. And the restaurants are endless. Could never get into Amelie's in the Quarter because of a wedding and being totally filled but would want to go there based on reviews. Have a blast!