What big-hearted of things are near to do contained by NOLA during Mardi Gras?
I'm going to Mardi Gras 08 for my 25th birthday. It's my 2nd time to NOLA for Mardi Gras (last time was 2004) and I be wondering what kind of stuff I can do contained by the area besides the usual French Quarter, Uptown, Garden District, ect.. type sightseeing. Is it worth it that time of year to travel on a tour of the Bayou? Just wondering what are some cool things I can do besides all the parade, drinking, eating, ect.. What other cool or minor known attractions do you soak up there? I'm lately hoping to do more on this trip and to actually remember more of it too.
Answers:
There is also the Natchez Jazz Cruise, The Battlefield Cruise, The Aquarium, Imax Theater, Beatutiful Audubon Zoo, The Wax Museum, The Mardi Gras Museum, The New Orleans Museum of Art, The WWII Museum, Plantation Tours, Global Wildlife Center., and the Swamp Tours. Check with your hotel for details. They will own the necessary information.
besides the norm things and the parade, i would go on some plantaion tours, some haunted history tours, and simply shop, the bayou tours should be up and running during mardi gras, remember to pack, warm, cold and drizzly weather clothes cause the weather can correction in similar to two seconds duing mardi gras, it be hot cold and rainy this year, i didn't know what to do lol and adjectives that was at one procession lol. but since you've been up to that time you probaly know that. taking a carrige ride would be good, i deliberate they stop operating at night during mardi gras, check beside them when you come.
Actually, it's NOT too untimely to start planning for MG 2008. Mardi Gras Day is February 5th, which is quite impulsive. Book your hotel now - I recommend staying contained by the French Quarter or central business district.
If you visit in 2004, you may own noticed MG also tend to take over the city during the second 5 or 6 days and many of the city's attractions will be closed or operating beside reduced hours.
Swamp tours will probably be operating.
Regarding crime, use the same adjectives sense you need surrounded by every major city surrounded by the world and there is little fortune you will be a victim of anything except a obligation to visit the gym: Pay attention to your surroundings. Stay away from anywhere depressing & deserted. Pay attention to your feelings - if anyone or anywhere give you a bad sense, leave the nouns. Don't leave something similar to a camera-bag or backpack unattended on a park bench while you wander rotten to take photos. Etc.
Below are some things to do:
There is other music, but the bands adjust: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, next Music.
Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, keep watch on the street entertainers (do tip), and stop by some of the historic buildings that have be turned into museums. Most of them charge admission but some are free (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions).
Assuming the weather is devout, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat within the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a tremendously nice park).
The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court near dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com).
The lobby for the Wyndham Canal Place is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack: http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/MSYCP/main...
Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn't miss have 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 have food other than pastry.
The Palm Court restaurant is greatly nice, has moderate prices, and traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are substantial and they are not open every day).
All of the renowned restaurants (Antoine's, Arnaud's, Commander's Palace, etc.) have reopened. Reservations are a perfect idea, and probably essential on weekends.
Cafe Degas is a greatly French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not inwardly walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635).
There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but resembling a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Stree...
The Aquarium and Audubon Zoo are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. There is a shuttle boat (not free) between the Aquarium (which is next to the French Quarter) and the Zoo (which is several miles away). You can also drive to the Zoo (which have free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter.
The Louisiana State Museum (http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/visitor.htm) is within the French Quarter. 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 reach by public transit: The WWII museum is in the crucial business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not inside walking distance of downtown but has free parking.
Check www.frenchquarter.com for planning on other things to do.
Hope you have a fitting visit!
economically... since you dont want the usual scene.. why dont you come down in the summer time... between may - aug ? Not your birthday I know.. but its also not on Mardi Gras and the participant scene and i'm sure you'll save profusely of money by visiting after Mardi Gras. Theres alot more to do contained by the summer .. its our festival season.. 100's of festival. You can also look into some water sports contained by the lake or riviers. If you dont already own that opportunity where you live.
I agree near JellyBean... the plantation tours and haunted tours are great ! Theres also a River boat tour you can go on. Its call Steamboat Nachez. It a 2 hour tour of the Mississippi River with lunch and a live jazz and/or cajun fastening.
heres some websites:
http://hauntedhistorytours.com/ (Hightly recommend, these guys are good)
http://www.steamboatnatchez.com/
http://neworleans.com/ ( theres *tours* under *see and do*)
http://bestofneworleans.com/
http://www.neworleansonline.com/
http://frenchquarter.com/
http://magazinestreet.com/
http://www.experienceneworleans.com/ ( in attendance might be some coupons on this site )
a list of festival should be listed on some of the sites.
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler !!
Try Mardi Gras world. It is on the Westbank and is about a 15-minitue take ride from downtown. it shows u behind Mardi Gras
I agree beside one of the earlier answers that although at hand is normally greatly to do in and around the city, during Mardi Gras plentiful things do seem to shut down. Due to the parade they close off tons of the streets making it very rock-hard to move around in and around the city by sports car. So if you can find things you are interested in locally surrounded by the city it will save you a great deal of sitting in traffic. There are assorted tours you may want to try during off pinnacle times, cemetery tours, haunted tours etc. Also if you close to museums you can try.
The Odgen Museum is a wonderful museum.
http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/index.html
World War II/D Day Museum
http://www.ddaymuseum.org/
It would depend on when exactly contained by the parade season you plan to come. Mardi Gras is VERY precipitate next year--Feb. 5. Swamp tours do operate year-round, but in attendance is a good adjectives it could be COLD. If the temperature is within the 40s or 50s, trust me, you do NOT want to take a swamp tour, as it will be miserable. It will be that much colder zoom thru the swamp on a motorized boat.
Mardi Gras is only ONE light of day; it's the CLIMAX of the entire Carnival season, which officially begin Jan. 6 every year. The parades will start surrounded by mid-Jan. You can take tours and receive around the city without too much trouble during nouns season, UNTIL the week-end right before Fat Tuesday, when the big parade roll. If you stay downtown, NO TOURS will be operating on Fat Tuesday, because IT'S A HOLIDAY in New Orleans, and traffic is horrendous.
If you are coming BEFORE the Big Week-end, in attendance are still plenty of other things to do. There is enough to do and see contained by the French Quarter to keep one busy for weeks. SInce the parade will be rolling in the middle of winter, and it's not credible to be too warm, I would recommend going to musuems and shops where on earth you can be inside.
THe World War 2 Museum is a good place to look in, located on Magazine St. just 2 blocks from Lee Circle. It's widen every day.
In the Quarter, call in the Historic New Orleans Collection on Royal Street, and I'd also suggest a visit to M.S. Rau Antiques surrounded by the same block, the 500 block. They own the most amazing and interesting collection of items.
For a great view of the city, dance to Club 360, at the top of the World Trade Center at the foot of Canal St. There is no admission charge.
Take a river cruise on the Natchez or Creole Queen.
Take a plantation tour to Laura Plantation. I ponder Cajun Pride Tours still goes near.
Again, planning to sightsee on Fat Tuesday in New Orleans is pretty much an exercise within futility due the crowds and parades adjectives over town, though it will probably not be a huge crowd because it's so early surrounded by the year.
It's best to come and do your sightseeing the week BEFORE Mardi Gras. I seriously doubt you're going to have much trouble beside crowds if you plan to come the week before.
Don't forget your Glock 9mm
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