New Orleans, Louisiana, is probably most well known for great seafood, signature drinks, and jazz music. From Bourbon Street to Jackson Square, the night life is a spectacle to be seen and enjoyed. Throughout the day, while recovering from your night drinking, there are still many fun parts of the culture to revel in! Some activities certainly involve the hair of the dog, but if you’re like me and can’t handle drinking both day and night, or if you’re just looking for nonalcoholic options, read on for some recommendations.
1. See the City by Bike
When visiting a new city, one of my favorite ways to explore is by bike. On a bike, you can cover more ground than when walking but are closer to the action than when in a car. On my recent trip to NOLA, we rented bikes from Michael’s Bicycles. Located on Frenchman Street, this was a great option. We walked from our Airbnb and stopped for breakfast at Cafe Envie on the way. At Michael’s Bicycles, we were outfitted with the appropriate bikes by very friendly staff. You are given the option to rent a basket to carry your belongings, as well as a helmet (safety first!). They also have maps available and plenty of free local advice! Michael’s Bicycles is open every day except Wednesday 10am to 4:30pm, closing a little early Sunday’s at 2:30pm. Their prices are very reasonable with half day being $30 and full day being $45, plus deals for multi day rentals. This perfectly accommodated our trip! During my visit, we rode through the French Quarter, and then took Esplanade Avenue to City Park. This was a beautiful street with a great bike lane. Along the way we stopped at St. Louis Cemetery #3 which is a classic New Orleans above ground cemetery. Our final destination was City Park…
2. City Park and the Sculpture Garden
Our final destination during our bike day was City Park. I would recommend visiting City Park even if you don’t choose to ride bikes! City Park is over 170 years old, and at 1 mile long and 3 miles wide, it is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Within the park, there are many beautiful trees, gardens, and ponds. City Park is also the home to the New Orleans Museum of Art, and holds a charming outdoor sculpture garden which is free to explore. There are many beautiful and interesting sculptures. For some additional entertainment value, consider spending some time doing your best impressions of these sculptures (lol).
3. Take a Ride on a Streetcar to Visit Woldenberg Park and the French Market
New Orleans is home to Historic Streetcars, another unique way to explore the metropolis. There are 4 distinct lines which take you throughout the city: the St Charles Line, the Canal St Line, the Riverfront Line, and the Loyola/UPT Line. A ride on the streetcar is $1.25. They do expect exact change, however, if you plan to take a few rides, unlimited day passes are also available for $3. On my recent visit, we took the Riverfront Line, starting near the Aquarium of the Americas and made our way down to the French Market. There are many notable stops along the way. Woldenberg Park is a great place to check out the Mississippi River up close. It is the perfect place to walk, bike, jog, or even just sit and enjoy the waterfront. Throughout the year there are many events held at this park, such as concerts and festivals. After exploring the park and enjoying the river, hop back on the streetcar and continue along to the French Market. This charming open-air market offers food, music, and shopping with lots of unique art and handmade souvenirs. Nearby, check out Jackson Square and Cafe Du Monde, both can’t miss NOLA locations!
4. Check out a Haunted History Tour
From murder to voodoo to the occult, New Orleans is known as one of the most-haunted cities and is home to quite a spooky history. The best way to learn about this history is through a walking tour. Most tours are in the evening, in order to inspire spookiness. Each tour seems to focus on a specific topic, as there is so much history to choose from. On my recent trip, we booked a tour through Ghost City Tours entitled “The Bad Bitches of New Orleans”. This tour focused specifically on the spooky ladies of historic New Orleans, such as Marie Laveau and Madame Delphine LaLaurie. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and told stories with flourish, which is only emphasized by the fact that you are walking through the old city and actually seeing the houses and places where they took place! This company offers many other themed tours, and there are also countless other tour companies available as well!
5. Check out the ‘Gators on a Bayou Cruise
Visiting New Orleans’ unique swamp environment and experiencing the diverse wildlife is a can’t miss adventure. There are several options for a swamp tour but we decided on a tour through Cajun Encounters. This company was great to work with. For your convenience, they offer complimentary transport from the city to the bayou, with multiple pick up and drop off spots. Once you get to the bayou, there is a shop with refreshments and souvenirs. You will be split into groups of around 15 and sent out on the airboats with tour guides. There is also an option to rent a whole boat if your group is large enough. Our tour guide was a local, who grew up basically in the swamp. While pointing out gators and teaching us about their habitat, he also told us stories about swimming and learning to water ski in the bayou, right near the alligators! We saw plenty of gators, as well as racoons and turtles. We spent some time looking for a wild hog but alas did not see one. After the tour, the shop had ice cream available which was a perfect treat before heading back to the city! The only complaint I would offer was that while the transport to and from was complimentary, it did add around 1 ½ hours to our day, as the transport arrived around 45 min before the tour started, and did not leave until around 45 min after the tour ended. Overall however, I do feel this was a can’t miss opportunity!
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