New Orleans

We like New Orleans. Interesting place to wander, good food, nice weather November to January. I'd avoid the time prior to Lent.

I lived in the French Quarter as a teen (with my mum) in the late 60's. Loved it then, and still do, but haven't been back in about 10 years. I find it very culturally different to the rest of Louisiana (and the rest of the country,) in a good way! Very European feeling. The food is amazing, lot's of French cuisine as well as the spicier Cajun food. A short walk to the edge of the mighty Mississippi River, with river traffic is also interesting. I would highly recommend it! I also agree with Norah to avoid the time before Lent, i.e. Mardi Gras. Best time in my opinion is April - June. Springtime is amazing with the smell of jasmine and beautiful blossoms.

My husband and I were there mid-April this year. We’ve been there before and love it. Message me if you’d like info/links for things to do/places that we enjoyed seeing. FYI, it can be rather warm. The average temperature when we were there was 25C, today it is 30C.

I’ve been twice , the first in august which I wouldn’t recommend, too hot and humid and the second in May which was perfect weather . On that trip we went to Charlotte, Gatlingburg in the smoky mountains, Nashville , Memphis and ended up in New Orleans. I loved it . We had an Airbnb in the garden district and got the trolley bus downtown. Yes, there are some areas you should avoid at night . And Bourbon street at night has a spring break atmosphere. But we felt safe and got cabs late at night , which we’d do in London .
The food is amazing and French quarter not surprisingly has a European feel to it.
We went there on a self drive road trip, but you could do an organised tour . There are some that include Nashville and Memphis. I’m not an Elvis fan but I found Graceland really interesting.

I’ve always had a yen to go to Nashville Tenko. It’s on my bucket list, but I’m not sure I could do the journey.

There was nothing we liked there unfortunately it was not to our taste. We were glad when our cousins picked us up to drive back to Florida.

I would like to go.
Never quite made it.

www.cntraveler.com/destinations/new-orleans

I would recommend April when the weather is lovely. We’ve been twice in April and January. It was very wet in January.
We went on ships and each time a local jazz band came aboard in the evening. In the day time there is much to see and wander around. Also boat rides and coach tours.

I've been to Savannah and Charleston in the deep south, they were both wonderful. My parents went to New Orleans and I remember my mother telling me she found it very humid, enjoyed the French Quarter but was ultimately glad to leave.

It was a long time ago when DH and I visited a colleague in New Orleans. We had a great time but the best was the MUSIC!
I didn't want to leave.

NotSpaghetti

I would like to go.
Never quite made it.

www.cntraveler.com/destinations/new-orleans

Thanks for the link. I’ve had a quick look and there are some interesting places. Think we’ll go for it and see for ourselves.

There was a lot of destruction after storm Katrina and some areas were basically left to rot (Lower 9th ward especially).
This is a great listen about the "other side" ten years after the storm (so 9 years ago).

www.thisamericanlife.org/565/lower-9-10

I went to NO last April and loved it. For me, the best thing about it was the music. Loved going in and out of all the jazz clubs on Frenchman Street and hearing the street musicians. I agree it is culturally distinct from the rest of Louisiana and the rest of the US.

We had some delicious meals there, especially seafood. Also interestingly, the NO coffee is made with chicory.

Whilst the US as a whole gave the world hamburgers, New Orleans however has given much more in a culinary sense, Jambalya! a wonderful fusion of the varied ethnic influences that have emanated from that city.

All the comments about New Orleans strir-up my wanderlust! I've always been very drawn to this area but have no idea why?!? I read 'Interview with a vampire' in my 30yrs, yet my fascination with the deep south existed way before then.
I do sometimes feel as though I have lived before! Its an odd sensation but I've felt these interesting, fleeting flashes since I was a young girl & still have them, which I still just can't explain. 😶

We went last October as part of a Deep South fly drive. We stayed in Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans as well as some places along the Mississippi River. New Orleans was out least favourite of the 3 main stops, but still interesting. We had 3 nights and found it enough. We stayed in the French Quarter and it was very lively at night. It’s sensible to stay in the main areas and not go out alone. We found the riverboat cruise was great and the city park also lovely - amazing sculptures . Open top Bus tour also good . We had good weather - shorts and t shirts with a light cardi in the evening in early October.

Always wanted to see N.O. and went about 7 years ago on a trip down from Chicago. It’s an absolutely amazing place, the music emanating from all the bars is top class talent. We did an evening river cruise on a paddle steamer, had a 4 course meal while a jazz band played, it was fantastic.
I’d like to do a Mississippi cruise on a paddle steamer, but none of the singles companies cover that, so I’d have to pay double for the single supplement.

Love New Orleans and went many years ago, it was so vibrant and colourful, especially the jazz. I hope it hasn't changed too much these days.

Not been in 40 years...Loved it and loved being on The Natchez.

We too had a dinner cruise on the Nachez - in a cracking thunderstorm with lightning flashing over the boat! New Orleans is an amazing place, as others have said, the food is so much better than the chicken tenders and ribs so popular in the South. The cemetery with its above ground natural cremations is interesting, and the Katrina aftermath and learning how the population suffered will stay with me. But the place is mad, the jazz clubs, the infamous Bourbon street where we encountered a 90 year old woman dancing naked in the street and nobody turned a hair!

We went in February of this year and absolutely loved it. Got to see some of the parades in the build up to Mardi Gras and they were brilliant. So much effort put into them and they last for hours.
Lots of trips to be had, plantations, swamp tours, steamboat and gun range.
Would recommend NOLA VIP for a tour early on, just to get the lay of the land and recommendations on where to go and good places to eat.