Nov
12
We want to travel there with our 16 year old son, but we do not know if it is still a good vacation spot, especially for a teenager. I’d love to hear about your recent travel adventures.
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6 Responses to “What vacation recommendations can you make for New Orleans after Katrina?”
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Well I live in New Orleans and unless your son likes history or aquariums or the zoo, it wouldn’t be the best idea to bring him. They have a lot of stuff to do but it depends on if he likes that stuff. We have a lot of haunted places where you can have tours and there is the french quarter where you can also have tours, or shop, or eat new orleans food. I hope this helped you a little.
I would plan a different trip. New Orleans is unsafe and an adult playground.
i don’t like the above answer because i think it’s kinda rude but i have to halfway agree. i’m 17 and as a resident, i’ll tell you that there’s not much to do. it’s more of a sightseeing place and even at that, there’s not a whole lot to see. basically tourists just come to party. not that there’s anything wrong with new orleans, i mean i live here and love it. it’s just that there’s better vacations to spend money on.
they have plenty of things to do.
travel around see places you’ve never seen, eat good food.
you don’t have to stay in the city or go to bourbon street
the user who says it’s an adult playground has probably never even been to Louisiana.
Things to do in New Orleans:
Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year:
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:
There is always music, but the bands change: Go to and click on Music then Listings or to and click on Listings, then Music.
Note that music clubs often advertise No Cover, meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with No Cover often require that customers buy a beverage each for every set of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell – not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can’t be any confusion at the end of the evening.
An incomplete guide to bars clubs:
About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge.
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 and click on Historic Attractions).
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 Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.). Magazine Street is a miles-long shopping district:
Louisiana is the only US state that offers tax-free shopping for international visitors:
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.
The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and offers traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to about September 25th each year.
Maximo’s Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, (504) 586-8883.
All of the famous restaurants (Antoine’s, Arnaud’s, Brennan’s, Commander’s Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends. Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices:
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:
Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome:
New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre:
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:
The Aquarium, Audubon Zoo, and the new Insectarium are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. 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.
The Louisiana State Museum is in 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 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 for info on more museums.
Harrah’s Casino is in the Central Business District: (age 21 required for entry)
New Orleans City Park has a variety of attractions + free parking. City Park also presents Celebration in the Oaks from late November to early January: (www.neworleanscitypark.com).
Check and for ideas about other things to do.
Hope you have a great time!
There are plenty of things for younger kids to do in New Orleans! Don’t listen to them! The zoo and aquarium are one of the best in America. You can go to the French Quarter and walk around, go to the flea market and get all kinds of fun stuff for cheap, take a streetcar through the city, visit haunted places, take a ghost tour, go on a swamp tour, visit some cathedrals, see some jazz bands, go to Rock N Bowl they have bowling and live zydeco music, mulate’s restaurant has cajun food and live cajun bands…
The only thing that’s really different now than before Katrina is that businesses are lacking tourists, good for you. You can get some good deals.
Of course there is a lot of drinking goin gon in the city, but you can drink anywhere.