Welcome to the Big Easy!
Beyond the bright lights of Bourbon Street, a world of local music, historic architecture, and incredible food is waiting. New Orleans is famously known as the “Festival Capital of the World. With approximately 130 celebrations for music, food, culture or history happening nearly every weekend.
We’ve poured our own love for the Big Easy into this blog post, which shares our favorite hidden gems, the best neighborhood haunts, and the essential NOLA experiences. Whether you’re here for the jazz, the history, or the cuisine, consider this your insider's map to experiencing the authentic soul of New Orleans. We also recommend the following tours and activities to kick start your visit:
Mardi Gras World
Learn about the history of the most popular festival in New Orleans while experiencing firsthand the work and planning that goes into bringing Mardi Gras to life. The tour includes an active workshop that has been creating floats for Mardi Gras and other parades around the world since 1947. There are tons of photo opportunities in front of the floats and props.
St. Louis Cemetery Walking Tour
A St. Louis Cemetery walking tour is an exclusive journey into the history and unique above-ground burial traditions of New Orleans' oldest and most famous "City of the Dead." Led by a licensed guide (as public access is restricted for preservation), visitors navigate a maze of ornate tombs, which were necessary due to the high water table.
Natchez Jazz Cruise
The Natchez Jazz Cruise offers a classic New Orleans experience aboard an authentic paddlewheel steamboat on the mighty Mississippi River. This leisurely two-hour cruise provides passengers with captivating views of the city skyline and a live captain's narration on local history. Guests enjoy live, traditional New Orleans jazz. Cruisers can choose to simply sightsee or upgrade to include a Creole buffet dinner, making for a truly memorable evening.
Swamp Boat Tour
A New Orleans swamp boat tour is an adventurous and educational excursion into the unique, mysterious beauty of the Louisiana bayous, often featuring the famous cypress swamps draped in Spanish moss. Guided by local "Cajun Captains," the primary draw is the chance to spot wildlife like alligators, snakes, raccoons, and native birds in their natural habitat, particularly during warmer months. Tours offer two main experiences: a thrilling, high-speed ride on an open-top airboat for the adventurous, or a slower, more tranquil cruise on a covered pontoon boat for a relaxed, intimate viewing.
The National WWII Museum
The National WWII Museum in New Orleans is the official U.S. museum dedicated to the American experience in World War II, covering both the Home Front and the military campaigns. It is a highly immersive and expansive seven-acre campus that uses artifacts, powerful first-person accounts, and multimedia experiences
Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Walking Tour
A New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo, and Vampire walking tour is a highly popular, after-dark journey through the French Quarter, blending documented history with chilling local legends. Led by a theatrical, licensed storyteller, the tour stops outside famous haunted locations like the notorious LaLaurie Mansion and the Old Ursuline Convent, sharing gruesome tales of true crime, restless spirits, and murder.