So Much to do in the French Quarter

Everything’s better in the 504

New Orleans couldn’t seem like more of a hotspot. It has it all. Music, food, culture, heritage and plenty of parties. Never mind the itinerary, just head to downtown New Orleans where you’ll not be 10 minutes out of the car before finding a boutique to explore, or a street performer’s audience to join. It’s more than normal to have a full dance card in Nawlins – especially in the French Quarter.

French Quarter & Nightlife

Beneath the overcast skies of southern Louisiana lies the famous French Quarter – a place of culture, food, shopping and some incredibly talented people. Mosey through the vendors of the French Market, or have your fortune read in Jackson Square. Step inside the St. Louis Cathedral – be sure to get a good look at that ceiling – and explore the shops and restaurants of the Vieux Carré.

The afterhours of the French Quarter are legendary, and sought after by visitors from around the world. On Bourbon Street, sidewalks don’t mean a thing once the sun goes down. People, music and the voices of inebriated karaoke-goers fill the streets of central New Orleans. Join the crowds on the balcony of the Cat’s Meow, or test your nerves at the Original Dungeon – a New Orleans tavern if ever there was one. Feel free to stumble around in the streets of Crescent City. Believe us, you won’t stand out.

Mardi Gras & Other Festivals

You don’t forget the time you spent at Mardi Gras…or maybe you do. Loud and colorful parades. Thousands of people. Food, costumes and a river of libations. Surround yourself in the purple, green and gold of Mardi Gras, and take part in one of the biggest parties on the planet.

New Orleans never goes long without a festival or celebration of some kind. Throughout the year, the French Quarter welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests. Invitations ring out for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or the Satchmo SummerFest held at the Louisiana State Museum's Old U.S. Mint and commemorating the legendary Louis Armstrong. Eat your weight in red beans, or ask people to repeat themselves for days after all that loud, hot jazz. Yes, people come here for the parties, and always wish they could stay.

Tours & More

New Orleans is a city teaming with history and unique back stories. Unless you want to miss something, it might be best to leave this one to the professionals. Tours of New Orleans range from airboat tours of the bayou – where alligator sightings are more than common – to tours of the beautiful Garden District adjacent to Tulane University. In the heart of the city, you may choose from historic New Orleans tours by day, and anything from voodoo to vampire tours by night.

Food & Music

You don’t go to New Orleans without filling up your stomach with some famed creole cuisine. You also don’t go to New Orleans without filling your ears with traditional and contemporary jazz flowing through the streets of Crescent City at all times. The best thing to do is combine the two, which is an extremely easy mission to accomplish in the Vieux Carré. Scroll through the menus of the restaurants and street-side eateries of the French Quarter – most of which come equipped with live jazz ensembles.

Try the Alligator Bites at Pat O’Brien’s as you enjoy the piano lounge atmosphere, or have a seat and a sandwich as you watch the live jazz combo – all of three feet from you – at The Market Café. The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is another great way to experience the extensive food scene of the Big Easy, or choose from any authentic restaurant in town for shrimp po’boys, oysters, gumbo, jambalaya and much more.

What To See and Do in the French Quarter:

French Quarter & Nightlife: The French Market, Jackson Square and Bourbon Street

Mardi Gras & Other Festivals: Satchmo Summerfest and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Tours & More: Historic New Orleans, Haunted History and Cocktail Hour

Food & Music: Pat O'Brien's, The Market Café and Café du Monde