Big Fun in the Big Easy- Visit New Orleans
- LaShai H
- Jun 16, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 2, 2023
Everything You Need to Plan a Great Trip to New Orleans
Let's get A-W-A-Y to New Orleans!!! Nola is one of my favorite places to visit. The food, art, music, and rich cultural history all come to life in this vibrant city. It’s a great place for group trips and absolute heaven for foodies. Check out the Best Spots to try Beignets (Link to Article)
New Orleans hosts over 130 festivals every year. That is almost once every three days. The most popular are Mardi Gras, French Quarter Festival, and the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. There is always something going on in Nola. My first trip to New Orleans was for the Essence Festival which happened to fall on the weekend of my birthday. I fell in love with the city instantly and knew that it would be a place I’d return to as often as possible. I’ve had a chance to go back a few times for birthdays, weddings, and just because. With those experiences, I’ve put together everything you need to plan a great trip to New Orleans.
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ACTIVITIES
Don’t miss these activities on your trip to New Orleans!
What’s my absolute favorite thing to do in New Orleans? Eat. When I’m not stuffing my face, I also love walking the streets of the French Quarter, checking out local artists and street vendors, shopping at the boutiques, and exploring the amazing architecture. While wandering the streets is fun and there are lots of things to explore, these are my top 3 recommendations for activities in New Orleans:
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. This is a great way to learn more about the history of the festival and appreciate the creativity and artistry of the parade floats and themes.
2. Experience the Live Music on Frenchmen Street
Bourbon Street is by far the most popular nightlife scene in New Orleans. Less popular and far more entertaining, is the live music on Frenchmen Street. There are three blocks of bars and venues that feature live cover bands nightly. My personal favorite is music at The Maison.
3. Stroll along Jackson Square
No trip to New Orleans is complete without a trip to this historic park in the French Quarter of New Orleans. There is the world-famous Cafe Du Monde, live jazz music, and my favorite part local artists who display their art along the iron fence. You can spend an entire afternoon walking around the shops, but make sure you leave time to head across the street to JAX Brewery.
Quick tip; while you’re out and about in the streets, if you find yourself in need of a restroom look for your nearest hotel. Hotel lobbies have much cleaner and nicer restrooms than bars or restaurants.
WHERE
Planning a Trip to Nola? Here’s where you should stay…
It can be very tempting when planning your trip to New Orleans to book near Bourbon or near the festival venue if that’s what’s bringing you to town. There are pros and cons to both. If you are planning a wild and crazy weekend, for a bachelor party or birthday then you’ll want to be near Bourbon. Keep in mind that Bourbon Street is a lot like Vegas in the sense that the city never sleeps and in those old buildings directly on the street you’ll have a hard time sleeping too. If you are looking for a bit more charm and less noise pollution, I suggest staying near the Warehouse or Lower Garden District. Lastly, if you want to be close to all the action, with a more artsy and less drunken scene than Bourbon, check out Marigny or Treme. Below are my recommendations for Hotel accommodations:
1. Natchez
We stayed at this hotel with a group of 8 for my husband’s birthday. I loved that all of the rooms had access to their own bathroom. It makes a big difference when you have so many people needing to get ready after being in the Nola heat all day. The pool was awesome and they even had a hot tub that overlooked the street. Best of all, the location was PERFECT. It was quiet at night but a quick walk to all the action.
This hotel is located downtown and adjacent to the historic French Quarter. Harrah's New Orleans has a massive casino and players are often invited back with free rooms, so if you play already, this is a great option for saving on your accommodations. The hotel has incredible views of the Mississippi River and the New Orleans skyline. Definitely recommend it for a couple’s getaway.
I had the chance to visit and tour this hotel on my last trip to New Orleans. I love the decor and ambiance. It is located directly on Frenchmen’s Street which is a great alternative to staying on Bourbon and the rates are really affordable. This location has live music in the lobby which was like a private concert and the cocktails were delicious.
Affordable
Ways to Save Money on your trip to the Big Easy!
We’ve talked a bit about how much eating out I like to do when visiting New Orleans and all of those restaurant bills add up fast. When planning a trip to New Orleans these are all of the steps I take to save in advance and while on the trip:
1. Visit during Off Season
The entire parade season (Jan-early March) is the most expensive time to visit. That and during the more popular festivals. If you come right after Mardi Gras, you can still see all the beads in the trees and for the most part, the area clears out. Prices are back to normal from a hotel perspective and the weather is still really nice. The summer is also a time when prices are really low, but that’s because the weather is miserable. If you plan on staying in the hotel during the day and venturing out at night when it’s cooler, summer is another good option.
2. Track Flights
Flights for New Orleans can be $200, and flights can also be $1,500. The range is really ridiculous, and it all depends on when you visit. Planning ahead and tracking flight prices can save you hundreds of dollars. I use Kayak to track flights for my upcoming trips. They have a great calendar that shows you when prices are low and a flight predictor to tell you if you should buy now or wait for prices to drop. You can also set up alerts for when flight prices go down.
3. Stay further away from Bourbon
Trust me when I say staying on Bourbon Street sounds much cooler than it is in reality. Since it is so very popular and tourists flock to the closest stays nearby, accommodations on Bourbon Street are also wildly expensive. If you don’t mind walking or taking the trolley, staying in a neighborhood one mile or farther away will significantly decrease your overall cost.
Your Packing List
Headlining to New Orleans? Make sure these items are on your packing list:
Adidas Cloudfoam Shoe- This is my official travel shoe. They are super lightweight and comfortable. I own them in four different colors.
Furtalk Sun Visor- I am obsessed with this sunhat. I own it in multiple colors and take it everywhere.
Rockport Women's Wedge Sandal - This shoe is perfect because you can dress it up or down AND they are super comfortable. Whenever I'll be in warm weather and need a cute sandal - I reach for these.
Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Bracelets - Whenever you're heading somewhere with high humidity, you can count on mosquitos showing up to the party too. Not only will these keep the bugs away, but they also last for days so you don't have to worry about reapplying.
Neutrogena Sunscreen Stick - New Orleans is known for bringing the heat and sunscreen is a must. This stick is super convenient and doesn't count as a liquid at the airport.
Nefeeko Collapsible Water Bottle- Even without hiking on your to do list, this travel water bottle is super convenient and can clip onto any bag. I use it at the airport to save on those overpriced water bottles.
Final Tip- Life in the Big Easy is just that- easy. If you’re coming from a big city, you might be surprised and slightly annoyed at how slowly everyone seems to be moving. Locals walk slowly, and servers take what seems like forever to get your order and bring the food. Nothing, and I do mean nothing, is in a rush or hurry down there. I’d suggest that you adjust your pace to their pace. Slowing down and enjoying your walk, your meal, and your drink will improve your experience.
For more helpful information, check out Nola- Kid’s Edition. Don't forget to download your free copy of The Best Spots to Try Beignets and subscribe to be the first to know when new posts arrive.
Remember no matter where the road takes you, stay curious, kind, and compassionate.
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