What to see in French Qtr, Waterfront & Garden Dist?

[spaghetti]

We will have three days in NOLA next month, staying near the French Qtr. before a cruise. We won't have a car, but our hotel is close to the Canal and St Charles streetcar lines. We are not big drinkers/partiers but would like to see Bourbon Street and would like suggestions of other things worth seeing in Fr. Qtr. Some places like Jackson Square, Jazz National Historic Park and French Market sound nice and maybe the Paddlewheeler ride. Thinking we might spend a day or two in the Fr Qtr and waterfront areas and a day riding the St Charles streetcar to see the Garden District, maybe take a walk at Audubon Park. There will just be two adults and we don't mind some walking. Hoping for a laid back and relaxing visit. Wondering whether our plans sound workable and what else there may be to see in these areas.

Edited September 27, 2013 by spaghetti

[swscruiser]

Plans sound good. Fr Qtr in Morning and afternoon is completely different than at night when Bourbon St is blocked for vehicle traffic except cross streets. But all times it is an experience. May also want to try one of Antebellum tours. There is also a casino between the Port and Fr Qtr if that has any interest.

[spaghetti]

Hi swscruiser,

Thanks for replying to my post, you're the only one who did. Maybe I need to punch up my wording to make posts more exciting or interesting - Woo Hoo!:D My posts never seem to generate much response.

Based on what you're saying, I think we'll plan to see Bourbon Street at different times (day/night) so we get the full effect.

Do you know if things are going on at the Jazz Historical Park day and night?

Is there more to see in French Qtr that is not on Bourbon Street?

I have heard that there are plantations about an hour from downtown but we won't have a car (are these the Antebellum Tours?).

Hope you have a good week....can't believe its the end of September already.

[Chmie]

My posts never seem to generate much response.

 

I'm sure it's not personal. :D

We're staying in the garden district and plan on using the street car to get around. NO looks like a fantastic city to tour. Enjoy.

[spaghetti]

Thanks Chmie, I'm thinking folks just have busy lives -not taking it personally.

My alternate plan was the same as yours, Garden District looks beautiful. DH thinks it will be better to do the opposite, stay near Fr. Qtr. and the port and ride streetcars to the other locales.

When do you cruise and on which ship? I hope you have a great time!

[Chmie]

When do you cruise and on which ship?

 

Now you're making me think no one fully reads my posts. Check my

signature:p

 

Actually we're driving down and I'm trying to convince wifie that we should use our car to tour NO. That way we'd be on our own schedule.

She's been a passenger with me and suggests we use the street car :D

[spaghetti]

Oops, thanks for pointing out the info in your signature. I'm new here and didn't realize information was included there. :confused:

[Chmie]

Oops, thanks for pointing out the info in your signature. I'm new here and didn't realize information was included there. :confused:

 

I'm just pulling your chain and trying to change your perception that your posts don't generate many responses. Besides it's a boring Thursday here at work. :D

[cajun-crazy]

The World War II museum is nice and very well done. Lots of video footage and interesting clips. Even if you aren't a WWII buff. http://www.nationalww2museum.org/

 

The French Quarter is made up of several streets - of which Bourbon St is one. Royal St runs parallel to Bourbon and has lots of antique shops. I personally have no desire to see Bourbon street during the day time, but a stroll down Royal is nice. Hop over on Bourbon early evening - you have to experience it.

 

Also, closer to the river a few blocks is Jackson Square. This is surrounded on three sides by small streets that are closed to traffic. Street entertainers, artists, fortune tellers sit around the square. Lots of history right here in this area.

A little bit further along the riverfront is the French Market, where vendors sell trinkets.

There is a trolley that runs along the riverfront (about 1.25 exact change) from the area near the port/convention center to the area around the French Market. You can get off at any point you want along the route. I love walking along the riverfront (this is the area that St Louis Cathedral is facing) - it is a nice paved sidewalk.

 

Since you are driving, you could easily tour one of the plantation homes on River Road (west, southwest of N.O.) prior to parking the car in N.O.

Edited October 3, 2013 by cajun-crazy

[Westbank is bestbank]

New Orleans now has one of those open top sight seeing buses that bring you all around the city. It goes around the french quarters, garden district, and down magazine street. You can hop on and hop off all day. It's a nice way to see different areas. I think it's around $30. You can buy tickets across the street from jackson square.

[spaghetti]

I'm just pulling your chain and trying to change your perception that your posts don't generate many responses. Besides it's a boring Thursday here at work. :D

 

Ohhh I see how it is....you were just killing time 'til the weekend got here.:rolleyes:

Hey maybe you could school me a bit. I've visited the cc boards just a few times, usually when I have a cruise planned. Never knew how to do a 'signature' and all the other cool bells and whistles. Is there a tutorial or something?

[spaghetti]

Wow, thanks for the details everybody! That info will really help a lot.

[wrigley80]

New Orleans now has one of those open top sight seeing buses that bring you all around the city. It goes around the french quarters, garden district, and down magazine street. You can hop on and hop off all day. It's a nice way to see different areas. I think it's around $30. You can buy tickets across the street from jackson square.

 

Yeah that's one thing that were gonna do....ride the bus first without getting off and then on the second trip around we will get on and off where we want to.

[wrigley80]

Wow, thanks for the details everybody! That info will really help a lot.

 

We're in the same place as you. We've never been to New Orleans and we will be there in December for one day pre-cruise and one day post-cruise. I have compiled a whole list of things we wanna see and do.

People on our roll call mentioned to ride the Canal Street/Algiers Point ferry across the river. It's free for pedestrians.

Go to Cafe DuMonde....watch and listen to street performers.

Ride the hop on/hop off city sightseeing bus

[chrismch]

Please check out...

http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/seasonal/cnos.html

That is one of my favorite time of the year to be there... free concerts in St. Louis Cathedral, free food tastings, Christmas parades, free music down by the riverfront mall, caroling in the hotels, and folks dressing in period style on the weekends.

 

Also check out restaurant.com for some food discounts. Only make sure the restaurants are still there. We had some great new options we hadn't tried before in the Quarter.

[cruzin lady]

 

We loved the Cajun music at Mulats! Prople we're dancing, and it was such

fun to watch.

[spaghetti]

Do you have to dine at Mulat's to go an enjoy the music?

[irie0518]

I would also recommend the hop-on hop-off bus tour. I have taken them in several cities that I have visited and have always had a good time. The one in New Orleans was great too. I usually do what Wrigley said, ride the whole loop once and it gives you a good overview and then the second time around you get off at places you are interested in visiting. They usually run at least every hour if not more frequent. The other great thing is it gives you transportation around the city too. New Orleans is a very walkable city but after walking all day it can definitely make your feet hurt. You can also get multiple day passes if you are going to be there for more than one day and it's not a lot more for the 2 day pass. There is also a guide on each bus that will give you some of the history as you make your way around the city.

 

The street cars are also fun to ride but won't take you as many places or have the guide.

 

Have a great time. I love New Orleans and will be sailing from there myself in April so can't wait to get back down there.

[PSkinner]

DH and I spent 4 days in NO last year and we loved it. We did the carriage ride and paid extra for the hour long tour. Our driver was very interesting and told lots of stories. We did cemetery tour as well.

Go to Urban Spoon and look up cheap eats in French Quarter. We found some really nice place with great food. Loved Mother's Restaurant in the Warehouse District (great place for breakfast) and a place in the French Quarter called Yo Momma's Bar And Grill (great peanut butter-bacon burger!). We are from Texas and the best nachos we both ever had were at the Sports Bar in our hotel The Ambassador.

Edited October 16, 2013 by PSkinner

[Kim_KS]

When we were there in May, I downloaded a walking tour of the French Quarter on my phone. It was very interesting and a great way to learn about different parts of the area.

 

We stayed in the Garden District and took the streetcar to the French Quarter and it worked out great. It was cheaper to stay in the Garden District so that's why we did it that way.

 

Have fun!!

[spaghetti]

Thank you all so much!

[goldesq]

quick suggestions since I just got back form NOLA. try a swamp tour and also try a walking foodie tour. Both were incredible. I also did see the WW2 Museum. be sure to see the Tom Hanks narrated movie if you go.

[goldesq]

another suggestion: Atchafalaya. Top 5 restaurant I've been to and I have traveled a LOT!

[Banditswife]

We are doing a repositioning cruise from Pt Canaveral to NOLA. We will have about 11 hours from debarkation to flight time. This thread has given us some good options of what to do for a few hours. I just hope there will be some place to store our luggage. The on/off bus sounds great. Again thanks to everyone for the info.

[Kim_KS]

We are doing a repositioning cruise from Pt Canaveral to NOLA. We will have about 11 hours from debarkation to flight time. This thread has given us some good options of what to do for a few hours. I just hope there will be some place to store our luggage. The on/off bus sounds great. Again thanks to everyone for the info.

 

There is a luggage service that will take your bags to the airport. It worked out great for us!

 

 

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