Hey guys! My husband won a trip to New Orleans from his job for being employee of the year and I need some help!! We will be attending a few corporate events but then we will have time of our own and I don't know what to plan to do. Any suggestions? We will be staying on Canal street and I'm told that is close to Bourbon Street?

If anybody knows of a MUST SEE or MUST DO while we are there, I would really appreciate some info! We are flying out on 1/17 and returning on 1/21.

Thanks!

New Orleans isn't completely what it was before Katrina, but when I went in the summer we still managed to find some good live Jazz bands in the clubs on Bourbon street and Jackson Square is always nice but the thing I love the most about NO is the architecture, all the wrought Iron and pretty balconies. Be sure and check out the garden district too!

Have fun, go to the Gumbo House for the best gumbo!!

Amy

I don't even know what gumbo is???

You have to try it - kind of like a soup-stew but definitely a Cajun thing!

Usually Seafood or Okra in it - Yummmmm

Bring your SCUBA gear.

Stay around the French Quarter and you should be fine. I believe the casino is now open so there's that. There's a river cruise that is nice and lots and lots of quaint shops. The trolley is running again so you can go up Charles street and see all the big houses. Have Breakfast at Brehnans, but make reservations. Emeril has a few places there that are good. Pat O' Brien's is a tourist place that everyone goes to to have a drink.

Jazz is played everywhere. Just walking the french quarter should bring you plenty of entertainment. At the riverside is the famous place that serves Benigets (sp) and strong coffee. A fun place to sit and watch people.

Enjoy

Stay around the French Quarter and you should be fine. I believe the casino is now open so there's that. There's a river cruise that is nice and lots and lots of quaint shops. The trolley is running again so you can go up Charles street and see all the big houses. Have breakfast at Brehnans, but make reservations. Emeril has a few places there that are good. Pat O' Brien's is a tourist place that everyone goes to to have a drink.

Jazz is played everywhere. Just walking the french quarter should bring you plenty of entertainment. At the riverside is the famous place that serves Benigets (sp) and strong coffee. A fun place to sit and watch people.

Enjoy

Thank you! This was very helpful!!

Oooooh I love New Orleans sooo much! It was one of my best vacations ever. My number one pick for "must see" is Preservation Hall. It's a magical feeling listening to jazz there. Nothing like it.

Second would be the amazing statuary in their cemetaries there. We have framed some of the wonderful eerie pictures we got of the spectacular victorian statuary.

Third is definitely the food. It's difficult to get a bad meal there. An oyster po' boy is a must.

One word of advice: in the French Quarter they are psycho about not letting people use their bathrooms unless you're a customer. They're not afraid to assault people if you try to sneak in, too. Make sure you "go" before you head out for an evening! That's the one thing that marred my vacation: a crazy restaurant manager practically beat me up (pushed me and shoved me) just because I was heading toward the bathroom because I had to go really really badly. They are very strict about that.

Other than that, NO is gorgeous and wonderful. Have fun!

Oooooh I love New Orleans sooo much! It was one of my best vacations ever. My number one pick for "must see" is Preservation Hall. It's a magical feeling listening to jazz there. Nothing like it.

Second would be the amazing statuary in their cemetaries there. We have framed some of the wonderful eerie pictures we got of the spectacular victorian statuary.

Third is definitely the food. It's difficult to get a bad meal there. An oyster po' boy is a must.

One word of advice: in the French Quarter they are psycho about not letting people use their bathrooms unless you're a customer. They're not afraid to assault people if you try to sneak in, too. Make sure you "go" before you head out for an evening! That's the one thing that marred my vacation: a crazy restaurant manager practically beat me up (pushed me and shoved me) just because I was heading toward the bathroom because I had to go really really badly. They are very strict about that.

Other than that, NO is gorgeous and wonderful. Have fun!

Thank you! I will make note about the bathroom thing, as strange as that is?! LOL

The food is great, the atmosphere is really interesting. It's been years since I've been there, but Cafe du Monde is where the beignets and coffee are...and I think Three Sisters is where there was a great Sunday jazz brunch.

I'm not sure what all is going on there now, after Katrina, but that should be interesting, too.

One thing, I would not choose New Orleans to be inebriated in, and unaware of what was going on around me. There is lots of violent crime, or so I heard on the news this weekend (6 murders?) As always, stay aware of what is going on around you.

As always, stay aware of what is going on around you.

Definately, I'm always on my toes in unfamiliar places. I was completely on edge the whole time in Mexico where I had my lap band surgery.

This thing with New Orleans is weird, no disrespect to the city or anybody who loves it, but I've never had any desire to visit, so I am at a loss on what to do when we get there. I'm not particularily fond of jazz, I'm very picky about food I eat, rarely try new or different food, so I will be completely out of my element I think. That is why I am trying to pick 'yall's brains to find out more about it.

I'm not particularily fond of jazz

The funny thing is, I'm not either! Actually I would say I dislike it. But you still must go to Preservation Hall. It gave me a new understanding of jazz and the music is so much a part of NO's history. It's really a beautiful experience. Everyone was awed by it and you could have heard a pin drop. It's a tiny, intimate space, and very historic. You'll come away with a new appreciation.

If you are a little on edge in unfamiliar places then you might want to think about taking a tour or two. It's hard to know for sure what is available since Katrina, but I am sure they have some great tours. Your hotel should have all the information. That way you can relax and have fun without having to worry about where to go and what to see.

And I want to say one thing about the food. New Orleans is world famous for its great restaurants and incredible food. I'm talking about food on the level of Paris and New York. This is unquestionably one of the great culinary cities of the world and it is well known for that. They take food very, very seriously there. As one of the previous posters mentioned, it's hard to get a bad meal there. Even your average corner restaurant often serves food that is so good you can hardly believe it. Again, I would check with your hotel for some recommendations. If you are ever going to "try something new" this is the place to do it. Trust me on that.

Have Fun!

Thanks everybody! You have all made it easier for me now to know what to expect! I appreciate it!!

:welldone: