Visit the French Market. Running between the 1100 and 1200 block of St. Peter's Street, this open air market offers dozens of vendors selling arts and crafts, T-shirts, hot sauce and other Louisiana specialty foods, jewelry and clothing. There's also plenty of fresh produce for sale. Don't be afraid to bargain with the sellers here.
Browse for antiques on Royal Street. Although many antique stores dot the French Quarter, there's a concentration of them on Royal Street. Royal Antiques Limited survived Hurricane Katrina and this century old business features an impressive selection of 19th and early 20th century furniture, like sideboards, armoires and buffets. Other stores offer rare jewelry, paintings, even collectible coins.
Check out specialty stores. There's New Orleans Gem and Lapidary, where you can order custom jewelry and buy beaded necklaces and loose gems. Browse Craft Louisianans, which features arts and crafts by local or satisfy your sweet tooth at Aunt Sally's Pralines on Decatur Street.
Admire art or photography at French Quarter galleries. After you've visited the antiques shops on Royal Street, walk down the street to a nearby gallery. Enjoy colorful paintings of cats and dogs at Gallery Rinard or walk over to Chartres Street to buy rare books or photographs at A Gallery for Fine Photography.
Spend an afternoon in historic Jackson Square, at the center of the French Quarter. Buy from one of the street vendors selling crafts and find a Lucky Dog cart to enjoy a cheap lunch.
Shop for souvenirs and collectibles. Buy rare records and concert posters at Vieux Carre Vinyl on Decatur Street. Shop one of the many French Quarter souvenir shops for T-shirts, Cajun seasoning and Mardi Gras beads for the folks back home. Visit the music and jewelry shops at the Jax Brewery.
