The rich tapestry of the Big Easy's history is woven from a rainbow of characters, from French missionaries to wealthy generals to poor but passionate artists and musicians. This intersection of cultures is evident in the New Orleans attractions that consistently receive recommendations from travel magazines and tourist guides, making them fundamental for a first-time visit to the city. Many of these destinations cost little more than the price of good walking shoes and a day or two of your time.
A grand statute of Andrew Jackson atop a horse dominates the center of the square named for him in honor of his Battle of New Orleans victory. Musicians and artists transform the wide pedestrian areas around the square into a colorful patchwork of design and noise. The Pontalba apartments, dating to the 1840s, flank the up- and downriver sides of the square housing a variety of shops and restaurants behind Colonial doorways. The square’s visual masterpiece is the St. Louis Cathedral, presiding over the top of the area. On each side of the still functioning church are more historic buildings -- the Cabildo, once the government seat and now home to the Louisiana State Museum, and the Presbytere, an extension of the museum.
The French Quarter, or Vieux Carre, is the one attraction not to miss in New Orleans. Wrought-iron balconies and galleries, Colonial homes and shops, colorful shotgun houses and the mystery of pirate lore make the mile-long grid of streets a delight to walk through. Highlights include Jean LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop, whose early 18th-century structure is possibly the oldest still used as a bar in the United States; the French Market, a blocks-long covered outdoor market; Old Ursuline Convent, one of the oldest buildings in New Orleans; and the shops selling unique art and wares along Royal Street.
While the streetcars along Desire Street that are the namesake for Tennessee Williams' classic play may no longer run, the city has maintained four of its iconic streetcar lines that have been running since 1835. A one-day pass costs less than a cup of coffee and gives you a great way to not only experience the electric-powered streetcars but to see the city itself. For example, the St. Charles Line passes by the stately homes of the Garden District, the expanses of the Audobon Zoo, and both Tulane and Louisiana State University, while the Canal Street Line meanders through the Central Business District, Mid-City and on to City Park.
Take the St. Charles Avenue streetcar southwest to the Garden District, a historic area adorned with stunning 19th-century mansions. Some of the most famous include the Wedding Cake House, named for its layered design; the George Washington Cable House; the Van Benthuysen-Elms Mansion; and the Columns Hotel. The area is home to the Lafayette Cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries in the city and one its most picturesque, thanks to vaulted tombs.
On the city’s north side, the massive 1,300-acre City Park is the sixth largest park in the U.S. It was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina, but the city has invested in the park's revitalization. Stone bridges traverse bayous that wind through the park and its massive, centuries-old oak trees that create gothic walkways. The park isn’t just green space, however, thanks to its many attractions, including the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, the New Orleans Botanical Garden, the New Orleans Museum of Art, sports fields, and numerous sculptures and structures.
