Top 55 Must-Experience Activities in New Orleans, LA

The cradle of jazz music, New Orleans is a little out of step with the United States when it comes to dining, architecture and just day-to-day living.

It’s a city of Creole cottages, palatial townhouses, elegant iron balconies and shaded courtyards.

Out of the French Quarter vintage streetcars rattle past rows of southern live oaks that have been growing for hundreds of years.

New Orleans is that rare place where you can order a cocktail to-go, and turn a corner and be swept along in a street parade.

The joie de vivre is impossible to resist and shines through in sublime food like jambalaya, gumbo, beignets, po’ boys and crawfish boils.

A lot of the city is below the waterline and New Orleans’ darkest hour was broadcast to the world during Hurricane Katrina, but this irrepressible, charmingly dissolute city was soon on its feet once more.

Let’s explore the best things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana:

1. French Quarter

Rakish, bohemian and bouncy, the French Quarter (Vieux Carré) is the grand dame, and springs to mind when many people think New Orleans.

All the hallmarks are here, like the vibrancy of Bourbon Street, Creole cottages, wrought-iron balconies, laid-back cafes, pastel facades, gaslights, jazz clubs, flowery courtyards, to-go cups, antique stores and restaurants that have been cherished for a century or more.

You won’t even need to search for entertainment; it will find you in the French Quarter.

There’s fabulous live music outside, on Royal Street’s daytime pedestrian zone and on the corner of Chartres and Frenchmen Street in the evening, and you never know when a Second Line parade will show up.

Decatur Street by the levee and French Market invites more jazz, people-watching, and souvenir shopping, while you may be out late enough to witness a new day dawn on the Mississippi riverfront over the tracks.

2. Garden District

New Orleans at its most refined, the Garden District was developed for affluent Americans who desired to reside outside the bustling French Quarter amidst the Creoles.

From the mid-1830s, they constructed theatrical Italianate and Greek Revival mansions, often painted bright white and featuring two tiers of galleries.

Bougainvillea creeps up many of the facades, while front gardens are adorned with jasmine, banana trees, magnolia, and shaded by venerable southern live oaks.

Explore on foot to admire the antebellum mansions, such as the Goldsmith-Godchaux House at 1122 Jackson Ave, The Manse at 2328 Coliseum Street, Colonel Short’s Villa at 1448 Fourth Street, and the Brevard-Rice House at 1239 First Street.

The internationally renowned Commander’s Palace (1403 Washington Ave) is a Creole restaurant dating back to 1893, elegantly housed in a turreted building adorned with blue and white awnings.

3. Jackson Square

Once a military parade ground at the very core of the city, Jackson Square was first laid out in the 1720s in the style of Place des Vosges in Paris.

After the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, the plaza was renamed in honor of the victorious General Andrew Jackson, who later became the seventh president of the United States between 1829 and 1837. At the center of the formal gardens is the equestrian statue for Jackson sculpted by Clark Mills and unveiled in 1856. Jackson Square is set just in from the Mississippi riverbank and features the Cabildo (former city hall), St. Louis Cathedral, and the former courthouse, the Presbytère, along its western margin.

In grand townhouses bordering the square, one finds restaurants, galleries, and shops, while the square is abuzz with artists selling their wares and producing portraits in mere moments.

If a television show or film is set in New Orleans, it’s likely that Jackson Square will feature prominently.

4. Mardi Gras

After the Twelfth Night on January 6, New Orleans officially enters Mardi Gras season.

Until Fat Tuesday (Shrove Tuesday), typically occurring in February, the city becomes a whirlwind of parades featuring enormous floats that have been in the making for months.

The festivities and bead-throwing escalate until the five days preceding Mardi Gras day, during which the population of New Orleans more than doubles in preparation for the “Greatest Free Show on Earth,” an explosion of creativity.

The parades are organized by social clubs (krewes) and tend to follow a set route each year, with floats that vary from satirical to raunchy and cheekily absurd.

A prime location to witness the grandeur on the big day is St. Charles Avenue, where you can watch the parades pass by en route to the French Quarter (notable floats include Zulu and Rex). Dress in purple, green, and gold, join in the revelry, and indulge in oysters and king cake.

5. Frenchmen Street

When people refer to Frenchmen Street, they are typically referring to the three-block stretch through Faubourg Marigny that has emerged as the best locale for live music in New Orleans.

Surrounded by charming Creole cottages and thriving into the early hours, Frenchmen Street blossomed into a local cultural hub after Bourbon Street became a tourist focal point in the 1980s.

The Maison, d.b.a., the Blue Nile, the Spotted Cat, and Snug Harbor are a few of the venues here, interspersed with bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and enticing boutiques.

Jazz and blues serve as the foundation, but expect an array of musical styles on Frenchmen Street, reflecting the rich tapestry of New Orleans.

Some venues, such as the Maison and 30/90, even allow children until 22:00 for an inclusive family outing.

6. City Park

The sixth-largest urban park in the United States is located on land that was drained by French colonists in the early 19th century.

At that time, this area was known as “Dueling Oaks,” a location where men settled disputes away from the city.

The park was landscaped in the 1850s and holds the largest collection of mature oaks in the world, with some specimens over 600 years old.

In true Louisiana spirit, these ancient trees are adorned with Spanish moss and provide ample shade for jogging, cycling, and picnicking.

Within the park’s boundaries are the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, which features a gorgeous vintage carousel.

The New Orleans Botanical Garden showcases a splendid conservatory displaying tropical rainforest species, desert plants, prehistoric plants, mountain species, and orchids, while a miniature train navigates a two-mile track and a Boat House by the lake allows bike rentals and pedal boats.

City Putt is a 36-hole putting attraction for families, while experienced golfers can enjoy a round at one of Bayou Oaks’ two courses.

7. Audubon Zoo

Situated in a park of the same name on the riverside of Magazine Street, Audubon Zoo emerged relatively unscathed from Hurricane Katrina, resting on higher ground.

The humid climate of New Orleans allows Audubon Zoo to create lush and immersive environments, featuring attractions like the award-winning Louisiana Swamp with leucistic alligators and the Jaguar Jungle.

Popular residents include Asian elephants, orangutans, lions (returned in May 2019), a Malayan tiger, western lowland gorillas, giraffes, and rhinos.

During summer, the Cool Zoo splash park opens for children, complete with a “Gator Run” lazy river, so bring swimming attire for little ones, while the Swamp Train provides a scenic tour of the zoo grounds.

The zoo is one of a few attractions honoring the distinguished naturalist John James Audubon, who lived in New Orleans from 1821. Nearby, one can find the wonderful Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, with over 50 exhibits located on Canal Street at the edge of the French Quarter.

8. French Market

Ranking among the United States’ premier shopping and dining destinations, the French Market features long iron-framed halls designed in the late-19th century by Joseph Abeilard, one of America’s first African American architects.

This area has been a center of commerce for centuries, originally serving as a Native American trading post by the Mississippi.

The market stretches for five blocks from Jackson Square and the iconic Café du Monde to a flea market at the end of Esplanade Avenue.

Within this vibrant space, one can find produce, specialty food stalls, freshly-made food stands, and abundant arts and crafts, all accompanied by live jazz.

If you’re feeling peckish, the Farmers’ Market Pavilion offers choices for all meals of the day, with vendors selling crêpes, shrimp, oysters, crawfish pies, and gourmet salads.

Along with Café du Monde, which will be discussed later, a cluster of restaurants exists around the market, such as Corner Oyster House Bar & Grill, known for its varying oyster dishes, and Market Café, featuring New Orleans classics like gumbo and po’ boys.

Finally, the Dutch Alley pedestrian plaza includes a performance tent, quirky statues, and the visitor center for the New Orleans Jazz National Park.

9. Royal Street

Running parallel to Bourbon Street as it traverses the French Quarter, Royal Street offers a quieter and more elegant atmosphere.

The 13-block stretch showcases a postcard-worthy scene of Creole townhouses adorned with decorative wrought-iron balconies.

While many are private residences, numerous ground-floor establishments boast enticing boutiques, galleries, cafes, antique shops, and artist studios.

Whenever possible, don’t miss the opportunity to peek inside and admire the period decor.

Live music can be enjoyed from street performers, and a variety of dining options await, including restaurants tucked away in courtyards. Expect three blocks between St. Louis and St. Ann Streets to turn into a pedestrian zone every day from 11:00 to 16:00, providing the perfect opportunity to enjoy live music on the street.

One of New Orleans’ famed landmarks, the Hotel Monteleone (built in 1886), is also located on Royal Street and is recognized for the Carousel Bar, the only rotating bar in the city.

10. Second Lines

Parades filled with music and dancing for sheer enjoyment, Second Lines emerge spontaneously throughout New Orleans, particularly in Tremé and Central City, where the custom originated.

You’ll also observe plenty in the French Quarter, especially on Sunday afternoons.

Second Lines resonate with the rituals of Jazz Funerals, yet lack the coffin, mourners, and cemetery.

Instead, they traverse the street, led by a brass band dressed in their finest attire, replete with sashes, hats, bonnets, and matching suits (often in vibrant colors). Following closely are dancers, traditionally twirling parasols.

Many dancers will not be part of the parade, simply flowing with the rhythm.

It is common to find Second Lines celebrating weddings, with the newlyweds leading the “second line,” followed by the group trailing behind the band.

11. Afternoon Food History Tour

Volumes could be written about the delightful culinary scene in New Orleans.

The dining culture is so distinct and specific to this city that you may feel the need for guidance once you arrive.

The three-hour Afternoon Food History tour presents a six-stop culinary journey across the French Quarter, offering the opportunity to sample ten different specialties.

This tour guides you through both high-end establishments and unassuming eateries as you experience boudin (a Cajun sausage), luxury pralines, seafood gumbo, beignets, beef brisket, and appetizing sandwiches like muffulettas and po’ boys.

While you’re on this adventure, prepare to walk approximately 1.5 miles to work up your appetite.

12. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 Tour

The oldest and most storied of New Orleans’ many cemeteries, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is a Roman Catholic burial site situated a block west of the French Quarter.

This cemetery opened in 1789 following the city’s redesign after the Great Fire of 1788. In a city that lies partially below water level, cemeteries must be above ground, utilizing decorative vaults.

At St. Louis No. 1, these vaults exist in various states of repair, but all are visually striking, adding to the site’s atmosphere.

Notable burials include voodoo priestess Marie Laveau (1801-1881), chess champion Paul Morphy (1837-1884), and aristocrat and skilled duelist Bernard de Marigny (1785-1868), who lent his name to the New Orleans neighborhood Faubourg Marigny.

While it may seem morbid, a future entombment will be Nicolas Cage, who purchased one of the pyramidal tombs in 2010. Visits to St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 can only be made with a licensed guide, and

GetYourGuide.com

can assist with arrangements.

13. Café du Monde

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the original Café du Monde is a coffee stand that commenced operations in 1862 at the upriver end of the French Market.

If you wish to enjoy a genuine local experience, order coffee blended with chicory alongside a beignet, a square-shaped donut dusted with powdered sugar.

The tradition of blending coffee with chicory was brought to New Orleans by the Acadians, originating in France during Napoleon’s “continental blockade” in 1808 when coffee became scarce.

An authentic manner to order it is “au lait,” signifying half coffee and half hot milk, although the choice rests with you.

Since the 1980s, Café du Monde has inspired the establishment of seven additional locations, primarily in shopping malls throughout the New Orleans metropolitan area.

14. New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Jazzfest for short, this world-renowned event at the Fair Grounds Race Course attracts more than 500,000 attendees during the week at the end of April and beginning of May.

Despite its name, Jazzfest celebrates the rich culture of New Orleans and Louisiana in all its diversity, showcasing numerous musical styles including blues, gospel, R&B, Cajun, bluegrass, rock, rap, Afro-Caribbean music, country, folk, and beyond.

The heritage aspect is further emphasized through the festival’s hundreds of food booths.

Indulge in beignets, crawfish bread, boiled crawfish, crab cakes, Cajun jambalaya, oyster patties, fried green tomatoes, and that is merely scratching the surface.

Two cooking stages at the Fair Grounds Grandstand reveal New Orleans’ culinary expertise and distribute samples to eager attendees.

Crafts are available for purchase throughout the festival grounds, and visitors can observe demonstrations in pottery, painting, metalwork, and weaving while acquiring charming handmade pieces.

Even beyond the Fair Grounds, New Orleans becomes a lively hub during Jazzfest, with extra performances at nightclubs catering to the influx of visitors to the city.

15. National WWII Museum

New Orleans is where Higgins boats were designed, constructed, and tested.

These landing craft played a pivotal role in amphibious invasions such as Normandy in 1944, making it fitting that New Orleans’ excellent National WWII Museum opened on D-Day’s 56th anniversary on June 6, 2000. Upon entry, you’ll receive a dog tag to scan at various stations around the museum for enlightening personal stories.

“Road to Tokyo” covers the war in the Pacific, from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo, providing insight into the extreme conditions faced by American forces, while “Road to Berlin” immerses you in Europe within richly designed galleries filled with informative footage, realistic soundscapes, and numerous artifacts.

A breathtaking 4D experience at “Beyond all Boundaries” stands out, while immersion into the planning and preparation behind the Normandy Landings is explored in “The D-Day Invasion of Normandy.”

If you are interested in the history of Higgins Industries, “Bayou to Battlefield” provides footage, photographs, interviews, and artifacts highlighting how the shallow-draft swamp boat transformed amphibious warfare.

16. St. Louis Cathedral

The longest continually active Roman Catholic church in the United States stands proudly on the city side of Jackson Square.

Dedicated to Louis IX of France (1214-1270), St. Louis Cathedral dates back to 1789, although a church has existed at this location since as early as 1718. The current cream-colored Spanish Colonial building underwent reconstruction in 1850, and much of the architecture dates from that era.

Take a moment at Jackson Square to appreciate the symmetrical facade, with three spires, window pediments, pairs of Doric columns, and decorative scalloped moldings.

The gilded Rococo altar inside warrants closer inspection, and the property contains an impressive array of stained glass and paintings to admire.

You may notice a slight slope to the floor, as the structure, though stable, is gradually sinking.

At the rear of the property lies the St. Anthony Garden, featuring a marble statue of Jesus with outstretched arms.

He lost a forefinger and thumb in Hurricane Katrina and appears especially solemn when illuminated at night.

17. Preservation Hall

If you feel overwhelmed by the numerous jazz venues in the French Quarter, Preservation Hall offers a traditional jazz setting with a house band composed of over 100 musicians.

You can attend intimate concerts at 20:00, 21:00, and 22:00 from Monday to Wednesday, along with additional performances at 17:00 and 18:00 from Thursday to Sunday.

While the musical performances are certainly enjoyable, Preservation Hall welcomes audiences of all ages, making it a unique nightlife option for families.

The venue dates back to the 1950s and assumed its current form in 1961, when tuba player Alan Jaffe became manager.

He hired elderly and retired musicians from the first wave of jazz, significantly contributing to the art form’s revival in New Orleans during the 1960s.

Preservation Hall remains a cornerstone of New Orleans culture, hosting concerts 350 nights a year.

18. New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)

In 1912, the sugar broker and art collector Isaac Delgado bequeathed a significant grant to New Orleans to establish what would eventually become the New Orleans Museum of Art.

The main building was constructed shortly thereafter, designed in part by Benjamin Morgan Harrod, New Orleans’ former chief engineer, while new wings and expansions occurred in the early 1970s and 90s.

The museum’s collection is vast, containing over 40,000 pieces that span from the Italian Renaissance to contemporary art.

A notable focus exists on 19th and early 20th-century French art, with contributions from notable artists including Rodin, Matisse, Renoir, Monet, Gauguin, and Braque.

Edgar Degas is particularly well-represented, as he resided in New Orleans during the 1870s.

The museum also boasts a strong collection of African American art, as well as pre-Columbian artifacts and Spanish-era Central American art, alongside ceramics and folk art from Africa, the South Pacific, and Indonesia.

Recent years have witnessed exhibitions featuring Veronese, Carlos Rolón, Japanese ceramics, George Dunbar, and even Bob Dylan.

19. Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

Set behind the museum’s main building, this gated outdoor space spans 11 acres of mature parkland adorned with more than 90 sculptures.

The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in 2003, and, as of 2019, had expanded to double its size, incorporating 26 new works, primarily by 21st-century artists.

Wandering along serpentine paths among pines, magnolias, camellias, and live oaks draped in Spanish moss, you’ll encounter pieces by Henry Moore, Deborah Butterfield, Barbara Hepworth, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Robert Indiana, Gaston Lachaise, and René Magritte, alongside contemporary sculptors like Katharina Fritsch, Hank Willis Thomas, and Jeppe Hein.

20. Mardi Gras World

More than three-quarters of the floats that roll through the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras are designed and crafted within this very warehouse along the Mississippi River.

The company, Kern Studios, dates back to 1932 when sign-painter Roy Kern created his first Mardi Gras float, assisted by his son Blaine Kern Sr.

Today, this prolific company employs over 100 people and opened Mardi Gras World in 1984, offering a glimpse into the float-building craft and showcasing a warehouse filled with Mardi Gras artifacts.

Visitors can don extravagant costumes, and as they navigate through the warehouse, they will learn about the various traditions of Mardi Gras.

Additionally, guests can observe next year’s floats being crafted, from preliminary sketches to engineers’ drawings to sculpting.

Even if you visit during the summer, you can enjoy a slice of king cake accompanied by coffee.

21. Po’ Boys

If there exists a delicacy that embodies the essence of New Orleans, it may very well be these sumptuous, overstuffed sandwiches served on French bread.

While variations of po’ boys have graced menus for centuries, the term may have originated during a streetcar conductors’ strike in 1929. The tale goes that a restaurant set up by former conductors distributed free sandwiches in solidarity with the strikers.

Po’ boys are typically served in a baguette, with fillings that range from fried oysters to fried shrimp, fried crawfish, fried fish, roast beef with gravy, fried chicken, soft-shell crab, Louisiana hot sausage, turkey, and more.

The bread may be slathered with melted butter or Tabasco-infused mayonnaise for seafood fillings, or topped with condiments like Creole mustard for non-seafood sandwiches.

If you have a hearty appetite, a messy roast beef po’ boy features shredded slow-cooked beef, gravy, tomatoes, and lettuce.

Finding a place that serves po’ boys is easy; within the French Quarter, you might consider Bourbon House, ACME Oyster House, Johnny’s Po-Boys, Mena’s Palace, and Oceana Grill.

22. Natchez Steamboat Cruise

Toulouse Street Wharf at Woldenberg Riverfront Park serves as the embarkation point for the SS Natchez, the last steamboat in New Orleans.

The current Natchez, the ninth vessel to bear its name, has a long legacy dating back to 1823. This boat was launched in 1975 and, notably, President Gerald Ford utilized the vessel for a campaign trip through the Southern United States in 1976.

For a unique experience on the Mississippi, a steamship ride is essential; the Natchez offers various options, all featuring jazz music performed by the Dukes of Dixieland band. Enjoy a Dinner Jazz Cruise showcasing the New Orleans skyline at night, a Harbor Jazz Cruise featuring a calliope concert, or a Sunday Jazz Brunch Cruise, which lasts for two hours and serves southern-style dishes such as gumbo, shrimp and grits, and sausage and gravy.

For added convenience, tickets can be purchased in advance:

New Orleans Jazz Cruise

.

23. Laura Plantation

Delve into a challenging yet compelling aspect of New Orleans’ and Louisiana’s antebellum history at the old sugarcane plantations located about 45 minutes from the city, just outside Vacherie.

The first of a trio of plantation museums is on the National Register of Historic Places; Laura Plantation was founded by Frenchman Guillaume Duparc, a naval veteran of the American Revolutionary War.

At its peak, the plantation was home to over 12,000 acres of sugarcane fields, 69 slave cabins, and an infirmary.

Laura Plantation remained operational into the 20th century, and it may surprise you to learn that the family of music legend Fats Domino lived here.

The main house epitomizes the Creole style and features guided tours exploring the gardens and the original slave cabins erected in the 1840s.

A new permanent exhibition provides an in-depth exploration of the African American families who lived at the plantation, through bondage and eventually into the 20th century.

24. The Cabildo

As the seat of the Spanish municipal government in New Orleans, the Cabildo stands adjacent to the cathedral at Jackson Square and was reconstructed in the 1790s following the original’s destruction during the Great New Orleans Fire of 1788. This distinguished monument exemplifies Spanish Colonial architecture, featuring a French Mansard roof that replaced the initial balustrade in the mid-19th century.

In 1803, a ceremony occurred in the Cabildo’s Sala Capitular to celebrate the Louisiana Purchase, nearly doubling the size of the United States.

The Cabildo maintained judicial and governmental functions until 1908 when it transitioned to the Louisiana State Museum.

Since then, it has become a significant venue for exploring the history of New Orleans and Louisiana, showcasing more than 500 artifacts.

Understand the background on the Battle of New Orleans (1815) between the British Army and the United States while “We Love You, New Orleans!” showcases some of the city’s most cherished memorabilia, including Sidney Bechet’s sax, mementos from the now-closed Pontchartrain Beach amusement park and a sign from the former K&B drugstore chain.

25. Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Located by the Mississippi on the edge of the French Quarter, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas hosts exhibits mimicking habitats from North, South, and Central America.

The striking, five-meter Gulf of Mexico exhibit showcases stingrays, sharks, and sea turtles, while the Mississippi River Gallery contains various environments housing owls, a leucistic white alligator, paddlefish, and catfish.

The Amazon exhibit serves as a highlight, configured within a steamy greenhouse filled with rainforest flora as visitors encounter piranhas, an anaconda, and freshwater stingrays. The Great Maya Reef aquarium presents its moray eels, tarpons, lionfish, and spiny lobsters within a submerged city viewed through a nine-meter glass tunnel.

Don’t miss out on catching a show at the Entergy Giant Screen Theater, feeding the parakeets, observing the penguins and sea otters, and feeling the texture of a stingray’s back at the touch pool.

26. Streetcars

A staple of New Orleans since the 1830s, streetcars are not only visually appealing but also offer a convenient means of transportation to explore areas of the city you might otherwise overlook.

The eldest streetcar, the St. Charles Avenue line, featuring its iconic dark green streetcars, proudly holds the title of the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world.

Traversing a six-mile route from the CBD through the most stately areas of Uptown towards Carrollton, one can find original 900 series streetcars built by North Carolina’s long-defunct Perley A. Thomas Car Works in the mid-1920s.

Traveling along St. Charles Avenue, these streetcars glide through a picturesque canopy of southern live oaks, alongside antebellum mansions that line the street.

The Canal Street Line, with its red streetcars, provides easy access to locations such as the old cemeteries, City Park, and the New Orleans City of Art, whereas the Riverfront Line from French Market connects numerous shopping and dining hotspots while offering stunning views of the New Orleans skyline.

The cost for a single ride is $1.25; be sure to bring exact change. Alternatively, one can purchase a one or three-day “Jazzy Pass” for unlimited rides priced at $3 and $9, respectively.

27. Magazine Street

This thoroughfare is among a select few, such as Laurel Street and Tchoupitoulas Street, curving along the course of the Mississippi through Uptown and the Garden District, extending from Audubon Park in the west to the Central Business District in the east.

Most likely named after an 18th-century ammunition magazine, this street serves primarily as a shopping avenue, notably lacking chain stores.

Here, amidst six miles, you will encounter clusters of art studios, restaurants, bakeries, po’ boy establishments, bars, cafés, and unique shops that offer fashion, antique furniture, jewelry, cosmetics, books, homewares, and more.

Throughout, expect to see Creole and raised center-hall cottages intertwined with the sinuous branches of live oaks.

Considering its length, traversing Magazine Street solely on foot may be excessive, but a bus or the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar can offer a shortcut toward the river.

28. Audubon Park

The refined Uptown park surrounding Audubon Zoo is notably older, having been landscaped in the 1880s on land that once served as a plantation and staging area for Buffalo Soldiers during the Civil War.

If you’re captivated by New Orleans’ meandering live oaks, you will delight in Audubon Park, which possesses trees dating back to its days as a plantation.

Before this space could be transformed by eminent landscape architect John Charles Olmsted, it hosted the World Cotton Centennial in 1884, a world’s fair.

The only remnant from this event is a hefty iron ore rock from Alabama’s exhibition.

The park offers Riverview Park, a gorgeous area along the Mississippi ideal for picnics, as well as a par-3 golf course, generous sports facilities, a lagoon teeming with birdlife, and a 1.75-mile paved loop for walkers, joggers, and cyclists featuring various exercise stations.

29. Superdome

A Modernist icon for New Orleans, the Superdome was constructed during the early 1970s and serves as the home stadium of the New Orleans Saints.

With a diameter of 210 meters, this structure holds the distinction of being the largest domed structure in the world.

The Superdome famously provided refuge to thousands seeking shelter from the hurricane and floodwaters during Katrina, with images of the damaged dome becoming symbolic of the disaster.

Subsequent years have brought happiness, such as the Saints ending a 43-year drought by winning the Super Bowl in 2010.

In a nation filled with grand sporting venues, this 73,000-seat arena is remarkable.

Consider trying to acquire tickets for a Saints game in the spring or for college football’s Sugar Bowl on January 1, which offered an extraordinary $40 million payout per team in 2019. The venue also hosts a variety of pre-season games and music events such as the Essence Festival in July, featuring some of the world’s most prominent recording artists like Beyoncé, U2, The Rolling Stones, and Taylor Swift in recent years.

30. Metairie Cemetery

Consider taking a taxi to this stunning cemetery located in the neighborhood of the same name, just west of City Park.

Metairie Cemetery boasts New Orleans’ largest collection of funeral statuary and ornate marble tombs.

Founded in 1872 on a site that previously housed the Metairie Race Course, this remarkable cemetery blends captivating stories with magnificent works of art.

Notable memorials include that of David Hennessy (1858-1898), New Orleans’ police chief, whose murder resulted in the lynching of eleven members of the Italian community.

You can discover the final resting place of Josie Arlington (1864-1914), a Storyville madam whose tomb features a statue of a woman knocking on wooden doors.

Arlington’s body was relocated after her tomb became a tourist attraction.

The Brunswig mausoleum, built in an Egyptian style, features a pyramid and sphinx, while the Moriarty tomb contains a monument standing 18 meters tall.

One of the most picturesque is the tomb of Laure Beauregard Landon, adorned with Moorish elements and exquisite stained glass.

31. The Presbytère

The twin structure to the Cabildo, facing Jackson Square on the northern side of the cathedral, dates back to 1791 and is regarded as one of the masterpieces of colonial Spanish architecture.

Previously, a domestic quarters for the Capuchin monks of the cathedral stood on this site, which accounts for the name.

This ornate building has served multiple purposes over the years, including functioning as a courthouse from 1834 to 1911. Similar to the Cabildo, the French mansard roof is a later addition that dates from 1847. In 1911, The Presbytère became one of the flagships for the Louisiana State Museum, offering two permanent exhibits to explore.

“Mardi Gras: It’s Carnival Time” traces this Louisiana celebration back to its Medieval European roots, displaying historic throws, climbable parade floats, and information about the secretive social clubs that gave rise to the modern krewes of the festivities.

“Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond” details the devastating impact of the 2005 disaster, the rescue efforts, and the ongoing reconstruction.

32. New Orleans Jazz Museum

Housed in the Neoclassical Old U.S. Mint building (1835) on Esplanade Avenue, the New Orleans Jazz Museum has been a destination for music enthusiasts since the 1980s.

The collection is extraordinary, establishing this site as a pilgrimage spot for anyone with an interest in jazz.

On display is the first-ever jazz recording from 1917, Louis Armstrong’s original coronet, and an array of invaluable instruments used by jazz legends such as Sidney Bechet, George Lewis, and Dizzy Gillespie.

This facility proudly hosts the world’s largest collection of instruments played by significant jazz figures, some dating back to the late 19th century.

Visitors can approach Armstrong’s coronet and observe the notches he carved into the mouthpiece for ease of play.

The museum also houses thousands of 78 rpm records spanning from 1905 to the 1950s, and up to 12,000 photographs documenting the early days of jazz.

Live music is an integral part of the museum’s mission, featuring a range of concerts and festivals occurring in the performance space on the third floor or in the outdoor areas.

33. Ogden Museum of Southern Art

Across the street from the National WWII Museum lies the world’s largest collection of art from the southeastern and south-central regions of the United States.

The Ogden Museum was established in 1999 and has made its home in the prominent Stephen Goldring Hall since 2003, exhibiting works that span from 1733 to modern times.

To name just a few artists featured at the Ogden Museum, visitors can expect to see the ceramicist George Ohr, modernist painter Will Henry Stevens, folk artist Clementine Hunter, and neo-Expressionist Hunt Slonem, just to begin with.

There is no singular “southern style” of art; the museum’s collection is a thrilling amalgamation that encompasses genres and media such as naïve art, abstraction, bayou landscapes, outsider art, sculpture, and much more.

At the time of writing, there was a remarkable individual exhibition for Expressionist Dusti Bongé and “Vernacular Voices,” showcasing a distinguished collection of visionary, self-taught, and outsider art.

34. Old New Orleans Rum Distillery

Founded in New Orleans’ Gentilly area, this is the oldest premium rum distillery in the United States.

It is aptly located in sugarcane territory, in a city with a deep-rooted cocktail culture and a penchant for exquisite drinks.

The Old New Orleans Rum Distillery operates out of a 150-year-old cotton warehouse, creating rums and pre-mixed cocktails using Louisiana sugarcane molasses.

Upon arrival, visitors are welcomed with a cocktail before embarking on a 45-minute tour led by an enthusiastic guide who will explain the fermentation, distillation, and aging processes involved in rum production.

At the conclusion of the tour, guests have the opportunity to sample and purchase the distillery’s offerings, which may prove irresistible.

The establishment provides a complimentary shuttle service from the French Quarter, and individuals under 21 can partake in a tour free of charge, though without a tasting session.

35. Woldenberg Park

Arcing around the east bank of the Mississippi across from Algiers Point, Woldenberg Park was laid out in the 1980s and 90s on the site of former wharves and warehouses.

This riverside park borders the French Quarter, with the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and the Entergy Giant Screen Theater to the south.

During the French Quarter Festival in early April, the central stages are erected in Woldenberg Park.

In truth, there tends to be live music here at nearly any time, courtesy of spontaneous second lines and wandering bands.

Stroll along the riverside path, catch glimpses of steamboats, enjoy a picnic, and appreciate the lush landscaping and ample public art.

Visit early to witness the sunrise and admire the fog rolling off the Mississippi.

36. Historic New Orleans Collection

This foundation preserves a stunning ensemble of seven historic buildings located on Royal Street in the French Quarter and operates the Beaux-Arts Williams Research Center on Chartres Street, catering to academics.

The collection was initiated by General Lewis Kemper Williams (1887-1971) and his wife, Leila Hardy Moore Williams (1901-1966), who purchased the 18th-century Merieult House and its adjacent Italianate brick building in 1938.

Over time, the couple compiled an extensive collection of materials related to New Orleans and Louisiana, culminating in the museum’s exhibition, while acquiring additional buildings, including a late-19th-century townhouse and a Creole cottage.

At the Royal Street campus, explore portraits, uniforms, antique furniture, maps, and an extensive selection of documents.

The inventory includes collections relating to the War of 1812, jazz in New Orleans, the Sugar Bowl, and an array of materials connected to playwright Tennessee Williams, including playbills and manuscripts of works such as The Glass Menagerie and A Streetcar Named Desire.

37. New Orleans Pharmacy Museum

In 1804, the State of Louisiana enacted legislation requiring a licensing exam for aspiring pharmacists.

The first individual to pass this exam was