Autumn in New Orleans is a lot more than football and mosquitos. You might wonder what is there to do and see.
Here’s What You Can See And Do In New Orleans
This article will show you some of the best things to see and do in New Orleans. If you’ve got kids, check out these activities.
Table of Contents:
Best Parks
New Orleans’ parks are beautiful places to enjoy the urban outdoors. One of the things that you will appreciate is that these parks are rarely packed with people, which is great in the COVID era.
City Park
1 Palm Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124 | (504) 482-488
One of the most photogenic places in New Orleans is City Park, located in the heart of the city. Spread out across 1,300 acres, City Park was created in 1854, making it one of the oldest parks in America.
Is City Park Free?
City Park has a lot of things to do that are free, especially when it comes to sports. Check out the soccer fields and golf course for some outdoors fun. You can also go fishing (if you have a fishing license).
Here’s what one park lover says about City Park. “In our three-day visit we came here three times. Insanely gorgeous trees, so many activites to choose from . The Sculpture garden is a must-see. Would have loved to do the light up swan boat in the evening. We ended up visiting the art museum because it looked all enticing from the park. There isn’t enough time in one visit to enjoy it all. Bring bug spray and lots of water!”
Crescent Park
Crescent Park Trail, 2300 N Peters St, New Orleans, LA 70117 | (504) 636-6400
Here’s what one visitor says about Crescent Park: “A beautifully landscaped park. The spacious recreation destination is a great place to roller skate, meditate, jog, people watch, nap, bike, and tables to have a picnic.There are attended public restrooms and park security. There is a fenced in K-9 play area for both small and large dog’s at the bywater entrance of the park. Both mean’s of egress are ADA accessible.”
Mississippi River Heritage Park
ohn Churchill Chase St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 658-3200
Here’s what one visitor says about Mississippi River Heritage Park. “The park has the cool artwork thru its entrance path and is a nice simple green space with benches to enjoy your stroll. Plus, its next to several of the hotels and across from the convention center.”
Best Restaurants In New Orleans
Now it’s time to eat. If you know anything about South Louisiana, that constitutes a celebration no matter what time of day. Here are some top spots to eat in New Orleans:
Dooky Chase
2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 821-0600
Dooky Chase is one of the most notable restaurants in the French Quarter. Here is one one reviewer says about Dooky Chase: “Came here because we had heard about the place’s fame and reputation. Everything was delicious and flavorful. There was a good amount and variety of meat in the gumbo. Fried oysters also were great. Very nice place to dine; our server was friendly and attentive.”
The Blue Crab
7900 Lakeshore Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124 | (504) 284-2898
Here’s what one diner says about The Blue Crab: “Food was delicious and service was great. I had the grilled oysters and red snapper entree. The oysters were good but 2 of my 6 were burnt. The snapper was delicious but on the small side for the price.”|
Atchafalaya
901 Louisiana Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115 | (504) 891-9626
Come for the Crab Cake Benedict, stay for the brunch Bloody Mary.
Here’s what one diner says about Atchafalaya : “Shrimp and Crab Cake Benedict special, Bananas Foster Waffle, Five “A” bloody Mary and mimosa. Everything was delicious and the outdoor seating area was perfect for us to enjoy the beautiful weather with our dog. Our waitress was amazing. If you want to hear the live music you’ll want to sit inside. Mask required inside and COVID vaccine or negative PCR test proof required. Pets allowed outside.”
Oceana Grill
739 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 525-6002
Here’s what one diner says about the Oceana Grill: “One of the best meals I ever had. The Cajun food is so good I could die happy after eating it. The delicious bread pudding is warm and drizzled with rum sauce. The crab cakes are so good it’s ridiculous. I highly recommend coming if you carving some Cajun food.”
Best Museums And Landmarks
If you want to get out and about in the city, there’s nothing better than checking out some of the New Orleans’ top museums and historical sites. Let’s take a tour right now.
StudioBe
2941 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70117 | (504) 252-0463
Artist Brandan B-Mike Odums has created an oasis in the city with StudioBe by the Bywater in New Orleans. Come to experience art like you’ve never enjoyed it before in a unique setting and neighborhood.
The Chloe
4125 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115 | (504) 541-5500
The Chloe is a historic 14-room hotel, restaurant, bar in a New Orleans mansion. Come for the history, stay for the pool and patio.
Here’s what one observer says about The Chloe: “Amazing staff. Phenomenal food. Delicious drinks. Beautiful interior design. Lovely rooms. Great frozen ritas by the pool. I could not love this place more. 10/10 would live there if I could.”
Pitot House
1440 Moss St, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 482-0312
If you want a dose of antebellum history, the Pitot House in New Orleans fits the bill. The historic landmark is an 18th-century Creole colonial country home and makes for a great weekend stop.
Jackson Square
701 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116 | (504) 658-3200
Jackson Square is a historic landmark in the heart of New Orleans. The site is the centerpiece is a beautiful park and holds unparalleled historic significance: It’s the site where the Louisiana Purchase was made official.
Here’s what one visitor says about Jackson Square: “Jackson’s square was beautiful. There wasn’t many people at 11:30 when we went but it was also about to storm. There is a farmers market a couple blocks away that is a must to go through. If you time it right you can watch the riverboat take off for a tour. Very pleased with how clean the park was and the music playing by live performers.”
Take A Swamp Tour
When you come to Nola, there are few things as bayou-authentic as a swamp tour. You’ll enjoy the time outdoors, get a real taste of the bayou and even get to see some alligators.
Here are some top swamp tour companies:
- New Orleans Kayak Swamp Tours | (504) 571-9975
- Bayou Swamp Tours | (504) 370-8771
- Gators & Ghosts: A New Orleans Tour Company
Eat Some Beignets At Cafe Du Monde
Cafe Du Monde is known around the world as having some of the best powdered dumplings — beignets — you can find outside of France.
Here’s what one reviewer says about Cafe Du Monde. “What else can I say that hasn’t already been said. This place is an absolute must despite the touristy crowd. The jazz band that sits on the sidewalk out front adds the perfect level of cover from the hustling and bustling sounds of the street.”
Longue Vue House and Gardens
7 Bamboo Rd, New Orleans, LA 70124 | (504) 488-5488
If you enjoy outdoor scenes, Longue Vue is a must-visit. The site is one of the most famous when it comes to natural beauty. The historic house museum is one of the most photographic places you can see in the city.
National WWII Museum
945 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 528-1944
It goes without saying that the National WWII Museum holds many of the city’s secrets. Etched on the walls are the names of the proud war dead, heroes not only in New Orleans but across America.
Algiers Ferry
Want to see the New Orleans skyline from the water? Go aboard the Algiers ferry. The ferry pulls off from Canal Street and goes on a 30-minute ferry ride to the other side.
Long Long Does The Algiers Ferry Take?
The Algiers Ferry boards every 30 minutes, so if you miss it, just wait half an hour. Is the ferry open today? See the schedule here.
How Much Does The Algeirs Ferry Cost?
Here are the fare prices for the Algiers Ferry:
| One-Way (with or without vehicle) | $2.00 |
| Reduced One-Way (65+, Medicare Card) (with or without vehicle) | $1.00 |
| One-Way with Vehicle & Trailer | $5.00 |
| Reduced One-Way Vehicle & Trailer (65+, Medicare Card) | $4.00 |
| 5-Day Ferry Pass | $18.00 |
| 31-Day Ferry Pass | $65.00 |
| 1-Day Integrated Pass (GoMobile only)* | $7.00 |
| 5-Day Integrated Pass (GoMobile only)* | $30.00 |
| 31-Day Integrated Pass (GoMobile only)* | $105.00 |
Best Festivals In New Orleans
In the Crescent City, we let the good times roll, especially when the weather is warm. One way you can do that is by attending one of the city’s awesome outdoor festivals.
Some of the city’s top annual festivals are:
See more of New Orleans’ best festivals.
Final Word
New Orleans, Louisiana is a great place to visit and even better place to live. That’s because the residents know how to have a good time, especially in the summertime. If you’re visiting the Crescent City soon, you should know ahead of time some of the best things to experience.
Once you visit New Orleans one time, you’re going to be hooked — trust me!
New Orleans is one of those cities that you can get lost in once you take the time to explore it. As the former capital of Louisiana, New Orleans is one of the most eclectic and eccentric cities in the world.
One of the things that makes the place special is the people, which are eager to show you a good time via parties and authentic New Orleans cuisine.
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