Having been a Louis Armstrong fan for most of my life, I’ve always wanted to visit New Orleans and this trip didn’t disappoint. I could go on and on about the amazing food, the incredible local music culture, and the rich history blending French, African and American cultures, but it was a day trip into nature around New Orleans that really made my trip memorable. Here’s my list of must-do’s for the perfect 3 day itinerary:
1 Enjoy dinner at Jaques-Imo’s Cafe
The very day you arrive, take a cab to Jaques-Imo’s (8324 Oak Street). There will be a lineup for a table, so wait at the Maple Leaf Bar two doors down (8316 Oak Street) and they’ll text you when your table’s ready. Jaques-Imo’s is extremely casual, but definitely the best local food I had in town and absolutely worth a visit. Order everything you can, but make sure to try the Shrimp & Alligator Sausage Cheesecake. You won’t be disappointed.
2 Listen to jazz at the Maple Leaf Bar
When your meal is done, walk back to the Maple Leaf Bar and stay for the show. The night I was there, I had the great fortune of watching Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen and I won’t soon forget it.
3 Take a morning walk to Café du Monde for Beignets
The next morning, wander through the French Quarter along Decatur Street and stop at Café du Monde just past Jackson Square at the start of the French Market (800 Decatur Street) for beignets and café au lait.
If there’s a lineup, wait in it. The lineup’s quick and the strange experience of eating deep-fried donuts for breakfast in this historic location is worth it.
4 Learn of rescue, rebuilding and renewal at The Presbytere
When you’re done, head back to Jackson Square and visit the Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond exhibit at the Louisiana State Museum in The Presbytere. It’s both fascinating and horrific.
My visit to New Orleans coincided with the 10-year anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Though the warmth and spirit of the residents of New Orleans can not be diminished, it was appalling to see that much of the Lower 9th Ward remained largely unchanged.
5 Grab a truly southern lunch at Johnny’s Po-Boys
Afterwards, walk over to Johnny’s Po-Boys (511 St Louis Street) for a crawfish po-boy and a muffuletta sandwich. Don’t ask. You have to try them, and you have to try them there.
6 Ride the landmark St Charles Street Car
Next, take the St Charles Streetcar (a National Historical Landmark and oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world) for only $1.25 from Canal Street at the edge of the French Quarter to the charming oak-shaded streets of the Garden District with its grand historic mansions and lavish gardens.
7 Visit the Lafayette Cemetery
While in the Garden District, make sure to wander through the Lafayette Cemetery (est. 1833). As final resting place for over 7,000, including some of the first settlers from Ireland and Germany, it’s both lovely and unnervingly creepy.
8 Stop for cocktails at The Davenport Lounge
Upon return to the French Quarter, you should also make sure to stop by the Ritz-Carleton Hotel on Canal Street right on the edge of the French Quarter (921 Canal Street) to have a cocktail in the swanky Davenport Lounge and watch the Sinatra-style jazz of Jeremy Davenport.
9 Stroll along Frenchman’s Street
End another amazing day in New Orleans strolling along Frenchman’s Street to watch the local bands play in one of its many bars. Such an incredible music scene!
10 Experience the glorious calm and extraordinary natural beauty of the Louisiana bayou
On your third and final day, you absolutely must get out of town and into nature. Of all of my experiences in and around New Orleans, my very favourite was the glorious swamp tour that I took with Pearl River Eco-Tours. As I visited Louisiana in mid-March, the alligators were only just beginning to come out of hibernation, so small mammals were still able to forage around the swamp for food without harm.
I saw alligators, snakes, turtles, wild boars, raccoons and an assortment of birds, but the most amazing part of the swamp visit was how peaceful it was. I hadn’t expected the glorious bird song or the wonderful fragrance of spring blossoms. Truly extraordinary and I will most definitely be back.
On your next visit to New Orleans, take the time to experience all that this amazing city has to offer, then treat yourself to a morning immersed in nature, soaking up the wild natural beauty of the pristine winding bayous of the ecologically diverse Honey Island Swamp. You won’t be disappointed!
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