After reading my previous post, Experiencing the Artsy Culture of New Orleans, you now understand the unique atmosphere of the city known as, “The Big Easy.” It’s hard not to fall in love with this spectacular city as it is so different than most of us are typically used to. With that being said, if you are planning to travel to New Orleans, I can assure you that you will never be bored. There are tons of places to go and adventures to embark on.

Places to See

During my recent trip to NOLA, I went to a lot of notable places that I highly recommend visiting if you are in the area. To start, you must take a stroll through Jackson Square Garden. This historic garden is absolutely beautiful and a “must see” tourist spot.

While you’re in the French Quarter, walk around the block to admire all of the local artwork and stop to see a few street performers. Within that same area, you can walk over to the riverfront and view the Mississippi River. Not only are these some great historical sights to see during your trip to New Orleans, but they are also completely free of charge which makes the experience even better!

Outside of these key spots, I also recommend checking out Royal Street and of course, Bourbon Street. These two are both located within the French Quarter and are some of the most famous streets in New Orleans. Royal Street is known for its many places to shop as well as its entertaining street performers. Bourbon Stree, on the other hand, is universally recognized for its nightlife activities. .

So, if you aren’t sure what to do at night in NOLA, jst head down to Bourbon Street, and you will have many options to chose from. However, before heading out, take a look at Chicken on the Bone’s schedule, figure out where they are playing, and go listen to their awesome band for a few minutes. If you’re lucky, they may even invite you up on stage!

Things to Do

There is always something to do in New Orleans. For instance, you can go to one of the many museums that the city has to offer. In fact, there are over 45 museums, and they all are different types. You also can take a free, self-guided tour of the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral.

Or, if you’re in the mood for something spooky, you could go on a ghost tour like our group did. We decided to take a walking ghost tour with French Quarter Phantoms. We had an awesome guide who told us many New Orleans vampire and ghost stories and showed us the “haunted” houses associated with each. He even showed us the house that was featured in American Horror Story.

Another cool thing to do while touring the city is visit the French Market. I loved smelling the delicious New Orleans food and seeing all of the handmade items people were selling at the market. As a memento of my trip, I purchased a couple of handmade rings that a local designed for me right on the spot. At her booth, there was a box filled with hundreds of stones to pick from. Once I chose a stone, she matched it with wire, measured my finger, and created the ring.

My final recommendation for you is to purchase some show tickets at Preservation Hall. This place holds multiple live jazz concerts every single night. Being the birthplace of jazz, it’s only right for you to enjoy some of this fabulous music while on your New Orleans trip.

There is an endless amount of activities to do and things to see in this city. These are just a few of my favorite things to do while in NOLA, but I hope they give you a great start when planning your next trip. However, if you’ve already been and have some other great recommendations of sightseeing adventures or places to explore in New Orleans, leave them in the comments below!