


Okay, it’s part of life in all of New Orleans. The area is home to important historical sites, local legends and more, but there’s no denying that partying is a big part of life in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

The French Quarter is more than Mardi Gras revelry. The purple drank is deceptively strong, so exercise caution when debating a second adult slushy. When at Lafitte’s, order a “purple drank”. It’s true that Lafitte’s is a popular tourist attraction, but locals also regularly frequent the old bar. The solid stone building has survived centuries of use, dozens of hurricanes and countless inebriated revelers. Not to worry, though, Lafitte’s isn’t going anywhere. In fact, from the outside, it appears as if the walls will crumble at any moment. As a bar, Lafitte’s doesn’t look like much. The building dates back hundreds of years with ties to the famous pirate, Jean Lafitte. Philip Street, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is a New Orleans landmark. This novelty concoction is too expensive, though. It may not be explosive, but NOLA hand grenades are very strong. No, it’s not a deadly weapon – it’s a cocktail in a neon green, grenade-shaped container. If you really want to look like a tourist, buy a hand grenade. Fortunately, a few standouts are worth a stop for first-time visitors to New Orleans. The scenes on Bourbon Street are entertaining and tempting, and there are too many bars from which to choose. While Bourbon Street literally reeks of debauchery and vulgarity, there is no denying the intrigue on this strip of limitless party. Beignets are traditionally eaten with a New Orleans-style cafe au lait, a deliciously-sweet coffee with milk.įor first-time visitors to New Orleans, regaling on Bourbon Street is perhaps the most alluring – and most infamous – thing to do in NOLA. The line at Cafe du Monde is typically long throughout the day, so arrive early and prepare to wait. While other shops in the area make beignets, Cafe du Monde is famous for a reason. And I’m always an advocate of trying amorphous blobs of fried dough anywhere in the world. Beignets (pronounced “ben-yay”) are little more than pieces of fried dough doused in powdered sugar, but these sweet treats are exceptional. On one corner of Jackson Square is Cafe du Monde, the world famous beignet shop. Crowds of tourists are mesmerized by the vibrant scene that is Jackson Square. The sidewalks are filled with artists selling their works, while street performers and musicians line the square. With the park in the center, Saint Louis Cathedral dominates the scene. Jackson Square is the de facto center of the French Quarter. The French Quarter is the oldest and most popular area for tourists visiting NOLA, and many of the city’s top attractions are in the Quarter. You may catch another of the French Quarter attractions-a brass band somberly escorting a body to one of the city's cemeteries or dancing back after the burial.A trip to New Orleans is not complete without visiting the French Quarter. But you can hear music almost 24 hours a day almost any time of year just by walking down Bourbon Street, where it emanates from the open doors of the many music bars and jazz clubs. If you head for the suburbs such as Covington and Slidell on the North Shore area of Lake Pontchartrain, you can find some of the most authentic Cajun music.

This entire Mississippi Delta region is the cradle of American blues and jazz, as well as the unique zydeco and Cajun music born of the area's rich multicultural history and traditions. One of the great New Orleans attractions is its legendary music. Across from the park is a Mississippi River boardwalk that follows the levees down to Canal Street and Woldenberg Park, where the prestigious Aquarium of the Americas is located. Behind this park are the three historic buildings considered among the finest of the New Orleans tourist attractions and dating to the eighteenth century-the Cabildo, the Presbytere, and the St. Begin your tours of the French Quarter attractions at Jackson Square, which is surrounded by hotels and some of the most historic dining spots in the city. Much of the sightseeing in New Orleans (and partying) occurs here. Known for its unique music, party atmosphere, and gracious French and Spanish antebellum architecture, this is one of the most beautiful inner city neighborhoods in the world. The French Quarter attractions include the French Quarter itself, one of the most famous neighborhoods in the world.
