<p>New Orleans is a Louisiana city on the Mississippi River, near the Gulf of Mexico. Nicknamed the "Big Easy," it's known for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live-music scene and spicy, singular cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African and American cultures. Embodying its festive spirit is Mardi Gras, the late-winter carnival famed for raucous costumed parades and street parties.</p>

New Orleans, LA, USA

Afterward, we headed over to Three Muses on Frenchman Street for an afternoon of tapas, music, and a drink. They typically have a live music lineup playing in the afternoon. With a delicious selection of spirits and appetizers, how can you go wrong? I am steering you in the right direction!

 Three Muses

Jackson Square is literally the heart and soul of the French Quarter. It is a historic park that was declared a National Historic Landmark way back in 1960 for its role in the city’s history. This park was the site where in 1803, it was a part of the Louisiana Purchase. Here you will find street performers and artists looking to entertain you. You can buy unique art, have your palms read, or listen to a brass band, all close to the historic St. Louis Cathedral. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Jackson Square

Take the free Canal Street Ferry from the River to Algiers and back to get a view of the city from afar. It is a beautiful way to see the city and while we did this, we grabbed a drink and took it with us.

Canal Street Ferry

Canal St. Ferry

While in NOLA, this is one of the New Orleans highlights you simply can NOT miss. So grab a New Orleans streetcar along St. Charles Avenue through the Garden District, and take it to Uptown. For me, there is something hypnotic about watching the people pass by while listening to the methodical clicky-clack of the streetcar. Oh, and don’t call it a trolly – here they are called streetcars! A single ride costs $1.25, so be sure and bring the exact change.

Ride the Streetcar Along St. Charles Avenue

St Charles Ave

After listening to the blues and swaying in the wind, we walked around aimlessly on Royal Street looking at art, antiques, and jewelry shops. This was one of our favorite things to do! Can you believe I actually picked Shopping on Royal Street as one of my favorite New Orleans attractions? With all of these fantastic options? I know, I know… many of the choices were already on my list for the rest of the week and sometimes a travel photog girl just wants to walk around, shop, and take photos of interesting things!

French Quarter’s Royal Street

French Quarter

Another top thing to do while in New Orleans is to go to the huge WWII museum. My friend absolutely loves going in and looking at this fascinating piece of history. The National WWII Museum features multimedia experiences, immersive exhibits, and a huge collection of artifacts for you to browse. They have first-person oral histories that take you inside the story of the war that changed the world. Oddly enough, this National WW2 museum is not located in Washington DC but instead is right here in New Orleans. And it just so happens to be the #1 attraction, so don’t miss it!

Must See in New Orleans

Bookable Tours and Experiences - New Orleans, LA, USA

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