New Orleans, Louisiana is a city like no other.  Granted, it’s my birthplace, my heritage, my culture; so I’m a tad biased.   It is a city that you either fall in love with or vow never to return.  It is dirty, hot, and often smells of horse manure.   It is full of music, dancing and the best food in the U.S.   It has never met a stranger.

New Orleans is a wonderful place to visit for any occasion and at any age.  It is romantic. It is wild.  It is historical, kid-friendly, beautiful, ecological and educational. Whatever your agenda, New Orleans has plenty to offer.

The heart of New Orleans is The French Quarter.   The French Quarter is the oldest section of the city, founded in 1718.  The influences of New Orleans are French, Spanish, African and Indian.  The French Quarter includes areas settled by all factions.

There is much history to be shared in The Quarter.  Many tours to be taken.  I always recommend a mule & buggy tour through The Quarter.   These tours are quintessential New Orleans, pointing out historic buildings, folklore, ghost sightings and celebrities.    My favorite New Orleans tours are the cemetery tours.  In New Orleans, bodies are buried above ground in tombs.  There are dozens of cemeteries in and around the city.   All are fascinating.  Most take you outside of the French Quarter and offer a glimpse of other areas of the city.

New Orleans is called The Crescent City as it is bordered on one side by Lake Ponchatrain and the other by the Mississippi River.  Since the city is below sea level, you can walk through the street of the quarter and see boats above you on the river.  It is an odd sight for those not used to it.

A stroll down the river walk is a wonderful way to start your day.  I am a lover of café au lait and beignets from the historic Café du Monde.   However as the wait for a table is normally pretty long, I get my order to go and go enjoy it on the river.

New Orleans is never silent.   While sipping coffee on the riverfront, there are horns to be heard near and far.  Trumpets, saxophones and the occasional tuba interrupted occasionally by the bell and screeching brakes of the street cars all blend to create the symphony of the city.

A walk down/up the river will lead you right into the French Market- an open air market functioning since the 1700’s.  Here vendors display produce, sugar cane and other homegrown items.  The back of the French Market houses vendors selling all sorts of wares—clothing, jewelry, historic New Orleans painted shingles, artwork and anything else you can imagine.

Where The French Quarter is the heart of New Orleans, Jackson Square is the heart of The French Quarter.  Housing a statue on Andrew Jackson and located directly in front of the iconic St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square is the home to artists, musicians, street performers and picnickers.   It is the best place in the city to sit on a bench, sip on a Sazerac (a New Orleans concoction of rye whiskey, simple sugar and absinthe) and take in the sights, smells and sound that surround you.

No matter your religion, a peak into St. Louis Cathedral is a must.  Originally built in 1718, it is the oldest continually operating cathedral in the United States.   It has been bombed, burned and rebuilt.  It is phenomenal.

The Audubon Institute runs the New Orleans zoo, aquarium and insectarium.  All are world-class.   Both the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Zoo are recognized as being some of the top attractions in the United States.   If you are a bug lover or have children, the Insectarium is fun, educational and tasty… fried crickets and worms are on the menu.

The Smithsonian World World II Museum is located just blocks outside of the French Quarter and rivals any New York City or Washington DC museum.  It is truly an amazing, emotional and touching museum.  WWII Veterans receive free admission, a veteran badge and VIP treatment.   This museum is great for all ages.  My 7 year old begs to go every summer and my 90 year-old uncle (a veteran) attends regularly.

There is so much to see and do in New Orleans.   However, there is no better New Orleans attraction than FOOD.  When you go to New Orleans- you eat.  And drink.  And then eat some more.   And then drink some more.  It is a vicious and glorious cycle.    You would be hard pressed to find a bad meal in the city.  Everyone has their favorite places.   From po-boy shops to fine dining and everything in between.. New Orleans is a gastronomy mecca.

If I shared with you all of the places to go and things to eat, you would still be reading this tomorrow.  But I will provide just a handful of my favorite restaurants.  Most of these are known to locals only.  (You’re welcome)

BREAKFAST:  

• Mothers—down home southern breakfast
• Ye Olde Coffee Pot- a hidden gem located in the French Quarter just steps from Pat O’Briens.. courtyard seating, bossy servers, stiff bloody marys and amazing food.  The eggs Sardou here are to die for.

LUNCH:

• Johnny’s Po’boys—a local hangout in The Quarter, Johnny’s has a hot and messy roast beef po’boy, great seafood and anything else you can think of.
• Gazebo Café- iron tables adorn this outdoor area with live music daily from 11am.  What started 50+ years ago as a drink stand, now has some of the best cocktails in the city as well as gumbo, jambalaya and fried alligator.   You can sit here for hours…eating, drinking and listening to soulful New Orleans music.

DINNER:

• Irene’s Cuisine is my hands down favorite restaurant.  You will wait over an hour on a slow night.  The tables are close together and the lighting is comprised of silver candlesticks with burning taper candles on each table.  Celebrity sightings are common.  The food is magnificent and worth every minute you have to wait outside on a bench.
• Tujagues is another local treasure and home to the oldest bar in the city.   Here you are given a choice of Meat, Chicken or Seafood.  The rest just comes…  shrimp remolaude, brisket, demitasse..  a true New Orleans meal.

The most important thing to do in New Orleans is to relax and have fun.  Leave your inhibitions at home.  Let your hair down.  Eat too much.  Have that extra cocktail.  Dance in the street.   Stay up late.  Tip the street performers.   Try something new.  Lose yourself in the music.

Laissez les bon temps rouler….  Let the good times roll.

*This post was written by HotMessMom. Her unique views on motherhood and life in general will have you spitting your drink all over the computer screen. You’ve been warned.