New Orleans

Jackson Square

The old town square, often live music is going on here, as well as street corner painters and tarot readers. Around the square are:.

Wheelchair accessible

Audubon Insectarium

An attraction opened in 2008 in the historic old Custom House Building on Canal Street. As it's in a Federal building, you'll pass through a metal detector.

Tue-Sun 10AM - 430PM · Wheelchair accessible

Antoine's

Antoine's lays claim to being the oldest same family owned restaurant in the country. Opening in 1840, this French Creole restaurant is where Oysters Rockefeller was invented in the 1890s -- and the only restaurant where the original authentic Oysters Rockefeller can be eaten, as the recipe is a closely guarded secret. Your waiter is your guide here; treat them well and ask their recommendations. Before dining, ask your server for a tour of the historic restaurant. There are more than 15 dining rooms, all of which reek of tradition and are steeped in history. Make sure to take a peek down the vast and cavernous wine cellar, which can take the breath away from a true wine lover. Antoine's has opened a beautiful new bar. Step off of St. Louis and step into history.

Mon-Sat 11:30AM-2PM and 5:30-9PM, Sun 11AM-2PM

National World War II Museum

Formerly the "D-Day Museum". Exhibits on the United States in World War II on the battlefronts and the home front. It has a restaurant, the "Victory Theater" presenting multi-media historical presentation, and the "Stage Door Canteen" featuring live music shows in the style of World War II-era USO shows.

Mo-Su 09:00-17:00

St Roch Market

This building at St. Claude Avenue & St. Roch is an historic landmark. Before Katrina it was a bit on the ramshackle side, but still busy specializing in fresh seafood; the city's second oldest functioning market after the famous French Market in the French Quarter. For more than 6 years after "the Federal Flood", it remained boarded up and unrestored but is now open for business.

Mo-Th,Su 07:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-23:00; PH closed · Outdoor seating · Wheelchair accessible

Historic New Orleans Collection

Museum with changing exhibits of local history. Also has a research center nearby on Chartres Street.

Tue-Sat 9:30AM-4:30PM, Sun 10:30AM-4:30PM · Free · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Commander's Palace

One of the most highly regarded traditional upscale restaurants.

Limited wheelchair access

Palace Cafe

French Creole, noted for the seafood and duck dishes, and the luscious white chocolate bread pudding.

11:30AM-10PM daily. Limited menu from 2:30-5:30PM · Limited wheelchair access

Pitot House Museum and Gardens

Historic house of a former mayor from the era of the Louisiana Purchase at the start of the 19th century.

We-Fr 10:00-15:00

Derby Pottery

Derby Pottery and Tile

Derby Pottery and Tile manufactues the iconic New Orleans Blue and White street tiles in the American style (since 2003) and Belgian style. New Orleans Blue and White street tiles are indigenous pieces of history unique to the city of New Orleans. Beginning in the 1880s the city of New Orleans has embedded letter tiles in city sidewalk intersections identifying the two street names. In the more commercial districts of the city you will see the name of a business embedded in front of what was, or still is a storefront, especially in evidence along Magazine Street where the Derby Pottery studio and showroom are located. You will find street tiles throughout the city, in all the different Wards, and as house numbers.

10AM–5PM

Musee Conti Wax Museum

Experience more than 300 years of history, legend and scandal with the 154 life-size figures displayed in historically accurate settings.

Mon Fri-Sat 10AM-4PM · $7 adults, $6.25 seniors, $6 children

Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve

Headquarters for National Park that includes several historic sites in and near New Orleans. Has a small museum and visitor's center. Show up by 9AM to get a place on the informative free walking tour of the French Quarter.

Tu-Sa 09:00-16:30 · Free entry · Wheelchair accessible

Royal Street

Strolling Royal Street by day is as essential a New Orleans experience as Bourbon Street by night. 1 block away in distance, a world in attitude. There are art galleries, upscale antique stores, landmark hotels and interesting specialty shops. Lots of temptations for those with money, but is also fun window shopping for those not spending a dime.

Perseverance Hall #4

At the Saint Claude entrance to the park, is a 19th-century dance hall, usually vacant, but sometimes used for music, exhibits, and other events.

Pontalba Buildings

4-story brick apartment buildings have specialty shops, restaurants, and a tourist information office on the ground floors.

Cigar Factory New Orleans & Museum

History and tradition of one of New Orleans' oldest traditions -- cigar rolling! Watch the masters at work daily in the only operating cigar factory since the 1950s.

10AM-10PM daily · Free

Longue Vue House and Gardens

Elegant mansion set in lush gardens is pretty and historic. In Western central New Orleans off Metairie Road, a short drive from Metarie Cemetery and Mid-City.

9ː30AM-5PM, daily

St. Louis Cathedral

A symbol of New Orleans, this is the oldest Roman Catholic Cathedral in the United States and has a giant statue of the Virgin Mary with her arms extended gracing the middle of the courtyard.

The cathedral is open for self-guided tours daily from the end of morning mass until 4PM; see website for mass times · Free

Louis Armstrong Park and the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

Includes historic Congo Square, and statues of early jazz greats Louis Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, and Buddy Bolden. A visitor for the national historic park is located at 916 N Peters St in the French Quarter, but within Armstrong Park are 3 important buildings:.

New Orleans Jazz Park Visitor's Center & Headquarters

Often has live music, lectures, and gives music history related walking tours. Many events are free; those that aren't are a bargain.

Saint Augustine Church

This famous church founded at the start of the nineteenth century by "free people of color" is famous in local African-American history. Shortly after it opened in 1842, the church quickly became the most integrated church in the country, and for an odd reason. Free blacks were buying pews to reserve for their families. White families, upon hearing of this, did not want to be outdone, and began buying up their own pews. In this racial race, the black congregants won decisively, outpurchasing white families by a three to one ratio, and gave away the extra pews to slaves—but once all the families had plunked down the money, they were certainly going to stay in the now integrated church! For a more in-depth visit, you can call ahead to request a tour.

Zulu Memorabilia Club Shop

Zulu is one of the most famous krewes at Mardi Gras. Zulu's fame stems both from their 100-year-long history, with origins as a satire of white parades during segregation, and for the prized "golden nuggets" (painted coconuts) that they throw to paradegoers. While the Krewe finds its headquarters in this building, the Zulu Memorabilia Club Shop has yet to open—but it will indubitably be cool.

Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street (French: Rue Bourbon, Spanish: Calle de Borbón) is a historic street in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Extending twelve blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, Bourbon Street hosts many bars, restaurants and strip clubs. Visitor numbers dropped after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but gradually recovered over the following decade.

Old Ursuline Convent

Completed in 1752, open for tours.

Mon-Sat 10AM-4PM · $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 students, free for children under 6

Steamboat Natchez Riverboat Harbor Jazz Sightseeing Cruise

Two-hour cruise on a stream-powered paddlewheel boat. Boarding 30 min before departure (1 hour before dinner cruise). Live narration of historical facts and highlights of the port. Bar and gift shop. Snacks and light meals available for purchase if you're not buying a meal.

Daytime cruise daily 11:30AM and 2:30PM, Mon-Sat evening cruise 7PM · Adult/child 6-13/child under 6: daytime cruise $34/13.50/free; M-Sa cruise with lunch $46/23/9.50; Sunday brunch with cruise $51/27.50/17.50; evening cruise $48/24/free; cruise with dinner $83/38/18.25

Beauregard-Keyes House

1113 Chartres St

Mon-Sat 10AM-3PM · $10 adults, $9 students/seniors, $4 children 6-12, free for children under 6

French Quarter

The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré (UK: , US: , French: [vjø kaʁe]; lit. 'Old Square'), is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. After New Orleans (French: Nouvelle-Orléans) was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city developed around the Vieux Carré, a central square. The district is more commonly called the French Quarter today, or simply "The Quarter", related to changes in the city with American immigration after the 1803 Louisiana Purchase.

Audubon Insectarium

In the historic Old Customs House Building. The Audubon Institute, which also runs the nearby Aquarium and the Zoo up in the Audubon District, opened the Insectarium in 2008. 10a-5p daily.

Degas House Historic Home Courtyard and Inn

French Impressionist artist Edgar Degas. The only home and studio of the French Impressionist Master, Edgar Degas, open to the public anywhere in the world. Degas lived with relatives in this house on Esplanade Avenue during 1872-1873; it is now a bed & breakfast, gift shop, wedding and special event venue. Tours are available daily. Secured offstreet/motorcoach parking.

Hansen's Sno-Bliz

4801 Tchopitoulas at Bourdeaux a few blocks up from Napoleon. The Commander's Palace of sno-ball stands; ice shaved microscopically fine, flavored with shockingly luscious syrups made fresh every day. Dozens of flavours to choose from, and you can also add whipped cream, ice cream, condensed milk, marshmallows or crushed pineapple. A local legend since the 1930s! Tu-Su 1PM-7PM, open May 1-Labor Day. If they're not open, content yourself with the next best from Tee Eva's or SnoWizard listed below.