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February 17, 2006

72 Hours In New Orleans

New Orleans is a magical place. When I last visited in March of 2005, prior to hurricane season, the locals were just recovering from Mardi Gras. Many people had told us their opinions of the city - that it was dirty, dangerous, and crazy. In fact, not a soul we spoke to had nice things to say about New Orleans.

That didn't stop us from planning a nice weekend in the area before I had to get down to work. Contrary to the viewpoints of our friends, we found New Orleans to be a great place to visit. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve celebrated everything from jazz to a bayou boardwalk. People were friendly, the food was fantastic and the nightlife was vastly amusing. I came home with lots of bead necklaces, although I'm glad to say I didn't have to flash anyone to get them. Clearly, I'm cute enough not to have to :P

Here's a great sample itinerary for those planning to visit the New Orleans area.

Friday
Hike Barataria Preserve
Visit Lafitte for a Meal
Court of Two Sisters for dinner
Nightlife on Bourbon Street

PHOTOS: Gators * Raccoons and Squirrels * Snakes * Turtles * Frogs * Birds * Lizards * Nutria * Plants & Paths * Bugs


Saturday
Beignets at Cafe du Monde
French Market 10am+
French Quarter Shopping
Dinner at Bourbon House

PHOTOS: Cafe du Monde * French Quarter * The French Market * Window Shopping * Bourbon Street Nightlife * Great Food

Sunday
Steamboat on Mississippi to the Zoo
Garden District Walking Tour
Dinner at Cafe Sbisa's

PHOTOS: Jazz in Jackson Square * People * Along the Mississippi River

Despite the devastation brought about by Katrina, many of these businesses are reopening. It's important that people visit and support these places if they are to make a recovery - both culturally and financially. Many places, like Cafe du Monde, are already bouncing back. The Audubon Zoo is now opened on weekends, at least, for the mean time. Just this week, New Orleans has kicked off a scaled back Mardi Gras festival.

Posted by sorsha at February 17, 2006 8:44 PM