New Orleans, Louisiana

By Ashley Rudolph

New Orleans just might be synonymous with the word magic. It's one of my favorite cities in the US because it has it's own unique culture, everyone is friendly and/or there to have a good time, the food is incredible, and it's beautiful. If you're on the East Coast, a visit to NOLA is the perfect weekend trip.

What to do

Get into the jazz scene on Frenchmen Street. One of my favorite things to do in NOLA is listening to live jazz on Frenchmen Street. I loved The Spotted Cat Music Club, d.b.a., and Maison.
Let's just state the obvious: Bourbon Street. Do it. Especially if it's your first time in New Orleans, you'll want to know *why* everyone talks about Bourbon Street the way they do. Is it touristy? Yes - probably. Is it fun? Yes - definitely. Grab a Grenade or a Hurricane to go (you can drink on the streets in the French Quarter) and spend one night bar and club hopping up and down Bourbon Street. Don't get too caught up - New Orleans has much more to offer than Bourbon Street.
Get to know the French Quarter. The French Quarter is extremely walkable, most of the places I visited were a 5-15 minute walk away. Spend your time wandering through the residential areas and stopping into some of the many galleries, shops, bars, and restaurants you'll see.
Spend time in the Garden District. We took the streetcar down St. Charles to the Garden District. I spent my time shopping at the cute boutiques lining Magazine Street and marveling at the neighborhood's sprawling mansions.
Take a tour (or two or three): I've done a swamp tour, a French Quarter walking tour, a self guided Garden District walking tour, a steamboat tour, and a Voodoo walking tour. Walking is one of the best ways to experience NOLA, so the French Quarter and Voodoo walking tours were my favorites. I'd also recommend doing a swamp tour (you get to hold a baby alligator and see bigger, scarier gators in the wild).

Where to Eat and Drink

You can spend your entire trip *rolling* in and out of restaurants, there is no shortage of fantastic food or drink in the city. There are still a ton of restaurants I have yet to try and I've been four times! Here are my current faves.

Top Eats

Breakfast/Brunch: I'm a sucker for a good brunch. Try Muriel's Jackson Square for live jazz at Sunday brunch, one of the best eggs bennies you'll ever have, and for awesome brunch cocktails. The Ruby Slipper and Mother's are classic breakfast spots, order the grits, crawfish omelet, or the pork debris eggs benedict.
Lunch: The Commander's Palace has a 25 cent martini lunch special and a menu full of New Orleans specialities that will make your mouth water. Go to Willie Mae's Scotch House for the fried chicken - if you go on a weekend, there will be a line but it's worth every minute of wait time. The Gumbo Shop has amazing gumbo (duh!) and delicious seafood dishes (I loved the crawfish etouffee and shrimp creole). You'll dream about the chargrilled oysters from Acme Oyster House. Rum House is a Caribbean/Latin American fusion restaurant that you didn't know you needed in your life. Drink a Painkiller (frozen cocktail) here and eat your weight in Caribbean inspired tacos.
Dinner: The stuffed chicken wings, crab cakes, and shrimp and grits were my favorite menu items at NOLA - expect classic New Orleans fare here. I loved the pork ribs and fried alligator at Cochon and I've never tasted anything like the savory alligator cheesecake at Jacques-Imo's. If you've never tried alligator, you should have some in New Orleans.
Sweets: If you have any room for sweets, head to Cafe du Monde for beignets (a must!), Southern Candymakers for pralines (you can get them boxed up to enjoy at home), and District for the best donuts in town.

Top Drinks

The Carousel Bar @ Hotel Monteleone. It may be hard to snag a seat here but if you can, you'll get to take a ride on the carousel bar (yes - it really moves!) while a bartender serves up classic cocktails.
Pat O'Brien's. You'll probably have at least one hurricane while you're in NOLA and Pat O'Brien's is rumored to have the best. They're known for their piano bar and if it's warm when you visit, enjoy your Hurricane(s) outside on the patio.
Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar. I was sold on this place after discovering they have a bacon happy hour. If you know me, you know I love wine and this place has a wonderful wine list.
Bouligny Tavern. Go to Bouligny for great bar food, good looking crowd/stylish vibe, and craft cocktails.

DOLLARS AND CENTS

Flight: $ - you can score a flight to NOLA from NYC for under $300 roundtrip
Hotels: $$ - you can find a great hotel in the French Quarter for under $200/night most of the time in NOLA. Beware of special events/holiday weekends - prices spike during Mardi Gras, Essence Fest, JazzFest, and Voodoo Fest.
Food and drinks: $ - you can eat and drink amazing food for $20-30 per meal on average (includes cocktails). You'll spend more at nicer restaurants (think Commander's Palace), but it's worth it. Also - just forget about calorie counting and portion control in NOLA.
Shopping: $$ - you'll need to take a trip to Magazine Street and visit the chic boutiques on the strip. A trip to Krewe in the French Quarter is also a requirement, if you're looking for new shades you'll find super trendy pairs here in the $200-350 range.