New Orleans: More Than Just a Party

Everyone knows New Orleans is a party town. It is after all, home to the famous Bourbon Street, stretching for 13 blocks in the French Quarter, and housing some of the most popular bars and clubs in America. Visitors come from all over the world to people watch, be entertained by street performers, listen to some authentic jazz and of course join in the big party. The street buzzes with energy 24 hours a day, music fills the air and it’s easy to lose yourself in the infectious atmosphere.

But what a lot of travellers don’t realise is that there’s much more to New Orleans than just its party hubs. The French Quarter is also famous for its beautifully maintained historic buildings, some over 200 years old, with their intricate iron lace balconies. There is also St Louis Cathedral that is a stunning example of old Orleans Architecture, elegant art galleries and antique shops. Then there is the French Market which is the oldest of its kind in America, dating back to the 1790s.

All that Jazz

For jazz lovers, a visit to the Old US Mint to check out the exhibit documenting the history of jazz is a must. This world renowned music of New Orleans is possibly the city’s biggest export.

Step Back in Time

With 45 museums, New Orleans is a diverse cultural capital of America. The museums record a variety of subjects including the American Civil War, the Mardi Gras of New Orleans, African American history, world history and nature. One can spend days learning about the town’s fascinating past through its museums.

No visit to the deep south of America is complete without a visit to an old Antebellum (post-war) plantation home. Several are open for public tours, where you can explore these beautiful homes set out along the Mississippi River. Needless to say, you can’t leave the city without a boat ride down the Mississippi. Close your eyes and you can almost see Scarlett O’Hara sitting on the verandah sipping mint juleps waiting for Rhett Butler.

A novelty for many, the streetcars that run along St Charles Avenue are historic landmarks of New Orleans. There are 35 olive-green vintage trolleys that continue to operate, providing transport for local office workers and a joy ride for visitors.

Enter the Dark Side

While it isn’t for everyone, visiting a cemetery is also a unique experience in New Orleans. Rather than being a macabre venture, visiting a cemetery here is more like exploring an art gallery. Traditionally, caskets are placed above ground, to prevent them from sinking into water, and therefore many have been elaborately decorated. Known as “Cities of the Dead”, the cemeteries are visited by many New Orleans Tourists each year for their imaginative designs and tributes.

So from dancing until dawn, swinging to jazz, enjoying art and history, and cruising down the Mississippi, there is plenty to see and do in New Orleans. It is no wonder that the city has been chosen to host Super Bowl XLVII.

Looking to party in The French Quarter? MakeMyTrip offers convenient flights to New Orleans.