Fondly known as the “Big Easy,” New Orleans is a vibrant and lively city in Louisiana, famous for its music, nightlife and delicious food. It is a most interesting and captivating city, one you must surely put on your travel bucket list. If you’re planning to visit New Orleans soon, here are some of the best things to do and sights to see:
If you are flying in, be sure to book your flight, accommodations and airport parking space in advance to avoid unnecessary hassle or unpleasant surprises. Many airlines and hotels offer great deals if you book early, and booking an airport parking space in advance can help you save precious time and money.
No visit to New Orleans is complete without checking out the French Quarter, which is arguably the most famous part of the city. It is also the city’s oldest neighborhood, and the perfect place to stay if you want to be in the center of all the action and still enjoy easy access to the rest of the city.
Most visitors to the area head straight for Bourbon Street, which is the heart of the food and party scene, but there is also plenty of beautiful architecture to marvel at, unique boutiques to browse through, and lovely views of the Mississippi. The French Quarter can also be family-friendly, offering the Aquarium of the Americas and the Cabildo Museum as attractions for the kids.
ParkON offers spaces in more than 200 parking lots across the country, all of them strategically located near major airports. These include LaGuardia, O’Hare and Los Angeles International. LAX parking in particular can be especially difficult to find, so it’s worth booking your parking space in advance to save you from stress and frustration. The website is easy to use, so you can quickly search for, select and reserve a parking space in under five minutes.
Just off Bourbon Street is Royal Street, one of the most elegant in the French Quarter. Here you’ll find an entire stretch of art galleries, antique shops, fine jewelry stores and energetic street performers to keep you entertained. And of course you can’t miss getting beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde; feasting on powdery sweet pastries is basically a rite of passage when visiting the Quarter.
If you love to study the history of any place you visit, you should definitely check out the National WWII Museum in the Warehouse District. It is a world-class museum that features tons of memorabilia from the great war. One highlight is a dramatic 4D theatre experience narrated by Tom Hanks, complete with simulated gunfire and explosion effects.
If you plan to visit during the last weekend of April, you absolutely must take part in the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. This is the best way to experience the music of New Orleans on a grand scale. Here you’ll hear almost every genre, from jazz and blues to gospel, rock, country and funk. It also involves a lot of eating, colorful costumes and an all-around good time.
At the end of the day, there’s no place quite like New Orleans. Visiting the city is like stepping into a different time, and there is so much to see and do that you’ll never run out. Everywhere you go, you’ll find something of interest or fascination. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and start planning your trip.
