Things to Do in Louisiana

Once a great plantation and the largest undeveloped parcel of land in the area that is now Uptown New Orleans, Audubon Park is now one of the greatest expanses of open land in New Orleans. Home to sports fields, picnic and playground facilities, a golf course, a jogging and biking track, and lush lagoons that house native wildlife, Audubon Park is where locals and tourists head when they need a breath of fresh air, time to stretch their legs, or to simply marvel at the mighty Mississippi as it rolls by. Stretching from St. Charles Ave to the Mississippi River, also housed within the park is the famous Audubon Zoo and New Orleans most prominent rookery – Bird Island.  

How to unwrap the culture and history of Louisiana, the Gulf, and the Mississippi river delta flood-plane? This rich cultural system of Creoles, Cajuns, French Arcadians, Spanish, French, Haitian and Afro-Caribbeans make a rich stew of culture – a culture closely tied to its environment, and its preservation is vital to the enduring legacy of the region. Enter the Historic New Orleans Collection. It is the Historic New Orleans Collection’s job to maintain it all, to record and preserve for mankind the incredibly diverse traditions of New Orleans and the Gulf South region. Through a collection of historic French Quarter buildings, the Collection operates museum galleries and walkthroughs which showcase some 35,000 artifacts, manuscripts, photographs, and prints shedding light upon Louisiana’s multifaceted and extensive past.

While Bourbon Street may take the spotlight, the real party is down on Frenchmen. This little corner on the cusp of the French Quarter is home to numerous live music venues and dance halls that, throughout the years, have put New Orleans’ 7th Ward on the map. It’s here that you’ll find the best of New Orleans live music, and many a long festival night will lend way to Frenchmen’s small three block section of New Orleans.

There are numerous nightclubs here, but arguably the most famous are: D.B.A., the Spotted Cat, and Snug Harbor – each of these has its own flavor and charm, but the best of an evening out will consist of getting your beer “to-go” and popping in-between the venues like the rest of the crowd. Looking for an authentic New Orleans experience? Come to this little slice of live-music heaven and see how New Orleans earns its reputation as a music capital.

Located just 25 miles upriver from New Orleans, Destrehan Plantation is not just the oldest plantation house in the Lower Mississippi Valley, but is an easy, accessible step back in to antebellum times. Built in 1787, the Destrehan Plantation retains its southern charm while keeping its ancient oak trees, its flat marshy lawns, its Old South antiques and a wonderful, quiet stillness. See architectural influences from the Spanish and French, listen to stories from costumed tour guides about the daily life of the people that ran Destrehan, and get a feel for the way things were in this little but remarkably old corner of the US.

New Orleans has been home to many famous artists and musicians over the years – none of them more famous than Edgar Degas. Master Impressionist, Degas’ influence on the art world can still be felt today in his sculpture, paintings, sketches, and drawings. His most famous images are, perhaps those he did of dancers – over half his work utilize these images, and they are what he is most often associated with. Degas successfully used old and new techniques that made his style his own, and for that, and his ability to render a certain sort of delicate beauty, he has become one of the most celebrated and remembered artists of all time.

Built in the Esplanade ridge neighborhood just on the outer edge of the French Quarter, The Edgar Degas House dates from the 1850s. Visiting his New Orleans home is easy, accessible and right on the cusp of the French Quarter. This is the only home and studio of Degas anywhere in the world that is open to the public, and thus a rare and unique insight into the life and times of this amazing painter. The house is a museum, but it is also a bed and breakfast and hosts guided tours of both the house and the immediate French Quarter area where the house resides.

Talk to a local about Carrollton and they’ll give you directions to one of New Orleans’s signature neighborhoods in the Garden District. Because while Carrollton is commonly known as a street, it was once its very own town, completely independent of the greater city of New Orleans. Yes, Carrollton was destined to be annexed by New Orleans in the early 20th century, but the Carrollton of yesteryear and the Carrollton of today both boast the picturesque Oak Street as its “Main Street” and offer guests a unique view into one of the beating hearts of New Orleans’s cultural hotbeds.

With a laid-back feel and beautiful architecture throughout, Carrollton is an attraction just walking through – though you needn’t take the sidewalk if you don’t want to: The St. Charles Line Street Car takes you into Carrollton by way of St. Charles Ave. Exploring Carrollton means discovering Queen-Anne and Victorian homes, oak-lined streets, and restaurants catering to all budgets. While you’re here, don’t miss Riverbend, Audubon Park, or the Maple Street Bookshop – these are some New Orleans favorites.