Originating from New Orleans, this is quite possibly the world’s oldest cocktail, and still one of the best. It’s like the Green Faerie visits the Whiskey A-Go-Go. See ya in the Big Easy!
Fill a small rock with ice. Pour in whiskey, Absinthe and bitters. Squeeze in a twist of lemon.
The best creole fine dining awaits at Arnauds Restaurant in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Guests will be delighted with the fresh shrimp, crab cakes, turtle soup and praline crepes served up in authentic Louisiana style.
Founded in 1918 by French wine salesman, Arnaud Cazenave, the restaurant prides itself on delivering high quality dining with outstanding customer service.
The restaurant has a main dining area, private dining rooms, French bar and is also home to the Mardi Gras Museum.
Every Sunday there is a four-course “prix fixe” brunch with authentic live Dixieland jazz music.
Arnauds is located at 813 Rue Bienville (Bienville Street), just off the historic Bourbon Street.
Overall Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
In June 2011 I was in New Orleans. I fell in love with the architecture, the atmosphere, warm temperatures and all the sites. Although most of New Orleans was dramatically effected by hurricane Katrina, the French Quarter escaped most of the damage.
During the day, Bourbon Street is a bustling street and can be a fun place to enjoy music and cheap beverages. At night the bars go full-tilt blasting jazz and blues music late into the night. In New Orleans beverages are served in plastic cups so you can take your drink to-go (yes, drinking in public is allowed).
If you enjoy architecture, there are wonderful decorative wrought iron railings though out the French Quarter. The wood clad buildings have large shudder windows and traditional French inspired facades. The Fleur de lis is found throughout New Orleans and since Katrina has been a sign of hope and prosperity.
Here’s just a glimpse of some of the many sights in the famous French Quarter of the Big Easy.
On your next trip to New Orleans, try to pry yourself away from Bourbon Street and discover the haunted and exotic world of Louisiana’s swamplands. It’s the perfect way experience the ‘backyard’ of the Deep South and get up-close and personal with an alligator, or two.
Waterways, swamps and mysterious, moss-draped bayous surround New Orleans. The name bayou originates from a Choctaw Indian word meaning, small stream.
Located just a quick 35-minute drive from the French Quarter of New Orleans, in the hot, watery oasis there are many Louisiana native creatures including wild boar, alligators, turtles, snakes, nutria, hawks, owls, ducks, crawfish and more. Vegetation ranges from lily pads, cypress trees, rushes, reeds, and Spanish moss.
The most exciting, easiest and educational way to experience the secluded areas of the swamplands is to take a guided swamp boat tour. The thrilling high-speed ride on a six-passenger air boat will take you over the marshes and deep into the swamps.
The airboats are operated by captains certified by the US Coast Guard, and many of the operators have spent their entire life hunting, fishing and living in Louisiana’s swamplands; they know the areas and will ensure you have a safe, fun encounters with the local wildlife.
Bring your camera! The airboat captain will make sure you get up close with alligators and other wildlife. There’s also a great chance you will be able to hold a real, live, baby alligator!
Some tours will take you through the remnants of a logging operation from the early 1900’s. Most of the waterways the airboats take are from logging that was done years ago.
Most tours are 30-60 minutes. Tours run year-round, rain or shine. The microclimate in the swamps means there is often short bursts of rain; ponchos are available for purchase from most tour operators at a small fee.
Remember to bring a hat and sunscreen on hot, sunny days. It’s safe to wear flip-flops, t-shirts and casual clothes, but leave your expensive jewelry at home, unless you want to risk making an unintended donation into the swampy waters to be lost forever.
Most tour operators have a minimum height restriction of 48” and individuals with back or neck problems and pregnant women are not allowed to ride on airboats.
Established in 1983, the Germaine Cezenave Wells Mardi Gras museum pays tribute to Germaine Wells, daughter of the famous Count, who reigned as queen over 22 Mardi Gras balls from 1937 to 1968; the most of any woman in the carnival’s history.
Inside the museum you will find 25 lavish Mardi Gras gowns and costumes beautifully displayed in glass cases. The gowns are decorated with colourful feathers, elaborate bead work and delicate trim.
There are also a number of costumes and accessories worn by other members of her family, including children’s outfits.
The collection also includes over 70 photographs, carnival masks, faux jewels and other vintage Mardi Gras memorabilia.
The museum is located on the second floor of Arnauds Restaurant located at 813 Bienville Street in New Orleans. The museum is open daily to the general public and is free of charge to enter during regular restaurant hours.
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All Aboard! Take a trip back in time on New Orleans streetcars – the oldest and longest continuously operating streetcar network in the world! The networks of the three unique streetcar lines are part of New Orleans public transit system and can take you to different areas of the city.
St Charles Line
If you want to experience the true romance of the rails in New Orleans, hop aboard! Operating for over 150 years, the oldest of the three streetcar lines is the St Charles Line. The 13.2 mile line runs along St. Charles Avenue and Carrollton Avenue in an area called the Neutral Ground. The interiors of these streetcars have brass fittings, exposed ceiling light bulbs, and mahogany seats.
Canal Street Line
Forty years after it was shut down, the Canal Street Line is back in business. It runs from the riverfront to the top of Canal Street. The 5.5-mile route takes you past the French Quarter, business district and mid-city areas. A spur line connects at North Carrollton Avenue at Canal Street to City Park at Beauregard Circle. The streetcars on this line are all air-conditioned.
Riverfront Line
This line first opened in 1926, with the hopes and dreams that it would be the foundation of the streetcar network in New Orleans. It was one of the first major capitol investment projects in the city. It originally had over 200 miles of lines connecting throughout the city. Today, the short Riverfront line connects the French Market to the Aquarium of the Americas and the Riverwalk Mall. Today there are six vintage streetcars operate along the Riverfront line; three were built by the Perley A. Thomas Company in 1923-24.
One-way streetcar fares are $1.25 and can be paid with exact change when you board; transfers to other routes are available for $0.25. The streetcar lines are all maintained and operated by the Regional Transit Authority.
Serving traditional Creole fare, Palace Café is a well-respected upscale grand café located on Canal Street at the foot of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Open for lunch and dinner, Palace Café is best known for Creole dishes like crabcake cheesecake, Andouille Crusted Gulf Fish, pepper crusted duck and white chocolate breaded pudding. Entrées range from $17 – $34.
Keep in mind, if you are not a fan of seafood, this restaurant might not be ideal for you. Most items on the menu are seafood.
With New Orleans being the most northern point of the Caribbean, and sugarcane being native to Louisiana, rum is usually featured in the uniquely original and re-designed classic cocktails.
The wine list is extensive with over 200 labels spanning 25 varietals to choose from.
The restaurant is located in the turn-of-the-century historic Werlein music building. The Parisian inspired grand cafe can seat up to 450 people and includes floor to ceiling windows, life-size jazz murals, a central grand staircase, and both private and sidewalk dining areas.
Generally speaking, the service staff were very good, the cocktails were fantastic, but the food was lacking in quality and passion.
The restaurant first opened in March 1991 by owners Dickie Brennan, Steve Pettus and Lauren Brennan Browe.
Reservations are recommended. For more information including how to make a reservation, menus and group bookings, visit their website.
Overall Rating: ★★ (out of 5)
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New Orleans has been made famous for many things; The Sazerac and Hurricane cocktails, steam boats, Bourbon Street, beignets, and jazz music. The most spooky thing Nawlins is known for is the many above ground cemeteries.
There are 42 cemeteries located in New Orleans. The aboveground tombs in the cemeteries are often referred to as “cities of the dead” because of the tombs, crypts and vaults create street-like patterns.
Many of the cemeteries have large, rusty gates at the entrance into the mysterious and spooky plots of sun bleached marble and granite graves. Many of the unique and ornate tombs date back as early as the 1700’s.
The city of New Orleans is located below sea level and the early settlers found it difficult to bury the dead. This is because just a few feet below ground the earth is soft and muddy. Once the coffin was laid and buried, the muddy grave would fill with water and the casket would literally float to the surface.
They tried placing rocks on top of the caskets and drilling holes, but they would still float to the surface. Taking the learnings from the Spanish, New Orleans began to burry the dead above ground in tombs, vaults and crypts.
A local ordinance allows multiple family members to be buried in one crypt. It is required the crypt be sealed for a minimum two years before the next person can be added. The remains of the previous person can be placed into a special made burial bag to be placed at the back of the crypt. Newer cemeteries are equipped with temporary burial plots if there has not be a two year period between the deaths of family members.
The most notable grave is of Marie Laveau, the notorious Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.
The above ground cemeteries are easy to get to. The easiest and safer cemeteries are accessible by taking the Canal Street streetcar to the top of Canal Street. There are six large cemeteries at the end of the rail line.
Because the above cemeteries have become popular attractions for visitors, crime has followed. There are frequent muggings inside the cemeteries. It is not recommended to go alone; it is much safer to travel in groups or take a guided tour. It is also recommended to visit during the middle of the day; avoid the time between the start of dusk and the end of dawn. Don’t forget to use common sense!
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Experience the beauty and romance of the New Orleans skyline aboard the last authentic steamboat on the mighty Mississippi; the Natchez.
The Natchez sets sail three times per day from the foot of Toulouse Street along the Riverwalk.
The steamship casually cruises down the river past landmarks including the location of the War of 1812, the oldest sugar refinery in Louisiana, Domino, and the largest gas refinery in New Orleans.
Each night there are dinner jazz cruises with casual buffet style dining, prepared fresh on-board. Jazz music is by grammy nominated, Dukes of Dixieland.
There is ample indoor and outdoor seating. Onboard there is a small gift shop and two bars.
The steam engine room is museum quality and is open for visitation during specified times on the cruises.
Reservations are recommended and discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.
Special event cruises for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
