What I Wish I Knew Before Going to New Orleans For the First Time
I visited New Orleans for the first time a couple of years ago and there are several things that I wish I had known before going. On our first night there, we had heard all about Bourbon Street and decided to go and check it out. That was a big mistake for me. I did not know what to expect and I was met with many competing live bands from all of the different establishments and people… so many people! There were street performers, but the people we learned to be aware of rather quickly were the people with the beads. They would come up to you and try to give you beads, but then would say that they were $5 and would follow you if you told them “no, thank you.” When we got back to the hotel that night, I was ready to leave and go back home!
I’m glad that we stayed though, because New Orleans in the daytime is about as different from the loud, fast paced nighttime as you can get. It was quiet and there were hardly any people out on the streets. To me, that vibe was much more pleasant. Most of the city is very walkable from the hotels. It is easy to get to the French Market area, the Central Business District (CBD), Jackson Square, the Warehouse District and Bourbon Street.
I am a picky eater, so when I knew that I was going to be going to New Orleans, I was very nervous. I was worried that I was not going to be able to find anything that I would like to eat. I thought that Cajun meant spicy and I don’t do spicy. However, I was also pleasantly surprised by the food choices that are available in New Orleans. I had gumbo, muffulettas, beignets and I even tried alligator! The part that I wish I would’ve known before going was that even the smaller meals came with a big price tag.
One thing that surprised me most about New Orleans was the contrast between the luxury of hotels, like the Ritz-Carlton, and the surrounding area. I was surprised by the number of people experiencing homelessness we saw near the hotel. It was something I hadn’t expected and was definitely noticeable during my visit. I also noticed that some of the other high-end hotels in the area had doormen or security personnel stationed outside their entrances. It seemed that their presence helped keep the entrances more controlled and gave guests a greater sense of security, while also discouraging people from lingering around the hotel entrances.
There are so many different kinds of tours that you can experience in New Orleans. Some of them include carriage rides, ghost tours, tours that visit City Park, a cemetery and famous houses or places in New Orleans, food tours, riverboat cruises and swamp and bayou tours. If there is a certain tour that is on your “must-do” list, I highly recommend booking it before you arrive. We really wanted to do the city carriage tour while we were in New Orleans, but we did not book it before we arrived and the tours were completely booked for the entire time that we were there.
There was part of New Orleans that I didn’t associate with the city and that was the swamp/bayou. I would highly recommend taking a tour of the bayou to get to see some of the local wildlife. There are several different types of tours. A couple of the most popular are an airboat and the other is a regular boat. We went on the regular boat with a company called Cajun Encounters. You get to see alligators up close… real close! You also get to see other wildlife that you normally wouldn’t get to see. We got to see a wild boar named Crispy (as in crispy bacon) and a yellow raccoon (they can turn yellow from eating the crawfish). It was well worth the short drive from our hotel to experience the bayou.
One of the most unique things about New Orleans is how many festivals they celebrate. There is a good chance that any time you visit, there will be a festival of some sort going on. The big, well known ones are Mardi Gras, French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest. There are also less known festivals that are still as much fun as the bigger ones, such as Beignet Fest, Oktoberfest, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest, Bayou Boogaloo, Dia de los Muertos Festival, New Orleans Film Festival and International Arts Festival.
I like to collect t-shirts from places that I travel. It’s a way for me to remember my time at the location and to wear a little piece from my vacation. With that being said, if you are anything like me and like to collect t-shirts, you can get some pretty unique shirts in New Orleans and the best part is that they give back to the organizations selling them. The first place where I got a t-shirt was at the NOPD Eighth District Station at 334 Royal Street in the French Quarter. They have a vending machine inside the station where you can pick out the t-shirt design that you like. You can only pay with a credit/debit card. The proceeds from the sales of the shirts goes to COPS 8, which is a non-profit organization supporting 8th District officers with equipment, gear and training.
The second unique place to get a t-shirt is at the Fire Station at 317 Decatur Street in the French Quarter. You can stop by and ask the firefighters on duty if there are any support the fire department shirts available. Keep in mind that the stock and available sizes may vary and occasionally they may run out of their inventory. The proceeds go towards supporting local firefighter associations, station house funds and community or departmental equipment needs.
The French Market spans 6 blocks and is an open air market that features shopping, dining, music, a flea market, a farmers market, specialty art, handmade crafts and souvenirs. You can browse through the stores and vendor booths, then grab something to eat while you listen to a local band play. When I went to New Orleans, the French Market was only open a couple days a week, but now it is open every day
From 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. When you visit the French Market, don’t forget to take the short walk down to Cafe du Monde to get your beignets and coffee and chicory. Some of the tours will stop at City Park and you will be able to visit the Cafe du Monde there, but the one in the French Market is the original one that was established in 1862.
There are a few things that I would recommend that I haven’t already mentioned. The first couple are restaurants/bars. We had dinner at The Court of Two Sisters, but they also have a daily Jazz Brunch as well. It is located in the French Quarter and you get to dine in a beautiful courtyard filled with lots of twinkling lights. Brunch has southern classics and dinner features local seafood and Creole cuisine.
The second recommendation is located in the Hotel Monteleone and is the Carousel Bar. As you enjoy your beverage, the seats rotate around the bar.
Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. We went around dinner time and had to stand in a line and wait for our turn at the bar. While there are other bars that may be more exciting, being able to sit on a seat that rotates while taking in the decor and the music is something to experience at least once. Once you finish your drink, grab a seat in the lounge and try the gumbo. It is delicious!
If you are someone who likes to learn about events in history, then the World War II Museum is for you. Here you will learn about the American experience in World War II. They have immersive galleries, a 4-D multimedia experience as well as guided tours. It is a definite “must-do” for anyone wanting to learn more about World War II.
With so much to see and do in New Orleans, you will never run out of options. If you don’t get to experience everything on your first trip, don’t worry—you can always return to the Crescent City for even more adventures and unforgettable memories.
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