8 Things You’ll Regret Not Doing in New Orleans

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing the beauty of New Orleans with my go to travel buddies. It is a city that is famous for the rich culture, amazing food, music, and of course nightlife. One of the best things about New Orleans is that you don’t have to break the bank in order to have the time of your life! I have rounded up a few things that you have to do and places you must visit if you go to New Orleans. By the way, almost everything on this list is free (you’re welcome in advance!)

Taking a Trolley!

If you want a quick and cost effective way to get around New Orleans then you have to take a trolley! There are MANY places around New Orleans where you can board one and they can take you almost anywhere you’ll want to go. One of the best parts of taking a trolley (besides the obvious cuteness factor) is that a 24 hour pass is only $3! With this pass you have the freedom of getting off and on any trolley you want.

Strolling around the French Quarter

You have not been to New Orleans unless you have walked around the French Quarter. Here you’ll find restaurants, shops, and my favorite, street performers. During my visit I got to see an extreme juggler (I’m talking juggling knives while balancing on a little board) and multiple musicians. They were all so talented and trust me when I say that watching them will really make you fall in love with the city.

This area is also perfect if you’re looking for inexpensive entertainment because it’s free to watch but of course you should always tip!

Walking Down Bourbon Street

If you’re looking for nightlife this is where you’ll find it! Bourbon Street is full of bars, restaurants, and (one thing I didn’t know was super popular) strip clubs. It doesn’t matter what type of scene you’re into, you’ll have fun. I did not drink one drop of alcohol and I loved Bourbon Street. I had some of my best memories here including being a part of an insane dancing flashmob (twice!)

Bourbon Street is beautiful during the day, but it comes to life at night (especially on Fridays and Saturdays!)

Visiting Jackson Square

You will definitely want to visit Jackson Square, a National Historic Landmark. St. Louis Cathedral can be found here and let me tell you it is just as spectacular on the inside as it is on the outside. Directly in front of the Cathedral you will find Jackson Square park. The famous Café Du Monde and the Mississippi River is only a short walking distance away from this park. One of my favorite restaurants can also be found in Jackson Square, it is called Stanley’s and has the most amazing brunch selection.

Going to the Mississippi River

You can’t go to New Orleans without going to the Mississippi River. I didn’t get the chance to take a ferry across the river but you should right my wrongs and try it! It is also the perfect place to stop and take a picture.

Visiting Palmer Park

There are many beautiful parks to visit in New Orleans and Palmer Park is one of them. You can take a trolley to this part of the city and you will feel as though you are in a completely different place. This area of New Orleans is more suburban and you will pass by many houses, buildings, and a couple of colleges.

Palmer Park is huge and it’s a great place to stop by when you want to wind down and relax.

Walking Around Frenchmen Street

Frenchmen street is full of live music and art. The art market is located here and offers many goodies to take home with you. You’ll find unique artwork, handmade jewelry, and some pretty awesome graphic tees. There are also many bars and restaurants around this area so this is a fun place to visit at night.

Shopping at the French Market

The French Market is a huge market filled with hundreds of little stands of food, gifts, and art. You can think of it as the best gift store you’ve ever visited. I recommend taking a look around before you purchase something because chances are a different stand has it for less money and if haggling is your thing, this is the place to do it! Give yourself at least an hour to look around because this place is full of things you’ll want to take home.

If you are thinking about visiting New Orleans stop thinking about it and just do it! My trip was a spontaneous decision that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Everything about New Orleans including the southern hospitality, delicious food (a post on that will be coming up soon,) and incredible sights are worth experiencing at least once! I personally cannot wait to go back.

I hope you enjoyed this roundup of things to do in New Orleans. As always, thank you for stopping by!

XOXO, 

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