Things You Can't Miss On Your Trip To New Orleans

I took a trip to New Orleans about three years ago to celebrate getting my Master's Degree from Louisiana State University- Shreveport (I know NOLA is nowhere near Shreveport, but it was a fitting celebration spot!) This was my first time visiting the city, and while we did some research beforehand, many of our experiences were on the fly. Whether this is your first trip to New Orleans, or you're returning to the city, here is my list of must-try food, restaurants, sights, and actitvies.

Table of Contents:

• Food

  • Po' Boys

  • Beignets

  • Pere Antoine Restaurant and Bar

  • Gumbo

  • Lula Restaurant & Distillery

  • Jambalaya

  • Felipe's Taqueria

  • Alligator Dishes

  • Food Tours

• Things To Do & See

  • Swamp Tour

  • New Orleans City Park

  • Jazz Tours & River Cruises

  • Jackson Square

  • Ghost Tours 

  • The French Quarter

  • Learn About Voodoo History

• Highlights & Final Thoughts

Food:

New Orleans has a diverse food scene, which we found to be very evident on our trip. There truly is something for everyone here, with popular dishes that are heavily based on Creole and Cajun culinary traditions. Food is a big part of New Orleans culture, featuring a fusion of French, West African, Spanish, and Caribbean influences. New Orleans is home to several long-standing restaurants, and hosts a variety of food festivals every year.

Po' Boys

First up on the list is Po' Boys. A Po' Boy is a classic sandwich native to Louisiana, consisting of meat or fried seafood served on a fluffy roll. These sandwiches got their name during the early 1900's when hungry strikers would come to buy a sandwich , and the worker's would yell "Here comes another poor boy" Eventually, the sandwich became known as Poor Boys which was eventually shortened into just Po' Boy. There are so many places throughout the city to try a Po' Boy, however, we ate at NOLA Poboys located at 908 Bourbon St. I also recommend trying their red beans and rice, another New Orleans classic!

Beignets:

No matter how many times you've visited, no trip to New Orleans is complete without having a beignet! This is probably the most famous dish the city is known for, and rightfully so! Typically served in sets of three, beignets are fluffy, fried dough squares covered in powdered sugar. I mean, what's not to absolutely love about that? Originally brought to New Orleans by Acadians as fried fritters, they have now transformed into a NOLA staple and are served all over the city. Arguably the best, and probably most well-known spot to grab some beignets is Cafe Du Monde, so of course we had to stop here to try our first authentic beignet. There are currently eleven Cafe Du Mond locations throughout the city of New Orleans. I went to the Cafe Du Monde - City Park location at 56 Dreyfous Dr. During my trip, I also tried beignets from Cafe Beignet located at 311 Bourbon Street, and honestly, they were just as amazing. I loved them both, I really don't think you can go wrong with a beignet from anywhere you try!

Pere Antoine Restaurant & Bar:

If you're in the French Quarter, and are looking for a casual spot with classic New Orleans cuisine, I recommend checking out Pere Antoine Restaurant & Bar located at 741 Royal St. I ordered the Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich, and while it was nothing to write home about, it was a classic! This restaurant serves breakfast all day, lunch, and dinner. Definitely a great stop if you're looking for a bite to eat in the French Quarter.

Gumbo:

Another New Orleans staple is gumbo, a classic dish originating from West Africa that truly captures the essence of New Orleans cooking. Gumbo is a rich stew-like dish that is typically made of a mixture of vegetables, meat, and/or seafood and served over rice. Chicken, sausage, shrimp, and crab are popular varieties of gumbo, and a place that was recommended to me was The Gumbo Shop, located at 630 St. Peter Street. I didn't get a chance to try it here myself, but it's on my list for next time!

Lula Restaurant and Distillery:

Hands down, my favorite place we ate this trip was Lula Restaurant & Distillery located at 1532 St Charles Ave. The food was absolutely amazing!! This restaurant is described as a "stylish, rustic micro-distillery & southern eatery serving classic plates & house-distilled spirits." The drink options here were also amazing, and are all distilled in-house. I ordered (yet another) fried chicken sandwich (I don't eat any other meat besides chicken, so this was a recurring dish for me this trip, haha) but this one was so different than any other I've ever had. It came with cheddar cheese, molasses, and fig sauce, and it was absolutely delicious! If there's one restaurant you can't miss, it's this one!

Jambalaya: 

Jambalaya is another classic, blending influences from French, Spanish, and African culture. Similar to gumbo, this Creole meal is another rice-based dish that is typically mixed with meats, vegetables, and spices. A dish I was disappointed I didn't get to try while I was here, but I did see recommendations for Coop's Place located at 1109 Decatur St.

Felipe's Taqueria:

If you're in the mood for a quick, casual spot for some great Mexican food, I recommend giving Felipe's Taqueria a try! Located at 301 N Peters St., Felipe's has made-to-order tacos and burritos with Latin-inspired cocktails. I went with the chicken tacos with onions, lettuce, and guacamole- simple, yet delicious. It's a great stop if you are looking for something casual for a quick bite to eat in the French Quarter.

Alligator Dishes:

Okay, this is one I don't think I can wrap my head around, however, the rest of my group loved it! I guess if you're ever going to try alligator, what better place to do it? While it's definitely a more adventurous option than some of these other classics, my friends described it as tasting similar to chicken. Some popular ways alligator is served are fried alligator bites, blackened alligator, alligator sausage, alligator gumbo, and alligator nachos, which is what my group tried.

Food Tours:

If you really want to immerse yourself in the New Orleans food scene, I highly recommend checking out one of the many food tours offered throughout the city. These guided tours will take you to different, local restaurants, where you can sample popular dishes and learn about the food history of the city. There are so many different options for food tours throughout New Orleans. I recommend booking a tour through sites like GetYourGuide or Viator and exploring all of the different options they have so you can choose which tour works best for you.

Things to Do & See:

Now let's move onto what to do and see while you're visiting New Orleans. Like the food scene, there is definitely something for everybody, whether you're interested in history, nature, art, music, nightlife, or simply just wandering around. Here are some of my favorite things that I did on my trip, and a few things I didn't get around to, but definitely plan on adding to my future itinerary!

Swamp Tours:

This was my all-time favorite thing we did this entire trip! If you've never been on a swamp tour before, I highly recommend adding one to your NOLA itinerary. It was such a neat way to escape the city for a bit and explore a different side of Louisiana. There are so many swamp tour possibilities, and I recommend booking your tour in advance, especially if you're visiting during a busier season. I booked my tour through GetYourGuide , and we went with the Cajun Pride Swamp Tours. Tours through this company are $27 for an adult ticket if you have your own transportation. If you do not have your own transportation, you can purchase a ticket for $48, which includes bus pickup and drop-off. The entire experience, including the ride to and from the swamp, took about 2 hours, and our tour guide was great! Cajun Pride provides bus pickup and drop-off to several different points throughout the city that you can schedule ahead of time. Our tour was packed with so many alligator sightings, alligator feedings, other wildlife sightings, and we even got to hold a baby alligator!

New Orleans City Park:

If you want to escape the city atmosphere for a bit, I highly suggest checking out City Park! This is one of the largest urban parks in the country and there is so much to do and see here, including: eating at Cafe du Monde, visiting the botanical garden, playing putt putt, checking out story land, or visiting the nearby Art Museum and sculpture area. You could easily spend half a day here exploring, even just walking around the park offered a unique experience! We spent most of our time here at Cafe Du Monde, and strolling through the garden areas. There are so many different paths to follow even if you're just looking for a peaceful walk through the park. It's also free to enter which is great!

Jazz Tours & River Cruises:

The birthplace of Jazz, New Orleans offers a magnificent jazz scene, and if you're into music of any kind, I definitely recommend checking out one of the many Jazz Tours the city has to offer. Two popular ways to enjoy the jazz scene are by doing a walking tour, or a riverboat experience. These tours typically share stories about the artists, traditions, and culture that shaped the New Orleans music scene. I recommend doing some research on the type of tour or experience you want to do and booking in advance!

Jackson Square:

Located in the heart of the French Quarter, Jackson Square is a 2.5-acre historical landmark and one of the most popular photo spots in the city. Surrounded by beautiful 18th-century architecture, inlcluding St Louis Cathedral, it is a popular spot for weddings, stage photography, and filming, however, there are also a lot of shops to explore! This was a very lively area, and it was neat to see all of the different artists and their work. Despite the busyness of this area, it was still a charming place to walk around and check out some of the shops. This was a very cute little area with a lot to see, and it is definitely a must-see!

Ghost Tours:

If you're into the spooky historic scene, New Orleans is also a great place to check out a ghost tour. The city is filled with haunted legends and is home to several old hotels and graveyards. This will definitely give you a different perspective on the French Quarter. A majority of the ghost tours offered here are walking tours, and you'll hear stories about unsolved mysteries, voodoo queens, and haunted entities. I didn't get to do a ghost tour this trip, but I did a similar one in Salem, Massachusetts, a few years ago, and they're truly such a cool experience! Most tours last about 1.5-2 hours, and you can explore different tour options on you guessed it, my go-to site for booking any tour GetYourGuide.

The French Quarter:

No trip to New Orleans is complete without spending some time in the French Quarter. This is the heart of the city, and it's full of history, energy, and culture. The cobblestone streets are lined with balconies, street performers, and plenty of bars and restaurants. The French Quarter is very well known for the vibrant nightlife (You can't miss Bourbon Street!)  At night, Bourbon Street gets absolutely packed, and you'll see people hanging out on balconies tossing beads to everyone down below. Beyond the crazy nightlife, the French Quarter also features several jazz clubs, eateries, markets, and architecture. We had fun just wandering around and exploring all that the French Quarter had to offer!

Learn About Voodoo History:

New Orleans is full of history in general, but something I found super interesting when I visited was learning about Voodoo history. Voodoo is a huge part of the city's culture, especially in the French Quarter, and there are various shops, museums, and walking tours you can check out to learn more. Rooted in West African, Haitian, and Creole practices, Voodoo is a deep cultural and spiritual tradition. A good spot to check out is the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, located at 724 Dumaine Street. This would definitely be a unique addition to your New Orleans trip!

Highlights & Final Thoughts:

These are just a few suggestions of things you can't miss on your trip to New Orleans, however, this post just touches the surface of all the things to do in the city! I definitely recommend doing some research before heading to the city and choosing a few things that interest you, but hopefully, some of these can get you started. New Orleans is one of the most diverse and unique places I have been to, between the food, sights, culture, history, music, etc. I think my favorite part of the trip was the swamp tour, and honestly, just wandering around the French Quarter taking in everything the city had to offer! Thanks for reading, and as always, there's always more to be explored!

-nicole elizabeth