Louisiana Travel Agent Specialist

New Orleans, LA Trolly Car

New Orleans is a place I keep coming back to because there is always something more to experience, and every part of the city seems to tell a different story. Food, music, history, architecture, neighborhoods, celebrations, and the areas beyond the city all add to what makes New Orleans special.

The French Quarter is where the strong French influence comes through in the architecture, courtyards, balconies, and historic streets. Bourbon Street is certainly part of the experience, but there is much more to discover throughout the Quarter. Next door, the Marigny has a different feel and reflects more of the Spanish influence on New Orleans. Frenchmen Street is a great place to experience local music and the energy of the neighborhood. The Garden District offers another perspective, with its historic homes, beautiful architecture, and tree-lined streets. The Bywater adds yet another side of the city.

Magazine Street is also part of the New Orleans experience, especially during celebrations such as the St. Patrick’s Day parades. The Krewe of Boo Halloween parade is another fun way to experience the city, with parades and Second Line bands adding to the culture and energy found throughout New Orleans. Music is everywhere, from local musicians and jazz clubs to Jazz Fest.

Food is just as much a part of the experience as the music. Restaurants throughout the city offer everything from traditional New Orleans favorites to new culinary experiences. The Warehouse District is a great example, with its restaurants, attractions, and the National WWII Museum. The museum offers a meaningful opportunity to learn about the people and events of World War II and the impact they had on history.

New Orleans history also includes the challenges that shaped the city. Learning about Hurricane Katrina provides important insight into New Orleans and the surrounding communities. The Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain have also played major roles in the area's history, transportation, culture, and development.

Getting beyond the traditional tourist areas opens up even more of Louisiana. Tours of Oak Alley Plantation and other plantations provide a look into the history and people connected to these properties. Swamp and bayou tours, including crocodile swamp tours, offer opportunities to see wildlife and experience a completely different side of Louisiana. The Mississippi River and surrounding waterways provide another perspective that cannot be found by staying in the city.

There are also unique experiences within New Orleans itself, such as exploring Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 and learning about the city's above-ground cemetery traditions, or riding the trolley to see different neighborhoods along the way.

What makes New Orleans special is that there is no single way to experience it. The French influence of the French Quarter, Spanish influence of the Marigny, historic Garden District, Bywater, Magazine Street, Warehouse District, music, food, celebrations, and complicated history all come together to create a city with incredible character. Beyond the city, the plantations, bayous, swamps, Mississippi River, and Lake Pontchartrain add even more to explore.

Because I have experienced so many different sides of New Orleans and the surrounding area, I can help plan more than just a trip to the French Quarter. Whether the focus is food, music, history, architecture, celebrations, outdoor experiences, or exploring beyond the city, I can help put together an experience that goes beyond the usual tourist stops.