Quick facts about New Orleans
The Big Easy is a nickname from the dawn of jazz. Jazz musicians at the turn of the century were fond of nicknames and a dance hall by that name existed in the early 1900's, according to jazz historians, but the location is uncertain. There have been many story variations on the Big Easy it's just like anything else in New Orleans; it just is. The Big Easy is New Orleans with our gentle and relaxed pace of life for which New Orleans is best known. New Orleans encompasses 4,190 square miles or 10, 850 square kilometers and is approximately 90 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River. Step back in time and take a stroll in the French Quarter, Jackson Square, visit the plantations, or take a swamp tour. The architecture and ambiance of New Orleans is unsurpassed.
Tips for Travelers to New Orleans
Before you even leave home, pack an umbrella, comfortable shoes, and a camera. Even here in one of the sunniest cities in the country, we get the occasional afternoon shower; this is one of the walking-est towns around; and the need for a camera will be immediately apparent when you arrive.
Buy a VisiTour pass. Available in one-day or three-day denominations, the pass allows unlimited on-and-off privileges for the streetcars and buses. Great for exploring!
Take a round-trip sightseeing tour on the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar. It's a great way to get an overview of the Garden District, Uptown, and the University areas of town, and you'll be aboard a movable historic landmark. It's the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world!
For a delightful introduction to Old Man River, take the ferry at the foot of Canal Street across the water to Algiers on the West Bank.
Brush up on New Orleansese. For example, in the local lingo we catch the streetcar on the "neutral ground" (elsewhere called a median). And "dressed" - when ordering a sandwich - does not mean formal attire, it means your sandwich comes with "the works". And, in the Crescent City, we're very big on "lagniappe" (pronounced lan-yap) which means "a little something extra."
Go with the flow. Directions here follow the river. - "Upriver" is uptown, "downriver" is downtown, "lakeside" is toward Lake Pontchartrain, and "riverside" is toward the Mississippi River. The Central Business District and the French Quarter are downriver/downtown.
Be a kid again and ride the turn-of-the-century carousel in City Park!
Get a muffuletta or a po-boy and munch it for lunch on a bench in Woldenberg Park.
Build castles in the air in Audubon Park or City Park. New Orleans has been rated one of the greenest cities in the U.S., and these two lush parks are less than three miles apart.
If you're driving into the city, remember that the French Quarter exit off of I-10 is the "Vieux Carre" - exit 235B.
Explore the 24-hour Farmers Market - in the early morning hours, you'll see some of the city's most famous folks shopping for produce.
You can book a great number of hotels in New Orleans which are close to the action or check our list of all the hotels In Louisiana
New Orleans, has many local activities & attractions. Amusement centers, deep-sea fishing, boat rides, sightseeing, fine dining, dolphin watching, museums, and that is not all. If you are looking for fun this is the place to visit. New Orleans is famous for Marti Gras and for good reason. It is the celebration that kicks off the year long party every year. New York is said to be the city that never sleeps and if that is true, New Orleans should be know as the city that doesn't care much about anything else but fun, and that includes New York's sleeping habits. Come, have fun, and enjoy.
Plus book dozens of cities with shows, tours, dining and golf courses.