Just returned from a Week in NOLA

[lisakoivu]

No cruising was involved, but this page was my go-to when trying to figure out what we would do for our vacation, so I thought I'd share what we did, in case useful to others:

 

Really enjoyed the museum with so many costumes on display from Mardi Gras and an explanation of how it all works. Also, an amazing Katrina display with a lot of great explanations about where It All Went Wrong:

 

https://louisianastatemuseum.org/museum/presbytere

 

It was suggested to us by our B&B host to go to Mardi Gras World. It's a big warehouse where they build the floats for each year's parade. You apparently get to see past floats and floats in progress of being built. We didn't go, but next time:

 

https://www.mardigrasworld.com/

 

We did go on the Steamboat Natchez. It's about 90 minutes. We learned a lot and the jazz was great. We did not have dinner. It looked like kind of icky frozen deep fried, so we were glad we didn't. 

 

https://www.steamboatnatchez.com/

 

Took a day tour to the Whitney Plantation and Oak Alley. Whitney is from the point of view of the slaves and is well worth the trip:

https://www.cajunencounters.com/tours/plantations/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0u6R4N3V5gIVCNbACh2IEQLoEAAYASAAEgLMvPD_BwE

We would rather have toured Laura and Whitney, but this company didn't offer it. Afterwards, we found out there were companies who do, so look around. Oak Alley was fine, but restricted to a tour, you couldn't just wander around yourself so much. 

 

Best burgers we had were at Port of Call. It is definitely a "bar", but a place that locals go as well as tourists. If you're there in the day, you'll be happy. 

https://portofcallnola.com/

 

Had an amazing brunch at Cru. We went for the Sunday drag queen brunch, which was fun for everyone (not lewd at all) but if you go for regular brunch, it is to die for http://www.crunola.com/

 

For great Indian Fusion, try Silk Road. We loved the Samosas and the duck wings:

https://www.silkroadnola.com/

 

We stayed here. It was great, whole second floor to ourselves, and walkable to both French Quarter and Marginy. Plus, Betsy and Bill have SO MANY suggestions for places to go and eat:

 

https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g60864-d621236-Reviews-Chez_Palmiers_Bed_and_Breakfast-New_Orleans_Louisiana.html 

 

These places are in the Marginy neighbourhood rather than French Quarter, but an easy 20 minute walk. 

 

Our favorite place to eat in the French Quarter was Napoleon House. https://www.napoleonhouse.com/. We thought it was the best Muffleta we had while we were there. Bottle of wine for $22, which we thought was amazing.

 

If you need coffee, try PJs. https://www.pjscoffee.com/

 

Check out the French Market, which is right near the cruise terminal. We got great crepes and pralines there: 

http://www.frenchmarket.org/

 

Best pralines were Miss Loretta's. She has a stall in the French Market, as well as a store. She will also ship for you. I wish we had had time to stop for breakfast. Next time. 

https://lorettaspralines.com/

 

 

Our misstep was the Museum of Death. I don't recommend it. 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/museum-of-death-new-orleans

 

A lot of newspaper articles about John Wayne Gacey and Charles Manson. Might have been quaint before the internet, but you're not learning any info you can't get by looking on Wikipedia. The focus on Jack Kevorkian was almost quaint, since we have legalized assisted suicide in my country now, it was astounding to have Dr. Kevorkian portrayed as some sinister crazy guy. You can agree with him or not, I'm not here to open that debate up, but to display him in a museum alongside Manson seems a reach. 

 

Hope this helps everyone!

Edited December 27, 2019 by lisakoivu

[mcgore83]

Thank you for posting this information! Great ideas!

[Nola26]

We will be there pre-cruise in a couple of weeks, definitely helpful information, thanks.

[ATSEAMYLIFE]

Thanks for the info, we are actually headed there on a road trip and staying three nights in the French Quarter.  I will avoid the MofD which I considered.  How about best oysters?  Central Market & Deli is suppose to be the home of the Muffuletta, did you try there's?