Unique things to do in New Orleans

Frenchmen Street

While locals understand the attraction to their famous French Quarter, most avoid it at all costs. When you’re ready to “pass a good time,” but still want a neighborhood where the drinks flow and the music is loud, head to Frenchmen Street. Live music pours onto the street most hours of the day, but brunch is a great time to visit Frenchmen for live jazz and shopping at bookstores and boutiques.

Warehouse District

This bustling neighborhood is sometimes called the New Orleans Art District, thanks to a slew of galleries and museums taking residence in the brick warehouse buildings. This is where many New Orleans dwellers come for a night on the town to dine at some of the city’s best restaurants, sing karaoke in cafes, and pop into galleries for local art.

Algiers Point

Across the river from the French Quarter sits the second-oldest neighborhood in New Orleans. You can reach it by ferry for some of the best views of the city and a reprieve from the 24/7 action. One can’t-miss attraction, and arguably the city’s most unique museum, is the Algiers Folk Art Zone. Self-taught artist Charles Gillam started it in 2000 to honor his hometown with colorful carvings, mural art, and memorabilia that tells the history of Louisiana music.

NOLA’s distinctive cuisine is thanks to the European, Creole and African American culture that influences every aspect of the city. The seafood from the Gulf of Mexico, smoked meats, and regional vegetables lend themselves to a variety of classic dishes that even locals love — gumbo, po’boys, jambalaya, fried okra, the list goes on — as well as a Southern twist on pho, tacos, and other global fare. Food halls, such as the Bywater’s St. Roch Market and the revamped Circle Food Store in the Tremé, are the best ways to see it all in one place.

When it comes to where the locals eat, find out on Bywater food tours, shucking Louisiana oysters out on the bayou, or take a Cajun cooking class. No matter where you eat, be it a Michelin-rated restaurant, a cookout, or a corner market, you can expect it was made with love.

Garden District

While there are gardens here, the big draw is the architecture. Specifically the jaw-droppingly beautiful mansions that stand tall along St. Charles Avenue. So how did this part of New Orleans get its name? When these Victorian homes were first built in the early 19th century, there were only two per block, with large gardens surrounding them. Over time, more city luminaries and celebrities built their own homes in the district— and with it came plenty of secrets and scandals you can learn about on a fun local-led walking tour. That’s about the only drama you will discover in this pleasant area filled with shops and restaurants.

Mid-City

This urban oasis is one of the most laid-back, and kid-friendly, parts of the Big Easy. Here you’ll find the New Orleans Botanical Gardens, City Park, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Other fun activities include boat tours and rentals on Big Lake, and the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park with its wooden carousel. Streetcars shuffle people from spot to spot on Canal Street, but walking is a great way to see more in this charming part of town.

Bywater/Marigny

For those who want the option to be able to walk into the Quarter or Jackson Square without staying in the center of it: head to the nearby Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods. Both offer a bohemian vibe with bistros, jazz clubs, and galleries. It’s where bartenders and other industry workers unwind after a long shift, and artists and musicians flock to lift (maybe even conjure) creative spirits. Sundays, especially during football season, the streets feel like big welcoming block parties where you can “do whatcha wanna.”