Things To Do Outside The French Quarter | Travel Tips

12/4/2020

Want to see this in a video with cool drone shots? click here! For more information about the crypts click here.

If you want to see what I did while I was in New Orleans click here.

New Orleans is currently the 50th largest city in the United States with almost 400,000 residents. New Orleans was first founded in 1718 by the French Mississippi Company and the most iconic area is the French Quarter.

Because of New Orleans diverse background there is a wide variety of food that have a touch of French, African, Creole, Caribbean, and southern cuisine like biscuits, jambalaya, gumbo, or beignets.

New Orleans is considered the birthplace of Jazz and it was believed to have originated from the drumming and Voodoo rituals that took place in New Orleans' Congo Square before the Civil War.

New Orleans may be best known for its night life, and more specifically Mardi Gras which takes places on Bourbon Street which is inside the French Quarter.

But you came here because you want to know other cool options you can do while in New Orleans if you aren’t looking to rage on bourbon street, eat all the beignets, listen to live jazz music and hop on a steam boat - although that is the main reason most people go so let's dive in!

1. Garden district

The Garden District is a residential area with lovely mansions, mature trees, and lush gardens, and is probably, in some respects, the stereotypical image of the Deep South.

It is almost home to the Lafayette Cemetery #1 which is a historic cemetery that was founded in 1833 and still in use today.

Lafayette Cemetery #1

2. City Park

City Park was founded in 1854 covers 1,300 acres, and is filled with fun natural and man-made attractions. There are things like duck boats, lakes, sport courts, museums and more.

3. Frenchman Street

If you want an authentic New Orleans experience outside Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, head to the lively Frenchmen Street. A popular spot for locals, Frenchmen Street is a four-block stretch of live music, bars, restaurants, night clubs and art galleries. Here, not only will you find fewer crowds (albeit not by much), but you'll also encounter cheaper eats and drinks, and better music – it's kind of like Bourbon Street's hipper, trendier cousin. If you don't consider yourself a night owl.

4. Check Out The Cemeteries

If you want to read about this I have an article here but also a video here.

The St Louis Cemeteries were both added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
The tombs were built out of necessity because New Orleans was built on wet, swampy land that is slightly below sea level. When early European settlers put coffins under ground the water level would rise and since the coffins were filled with air, the water sometimes pushed them up through the earth. So if you are looking for more information about this check out that video!

St Louis Cemetery #1

St Louis Cemetery #2

5. Louis Armstrong Park

Louis Armstrong Park is a 32-acre park cross the street from the French Quarter. It is famous as a historical significance place because right in front of the New Orleans Municipal Auditorium is the site of Congo Square which is famous for its role in the history of African American music and spiritual practice.

Louis Armstrong Park was home to the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1970 and has more recently been the home of many other events, including the "Jazz in the Park" free concert series

6. Swamp Boat Tours

If you are wanting to check out the nearby swamps to get up and close to crocodiles you can take a roughly 2 hour tour!

7. Plantation Tours

As close as 30 minutes away you will fine the nearest plantation home to New Orleans to take a tour.

Tours

What to Bring

See what I bring on all my trips here!

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