History, architecture or nightlife, whatever you are after in New Orleans, you can make your way to the city’s beautiful French Quarter. Here you will be greeted with flamboyant buildings with authentic rustic balconies opening themselves up on to the streets. This is also home to New Orleans’ most famous street, Bourbon Street. Bourbon Street is the city’s thriving nightlife hotspot, lined with bars, that pump out jazz tunes at all hours of the day and night. Gifting Owl has got you covered here too, offering multiple cocktail tours, jazz tours, food tours and general French Quarter tours. This is the perfect destination to celebrate any occasion with friends and family as it is an entertainment precinct like no other and is not to be missed. Drinking alcohol on Bourbon Street is legal too, which comes in handy as you wander the streets in search of fun and food with a huge variety of delicious Cajun eateries scattered along the way. If you haven’t been to Bourbon Street, you haven’t been to New Orleans! There are plenty of Gifting Owl adventures to choose from when it comes to the French Quarter to help you enhance your experience.
There’s a unique area of New Orleans that we think deserves a mention. That is, of course, the warehouse district. Think huge brick warehouses converted into hip cafes, bars, boutique shops, art galleries and restaurants. This trendy neighbourhood is also home to the National World War II museum, which houses huge warplanes hanging from the ceiling. To top it off, the warehouse district is the place to go if you love a farmers market. Get down, get local and rub shoulders with vendors selling local produce and home-baked goodness.
New Orleans loves a party and is famous for its festivals, particularly Mardi Gras. An annual event, Mardi Gras is celebrated widely throughout the state of Louisiana but predominantly the thick of the action is found right in the heart of New Orleans. Held mid to late February, the festival is family-friendly fun that runs for about two weeks. Parades happen each day making the French Quarter even more lively than usual. The most elaborate and entertaining parades are generally reserved for the last five days. But be sure to book accommodation well in advance. New Orleans also hosts other large festivals through the year such as St Patrick’s Day and a multitude of Jazz events.
Another famous landmark of the city is the New Orleans St Louis Cemetery. Known as the City of the Dead, the site has upwards of 100,000 visitors each year. Due to vandalism over the years it is now only accessible via guided tours. Gifting Owl offers several tour options to this unique and fascinating graveyard. Why so popular and why so unusual? Firstly, it has some interesting characters who call this final resting place home, such as Marie Laveaux, who is the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans and Paul Morphy who was the world's best chess player. Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage has already purchased his own pyramid-shaped grave for when his time comes. But probably the most unusual reason that this cemetery is so distinctive is that St Louis cemeteries gravesites are all above ground due to the water table being very high under New Orleans, meaning only a few feet under the surface you are met with soggy muddy water, making burials almost impossible.
New Orleans is a close and well-coordinated city. You can explore a lot of it on foot or rent a bike if you’re feeling adventurous as it’s quite a flat and easy to get around. You can opt to use a variety of public transport options too, including buses, taxis, Lyft and Uber. However, we recommend stepping back in time and experiencing a piece of New Orleans history by catching a city streetcar around town. This mode of transport, also commonly known as trams or trolleys, is a must-do experience. One particular line, the Charles Avenue Line, is the oldest running city streetcar line in the world still in operation. On average, New Orleans streetcars carry nearly 22,000 people around this bustling city per day.
If you feel like taking a break from the hustle and bustle of New Orleans City, then experience one of Gifting Owl’s popular Louisiana Swamp Tours. Offering return transfers from city hotels, allow yourself to get back to nature and experience some world-class swamps. Spend a few hours or a whole day in high-class canoes and kayaks as you navigate your way around this extraordinary habitat. Keep your eyes out for local wildlife such as alligators, birds, otters, wild pigs and turtles.
With so much of New Orleans oozing history and amazing architecture, Gifting Owl has plenty of photography tours. Try something new, hone your skills or give the gift of a photographic experience that will focus on the famous and beautiful places around the city. Who knows, the next canvas you hang at home could be a picture you took yourself!
New Orleans is such a memorable American city. There are not too many destinations that combine so much educational history and enthusiastic entertainment firmly embedded in their culture. There truly are many reasons why one visit to New Orleans will never be enough, whether it be the cuisine, the history or the infectious jazz music. There are plenty more adventures to be had. Allow Gifting Owl to show you the best of the best.
