New Orleans virgin...advice?

[evnash]

My GF and I are planning our first New Orleans trip. We will be going the weekend after Thanksgiving. We will be taking a train into town so we will have no car to worry about but also no transportation. I need some advice on where to stay, what to do, where to eat, etc.

And for the record we arent big bar goers so i would also like to know about tours and sights and whatnot.

any experts out there? thanks guys.

[mikejet]

lose your virginity...

[Uniquely]

The Audobon Zoo is one of my very favorite zoos!

Some sites to hit up that are all within walking distance of the quarter are

The Jackson Brewery
The Riverwalk
The Aquarium of the America's (which also has a steamboat that you can take from there to the Audobon Zoo!)
The French Market is a great flea market.
Be sure to get some beignets and coffee at the Cafe Dumond (sp?)
Tons of little shops of all types, from the tons of obligatory gift shops, to some nice little art galleries, to some pretty off the wall shops.

Take a carriage tour of the quarter... learn some interesting history... and the donkeys are great

It's hard to go wrong with restaraunts in New Orleans... so many really great ones. The Court of Two Sisters is one of my very favorites though.

Hotels... there are several throughout the quarter. Just check online for your price range. Most have a balcony side that faces the street, or a courtyard side that faces the inner courtyard. Be sure to ask for a courtyard facing room, to avoid the street noise (unless you just really want a balcony to people watch which can be fun too.)

But definately... if you like animals at all... set aside a day to do the Aquarium/Zoo package. There is also an Imax at the aquarium.

[LeAnn]

You must go to the place called Central Grocery, they have Mufalletas there that are to die for.
Central Grocery
923 Decatur St. , New Orleans, LA 70116 [Map It]
(504) 523-1620
Neighborhood: French Quarter
Restaurant/Cuisine Type(s): Grocery/Deli, Sandwiches/Po-Boys
Attire: Casual
Price Range: Under $12
Open For: Lunch, Dinner (Call ahead for hours)
Description: Home to the original muffaletta! The Grocery makes several varieties, including a veggie version.

I stayed in the Sheraton there off Bourbon, and it was really nice.

Really romantic was this place Court of Two Sisters:
http://www.courtoftwosisters.com/


They have like a buffet you can eat from, BUT they have live musicians, there is a place to eat outside under beautiful overhanging plants.

Mr. B's Bistro was also really good. Its a nicer restaurant, but while i was there random people got up and went to play the instruments, beautiful.
http://www.mrbsbistro.com/index2.php

I never actually made it to this place because the line was too long BUT:
Cafe Du Monde
800 Decatur St., New Orleans, LA 70116 [Map It]
(504) 581-2914
Neighborhood: French Quarter
Restaurant/Cuisine Type(s): Coffeehouse/Cafe
Attire: Casual
Price Range: Under $12
Open For: Breakfast, Late Night (Call ahead for hours)
Description: Since 1862 this has been the original French Market coffee stand serving cafe au lait and beignets. A New Orleans landmark, located directly across from Jackson Square and the Pontalba apartments, Cafe du Monde offers the original beignet, the state doughnut of Louisiana. Coffee and chicory is a New Orleans favorite, served mixed half and half with hot milk as cafe au lait.Other locations at the Riverwalk, New Orleans Centre, Oakwood Mall, Lakeside Mall and Esplanade Mall. Mail order available toll free at (800) 772- 2927.

There is a restaurante near the Old Absinthe House, it is on the second floor. You have to go into the bar, go up the stairs to get there... if you ask locals they will know.

As far as sites, the aquarium was nice, the casino was lovely and is a nightclub as well... but you dont have to go into the nightclub part, nice to see though.

[tommyboy81]

Don't know much about the place so I would say o where Robin says go. I'm wondering at what percent is New Orleans back up and running?

[Teabaggins]

no transport?

then you must stay in the french quarter, you can walk everywhere and take the street car to the zoo and other places.

not big bar people? why come to Nola then...jk. Many of the bars have live music every night and serve food as well so that is good reason to visit them even if you are not an alcoholic.

lots of great restaurants right in the quarter itself, some of the best cheaper ones are dives a few streets off of Bourbon.

Try Coops(dive place) for the mushrooms and great daily specials. For a mid level restaurant the Red Fish grill is pretty good. Have some beignets and cage au lait at Cafe Du Monde for breakfast. Emeril has a place in the quarter as well if you want to eat there for the sake of doing it.

once you are here the hotel will have many brochures of things you can do as well. you could take a swamp tour, french quarter has a haunted tour, lots of cheesy touristy stuff like that to do if you want to. Visit the french market under the tents during the day.

relax and drink more than you normally would.

[LeAnn]

OH, and if you or your gf like masks, there are a lot of hand painted masks by artists. and you should know, the prices are VERY negotiable. BUT make sure you wander around. I found some really great ones that adorn my walls now.

Have fun!!! The food is really great, and dont be afraid to try something new. I had the best rabbit there ever.

[Teabaggins]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

Don't know much about the place so I would say o where Robin says go. I'm wondering at what percent is New Orleans back up and running?

all the good parts are fine, only some of the neighborhoods are still messed up. I live 40 minutes form new orleans btw.

they also have some casinos if you want to gamble

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

Don't know much about the place so I would say o where Robin says go. I'm wondering at what percent is New Orleans back up and running?

Pretty much back to 100%. The French Quarter went largely untouched. The Aquarium lost many animals due to power outage, but I believe it is fully stocked again.

[Teabaggins]

I don't typically stay overnight in the quarter but last time I did was at the Astor Crowne, the back exit opens on Bourbon st.

Decent enough place

[tommyboy81]

Oh ok. Unless I missed it on the news I never really heard anything about it. Seems like they left the story alone when they started to get things back up and running. Like it's not a disaster zone anymore so lets go to another story.

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by Teabaggins

I don't typically stay overnight in the quarter but last time I did was at the Astor Crowne, the back exit opens on Bourbon st.

Decent enough place

What is the greasy spoon on Bourbon down by the gay bars that cooks their burgers under a hubcap? Those burgers are AWESOME! They also showed that place on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives one time.

[Uniquely]

I have a really great New Orleans story. My best friend and I went there on a graduation trip, straight out of high school. We were walking down Bourbon St and stopped to play the pea/shell game with a hustler. During the day he was just taking little 2-5 dollar bets. A cop started coming, and my friend warned they guy (even though he just took our money) and he covered his game up with a newspaper. He thought that was kinda cool I guess.. but anyway we hung out with him the rest of the afternoon. We worked out a system with his game where he would tell us which shell it was under by the words he used. When he got a bit of a crowd around him (at night he didn't take less than a $20 bet) these two little young white obvious tourist girls would come up and WIN! Everyone watching would be like "oh it's legit" and they'd bet and lose. He split his winnings with us three ways. We left New Orleans with more cash than we went with and we had a GREAT time!

[Teabaggins]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

What is the greasy spoon on Bourbon down by the gay bars that cooks their burgers under a hubcap? Those burgers are AWESOME! They also showed that place on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives one time.

the clover grill? I had a stripper take me and my then gf/now wife there after we spent all night at the Maiden Voyage back in college. I was passing out at the table

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by Teabaggins

the clover grill? I had a stripper take me and my then gf/now wife there after we spent all night at the Maiden Voyage back in college. I was passing out at the table

That's the one. Yeah... something about the way they just take this ball of meat and then throw it on the grill and cover it with a hubcap to steam a bit... and then smash it nice and flat. Awesome burger.

[Teabaggins]

Port of Call is a serious dive bar that probably has the best burger in the quarter, on Esplanade.

[sfmarine]

I seriously thought this was a brothel question lol. 'Ol Benjamin Button loved New Orleans!

[ludawg23]

I love New Orleans...going back again in December.

Acme is a must...great oyster house. Gotta try the oyster shooters

Coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde

Gotta try the crawfish as well, it's a must.

Harrah's casino, the aquarium, Bourbon Street, plenty of strip clubs (if you and the gf are into that type of thing)

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by ludawg23

plenty of strip clubs (if you and the gf are into that type of thing)

Be aware that many of the strippers on Bourbon St are not actually female. It's amazing what can be done with hormones and duct tape.

[JasonR]

All the above mentioned are great. You said tours so I will mention the graveyard tours, swamp tours, French Quarter carriage tour, and plantation tours(Oak Alley is a must). I love New Orleans and can't wait to go back!!! As said above, Cafe Du Monde for Breakfast and Acme for lunch. LOTS of great restraunts for supper. Make sure you spend plenty of time in the Quarter and check out The Saint Louis Cathedral. I went via air and had no problem making it around without a car, you might need to spring for the occasional cab though.