By now you know that the Big Easy is one of my favorite cities not only in the United States, but the entire world.  It is just one of those cities, like New York, Buenos Aires, and Bangkok, that just has that little something extra.  That energy that I love about certain cities; a feeling I get just by being there that is difficult to put into words.  Whatever that feeling is, New Orleans definitely has it.

I’ve now visited New Orleans five times over the past 11 years and gone through many of the stages of a New Orleans tourist.  Food is obviously a very important part of the New Orleans experience.  But what else is so great about New Orleans?  What is it that keeps bringing me back here again and again, with no urge to stop?

Live Music

Anyone who knows me and has been following this site for any length of time knows that live music is a passion of mine.  In fact, it’s what helped start my travel obsession.  The fact that NOLA is one of the best cities in the world for live music certainly factors in to my love for this city.  Live music can be found in so many places around the city, from clubs on Bourbon Street and around the French Quarter to musicians performing on the streets.

Frenchman Street- When we visited the Big Easy back in 2008 for my 30th birthday, we learned about Frenchman Street, which was right around the corner from the hotel we chose.  While some still dub it as where the locals go, many tourists have found out their little secret.  While this may take away some of the charm it once had, it doesn’t change the fact that Frenchman Street contains several blocks of top notch live music 7 nights a week.  Sure, it may not be that great secret that it once was for tourists, but wandering down the road any night of the week, you’re sure to find a plethora of great music to choose from.  Some places have covers, though many are only $5, while a good portion of the bars are free of charge.  For the quality of music these clubs put out on a nightly basis, it’s a bargain that’s hard to find anywhere.

Local Musicians- There are so many talented musicians in the New Orleans music scene, from blues to jazz to funk to everything else in between.  Find out the names of some of more popular local musicians, and you’re likely to find little local holes in the wall where they play on a weekly basis.  Kermit Ruffins was one of those musicians we had heard of before, but never seen, and a trip to his weekly Tuesday night shows at Bullet’s this past trip was a major, major highlight of our trip.  We got out of the French Quarter and downtown to a neighborhood bar to see some fantastic NOLA music.

The Maple Leaf- We have still yet to make it to the famed Maple Leaf uptown, but I’ve heard nothing but great things about this music venue located away from downtown and the Quarter.  Check out who’s playing when you’re in town.

Drinking

Whether you like it or not, boozing is just part of a trip to New Orleans.  Stage 1 and 2 tourists make this their priority, and while you certainly don’t have to spend your entire trip drinking yourself into a stupor, you certainly can.

Bourbon Street- For any first time visitor to NOLA, one of the first places to visit is the infamous Bourbon Street.  And while locals and seasoned New Orleans tourists may scoff at the mention of this street filled with debauchery, there’s a reason it’s packed 365 nights a year.  It’s just simply a fun time. Since I’ve now been to NOLA many times, I don’t have any interest in spending my entire trip on Bourbon, I still like to at least take a gander down the street and pop in and out of a few bars, having a hurricane, or a hand grenade, or a huge ass beer.

Outdoor Activities

Once you get those first two stages of being a New Orleans tourist out of your system, you may want to start looking for other things to do, particularly if you are traveling as a couple or family.

The Garden District

Less than a mile away from the chaos of the French Quarter, the Garden District is quieter, cleaner, nicer, and is a great place for those not in college or here solely for the partying.  This is where the famous New Orleans cemeteries are located, along with impressive mansions lining many of the blocks.  This is where our hotel was on this latest trip, and it was a very cool place to stay.  Simply driving, walking, or riding a bicycle around this area could keep you occupied for quite a while.  It’s a great place to wander and soak in a different part of the city, and one that’s easy to get to even if you’re staying in the Quarter.

Audubon Park

We had heard of Audubon Park before, but we never visited until this past time.  A massive, beautiful park located uptown (but still accessible via the St. Charles street car), Audubon Park is a great place to visit for an afternoon or two.  I suggest going to Cajun Seafood and getting yourself some steamed shrimp and crawfish and having yourself a New Orleans picnic.  There is also a zoo and golf course, and I highly suggest trying to find the Tree of Life, a popular wedding and hang out spot on the edge of the park near the river.  Something that made this park so perfectly New Orleans was laying on a blanket, reading our books, and hearing some music in the distance.  Shortly thereafter, a man just walking through the park came upon playing his violin, offering some nice, laid back music for everyone’s enjoyment.

Other Activities

Jackson Square- Walking around Jackson Square and checking out the artists, fortune tellers, and street musicians is always a fun time, especially for the kids.  With trees providing shade, it’s also a good place for a little picnic.

Louisiana State Museum- I’m not the biggest museum advocate around as they usually aren’t my thing, but this particular museum, located right on Jackson Square, has a fantastic exhibit going on until August of 2011.  There is a Before, During, and After Katrina exhibit going on right now that is absolutely fantastic.  It gives a great recap of this devastating hurricane and gets into the how’s and why’s of what happened that made everything worse.  A great way to spend a rainy or hot afternoon.

French Market- It’s certainly touristy, but the French Market, which houses both a flea market and farmer’s market, is a cool place to wander through, grab some treats, maybe a drink, and pick up some souvenirs for friends and family.