Choose from 59 Fun Things to Do in Louisiana
Oak Alley Plantation
- Oak Alley Plantation is located in the town of Vacherie, about 54 miles (87 kilometers) west of New Orleans.
- Summertime visitors should dress in light clothing with plenty of sun protection for the strong heat.
- Tours can run anywhere from four to nine hours long, depending on whether you combine Oak Alley with other nearby attractions in Cajun Country.
New Orleans Cruise Port
The French Quarter is, of course, the main attraction, but if you’ve been there, done that, take a shore excursion into the countryside to see some of Louisiana’s grand plantation homes, or experience the swampy waterways on an airboat tour.
How to Get to New Orleans
You’ll dock downtown at either the Julia Street or Erato Street terminal. Both terminals are on the Riverfront Trolley Line, which will take you a mile up the Mississippi River to the French Quarter.
One Day in New Orleans
Before diving right into the liveliness (or downright madness, depending on when you’re there) of the French Quarter, start your day in New Orleans’ peaceful Audubon Park, 6 miles (10 km) west of the city center and home to the Audubon Zoo. Explore the park from the river up to St Charles Avenue, where you’ll begin heading east, back toward the city.
Go back to the 19th century as you walk along St Charles Avenue, known for its mansions and towering oak trees. When you get tired, hop on the St Charles Streetcar, which will take you all the way back to Canal Street on the edge of the French Quarter.
Spend the rest of your afternoon and evening in the French Quarter, snapping photos of the iconic wrought-iron architecture, admiring St Louis Cathedral, listening to jazz, drinking Hurricanes at establishments along Bourbon Street, and indulging in coffee and beignets at Café du Monde on Jackson Square.
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Preservation Hall
Located in the heart of New Orleans' famed French Quarter, Preservation Hall is home to the famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band and hosts a variety of the Big Easy's best jazz performers. Crowds pack this old time venue to relive the glory days of jazz and watch seasoned 70 and 80-year-old jazz veterans alongside upcoming musicians play some of that signature New Orleans sound.
Despite the dust and sweaty audience packed into this legendary hall, Preservation Hall is still the premiere place in New Orleans for live music. While you'll be surprised by the multitude of talented musicians on the street, there's nothing like hearing the Preservation Hall Band perform a New Orleans anthem, "When the Saints Go Marching In" in an setting small enough to hear that pure jazz sound perfectly without any sound equipment.
At Preservation Hall, the lines for shows are consistantly long, but once inside you can stay for multiple sets and work you're way up to one of the few benches available. All ages are welcome to experience New Orleans Jazz at Preservation Hall, and it promises to be the highlight of any trip to the Big Easy for jazz enthusiasts and rookies alike.
Lake Pontchartrain
- For a great photo opportunity, drive across the causeway at sunset when the lake reflects the colors in the sky to impressive effect.
- There’s a pleasant running/walking path that follows the route of Lakeshore Drive past the University of New Orleans.
- If you drive across the causeway, plan to stop off for a bite to eat at one of the pretty lakeside restaurants in the town of Madisonville along the North Shore.
Old Ursuline Convent
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Lafayette Cemetery
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New Orleans WWII Museum
- The museum is wheelchair accessible.
- Discounted admission tickets are available for children, seniors, students, and military personnel; WWII veterans can visit for free.
- The museum is very large, so plan the exhibits you want to see ahead of time to get the most out of your visit.
LaLaurie House
Once home to the wealthy socialite, slave-owner, and serial killer Marie Delphine LaLaurie (aka Madame LaLaurie), a fire in the late 1834 brought to light (quite literally) the skeletons in the LaLaurie’s closets. Seemingly supernatural stories of great horror were unearthed here, where the LaLauries committed acts of unspeakable brutality and torture upon their slaves. Iron collars, disfigurement, and other mechanisms of torture occurred here that were so gruesome that stories about them continue to this day.
During the fire, Madame LaLaurie fled, an enraged mob destroyed all but the very walls of the place, and later tenants (including Nicholas Cage) restored it. Today the house is occupied, though it is rumored to be the single most haunted spot in New Orleans. Any tour that visits the LaLaurie House and tells of the horror that occurred here will make you believe that this is true.
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Honey Island Swamp
- Honey Island Swamp is a must-visit for nature lovers, adventure travelers, and families.
- Swamp tours from New Orleans typically last between two and four hours.
- Don’t forget to bring protection against bugs; mosquitos love the swamps and bayous of Louisiana.
- Most tours are not wheelchair accessible.
Musical Legends Park
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New Orleans Museum of Art
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Tickets are $10 adults and $6 children.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
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New Orleans Superdome
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Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
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New Orleans City Park
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Napoleon House
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Lafayette Square
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Mississippi River
- Don’t forget your camera; the Mississippi River affords stellar views of the city’s skyline.
- Some of New Orleans’ riverboats are wheelchair accessible on certain decks.