Visit New Orleans

Visit New Orleans
Name	New Orleans
Nickname	"The Big Easy"
State	Louisiana
Founded	1718
Population	389617
Area	169.42 km²
Coords	29.9511°N 90.0715°W

Visit New Orleans New Orleans is a port city in southeastern Louisiana celebrated for its multicultural heritage, historic architecture, and vibrant performing arts scene. Founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and shaped by French colonial empire, Spanish Empire, Creole people, and African diaspora influences, the city is a nexus for travelers seeking Jazz roots, culinary innovation, and annual spectacles like Mardi Gras. Its unique urban fabric includes landmarks such as the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and the Mississippi River waterfront.

Overview

New Orleans anchors Orleans Parish and the New Orleans metropolitan area, linking to regional hubs such as Metairie, Kenner, and Slidell. The city's heritage preserves sites tied to the Louisiana Purchase era and institutions like the Historic New Orleans Collection and New Orleans Museum of Art. Preservation efforts engage organizations including the Vieux Carré Commission and the National Park Service at the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The municipal skyline intermingles with green spaces like City Park and industrial corridors along the Port of New Orleans.

Getting There and Transportation

Most visitors arrive via Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, served by carriers such as Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines with connections to hubs like Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Ground access includes Interstate corridors Interstate 10 and Interstate 610, linking to regional routes toward Baton Rouge and Gulfport, Mississippi. Within the city, transportation modes include the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority buses, the historic St. Charles Streetcar line, ferries across the Mississippi River operated by the Algiers Point Ferry, and rideshare services including Uber and Lyft. Long-distance rail service formerly provided by Amtrak connects via the City of New Orleans route to Chicago and Jackson, Mississippi.

Neighborhoods and Attractions

The French Quarter anchors tourist itineraries with sites like Bourbon Street, Royal Street, and St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square. Adjacent neighborhoods include the arts-rich Warehouse District (home to the National WWII Museum and Ogden Museum of Southern Art), the Garden District with mansions along St. Charles Avenue and cemeteries such as Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, and the cosmopolitan Uptown New Orleans corridor. Music venues proliferate in Faubourg Marigny and Bywater near Frenchmen Street; outdoor attractions include the Mississippi Riverfront and the botanical collections of Longue Vue House and Gardens. For nature and history, visitors explore Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge and the HoMA collections at Newcomb Art Museum.

Food, Music, and Culture

New Orleans cuisine synthesizes Creole cuisine and Cajun cuisine traditions found in dishes at establishments like Antoine's Restaurant, Dooky Chase's Restaurant, and Café du Monde. Signature foods include gumbo, jambalaya, po' boy, beignets, and oysters harvested near Plaquemines Parish. The city's musical lineage features Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Professor Longhair, and contemporary performers at venues such as Preservation Hall and Tipitina's. Cultural institutions include the New Orleans Ballet Association, the New Orleans Opera Association, and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum; street culture expresses itself in Second line parades led by social aid and pleasure clubs like the Zulus and Mambo Brass Band.

Events and Festivals

Flagship events include Mardi Gras parades organized by mystic krewe societies like Krewe of Endymion and Krewe of Rex, drawing revelers to Canal Street and the French Quarter. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest) showcases artists on stages in Fair Grounds Race Course and features vendors from Treme. Seasonal highlights span the Satchmo SummerFest, the Voodoo Music + Arts Experience at City Park, and neighborhood festivals such as the French Quarter Festival and the Essence Festival in Mercedes-Benz Superdome environs. Historic commemorations include Jazz Fest tributes to Fats Domino and civic observances at Lafayette Square.

Accommodation and Practical Information

Accommodation ranges from historic inns in the French Quarter and boutique hotels in the Garden District to convention hotels near the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, serviced by organizations like the New Orleans & Company tourism bureau. Visitors should review seasonal weather patterns influenced by the Gulf of Mexico and hurricane season protocols administered by Federal Emergency Management Agency and City of New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. For health and safety, local hospitals include Ochsner Medical Center and University Medical Center New Orleans. Travelers can consult visitor guides from Louisiana Office of Tourism and maps by New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Category:Tourism in New Orleans