Planning Your Trip to New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana

A city brimming with life. Streets full of trademark Spanish architecture, jazz musicians and restaurants serving traditional Cajun and Creole cuisine. The broad Mississippi river and a sometimes surprising hinterland. This is New Orleans, a place that everyone has heard about but which has to be seen to be believed. Here are my recommendations for planning your trip to New Orleans.

But first, why visit New Orleans? For many visitors the main attraction is the French Quarter with its wrought iron balconies and numerous shops and restaurants. But outside the French Quarter are different districts to explore, with parks, museums, and – of course – the famous Mississippi river.

Venture a short way outside the city and you’ll enter plantation country. Here you’ll find historic sites and a distinctive landscape. And a little further afield are the lesser known cities of southern Louisiana where you can experience southern charm without the tourist crowds.

Although it is almost twenty years since Hurricane Katrina, the devastation caused is still visible in places. However, although you may occasionally find yourself walking across a building site, the city has made a substantial recovery. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).