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Hman144
4/16/2018 2:36pm
4/16/2018 2:36pm
My family is thinking about a summer vacation trip with a stop in N'Orlins this year since my daughter is a music major and wants to go somewhere with a serious jazz scene.
There's five of us, the youngest being 14.
We'll likely have about 3-4 days there. Not really interested in doing regular touristy stuff like carriage rides and bus tours through the french quarter. But would like to see some of the more interesting local sites and take in some of the culture.
Any advice from those who know?
Finally, will Aaron Plessinger be there?
Thanks.
There's five of us, the youngest being 14.
We'll likely have about 3-4 days there. Not really interested in doing regular touristy stuff like carriage rides and bus tours through the french quarter. But would like to see some of the more interesting local sites and take in some of the culture.
Any advice from those who know?
Finally, will Aaron Plessinger be there?
Thanks.
Things to see that aren't on the normal tours.. umm New Orleans East is like a time capsule from 2006 and Katrina. Run down, still half flooded. The abandon 6 Flags is a sight. Traveling up 90 around the edge of NO East is cool. Tons of houses on stilts and travel through the bayou. Really gives you a sense of rich versus the poor because you have some amazing weekend getaways put 30 feet in the air on stilts surrounded by people who live in tents on their lots.
If you head in the opposite direction (west out of NO on 10) you go over the spillway. It's wild because the area isn't always flooded. It's like they released a mass of water into open fields with trees and fences still standing. Continuing that way it's worth your time to see the Houmas House plantation and surrounding area. It's a big spot for Shell and chemical processing. Take 44 off I-10 and to at least 70. Tons of money in the area and heavy industry. It's a massive coal export area. The only half ass moto track is in this area too. If you bring the bike look up Z-Mans MX.
If you're into space at all 30 minutes from NO is the NASA Infinity center just across the state line in MS. Another 30 minutes east of that is the Bay of St Louis, which is an awesome beach front drive. Not quite Coco Beach in Florida but it's as nice as the Gulf can offer.
Beyond that just take in the local sites, thats what they're for. Have some beignets from either Cafe Du Monde or Cafe Beignet, eat breakfast at Brennen's, take the steam boat buffet trip, visit the WWII museum, of course the above ground cemeteries are cool. But don't breath too deep, that rank smell is piss on the sidewalks.
And....as mentioned above....don't stray too far off main roads....it can get SUPER SKETCHY AND DANGEROUS....no lie..
As far as a music scene goes, we've visited towns like Memphis/Nashville, where there's music everywhere- cafes, street performers, formal venues, etc. Can we expect to catch similar in the French Quarter?
The Shop
Hope you have a great time!
If your craving Cajun, look no further than Papa Boudreaux's, south of Leiper's Fork and near The Trace. (http://www.papaboudreauxscajun.com/). It's better than 99% of what you will find in N'awlins.
As noted above, New Orleans has two zones: tourist, and criminal. While both elements have existed for many years, Katrina's aftershocks still reverberate, and it's reflected in the crime rates.
Stayed at a nice B&B in rye Garden District and listened to the owner say we can walk to catch the trolley/bus and go downtown to Bourbon Street, French Quarter etc.
On our way home that night we encountered some scary individuals and could not get to our residence fast enough.
Bourbon street smelled like a mix of liquor and vomit. Highly suggest steering clear of that shithole. French Quarter was worth seeing but very touristy. We did not know our way around and really feel like we missed out on the good places for music. Seems like the only places we were directed was where they wanted us tourist to go to.
Saw some interesting areas where you could see the flood line above well our heads that were still there a few years ago....creepy.
I do want to go back someday with better guidance on what to see. It is a interesting place but I would not want to be there more than a couple days/nights. Seemed pretty trashy from my first impression
Oh and steer clear of the Pat O' Brian's and their pure sugar/premix Hurricanes. It's a novelty drink that tastes like shit. The smaller local bars on Frenchmen St. make real hurricanes with good liquor, but if you can handle real drinks, check out the carousel bar in Hotel Montelone for some true New Orleans cocktails such as the Sazerac or Vieux Carre.
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