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Post by juanita on Mar 17, 2024 16:28:20 GMT
Looking for some ideas for things to do and see in NOLA.
We will be there for 4 days, so far I have a cooking class booked and a walking tour.
Thanks in advance
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Post by katlady on Mar 17, 2024 16:37:23 GMT
When we went to New Orleans we went on a plantation tour. We also took a swamp tour. We were hoping to see alligators, but we went in the winter and it was cold, so we didn’t see any. I was hoping to do a cemetery tour, but we didn’t get around to it.
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Post by christine58 on Mar 17, 2024 16:38:53 GMT
Steamboat up the Mississippi
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Post by cadoodlebug on Mar 17, 2024 17:06:15 GMT
WWII Museum. Fabulous! The welcome movie is narrated by Tom Hanks. We were there for 4 hours but could have stayed all day.
I don't know when you're going but I suggest getting reservations immediately for lunch at Commander's Palace.
Take the trolley car up St. Charles. We were staying on St. Charles and a stop was right by our hotel. We would get off occasionally and walk around the Garden District. We sat on a bench in City Park then walked all the way back to our hotel.
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Post by GamGam on Mar 17, 2024 17:56:03 GMT
WWII Museum. Fabulous! The welcome movie is narrated by Tom Hanks. We were there for 4 hours but could have stayed all day. Our experience exactly!!!
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Post by stormsts on Mar 17, 2024 19:00:01 GMT
I loved the Garden District Tour. I make reservation for Commander's Palace every time I am in NOLA. The Court of Two Sisters is also a a great place to eat.
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Post by dewryce on Mar 17, 2024 19:24:49 GMT
That cooking class sounds awesome; we’d love to do that now but weren’t into cooking as much last time we went. Definitely report back and let us know how you liked it! We really enjoyed the aquarium. Walking around the French Quarter and visiting Cafe du Monde, as a tourist must do. Take the time to enjoy the various performers and artists. Great experience seeing an NFL game. If you like to gamble and don’t have the opportunity at home that could be fun at night. Live music. Wish we had taken a ghost/cemetery tour.
My husband’s favorite Cajun restaurant is an hour or hour and a half away, Mary Mahoney’s in Biloxi. We’ll be stopping by on our way back from Florida this summer, and will be bringing their gumbo home with us. Have fun!
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Post by juanita on Mar 17, 2024 19:42:58 GMT
Thank you so much.
Added these all to our list and made a reservation for brunch at The Court of Two Sisters.
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Post by juanita on Mar 17, 2024 19:45:58 GMT
That cooking class sounds awesome; we’d love to do that now but weren’t into cooking as much last time we went. Definitely report back and let us know how you liked it! We really enjoyed the aquarium. Walking around the French Quarter and visiting Cafe du Monde, as a tourist must do. Take the time to enjoy the various performers and artists. Great experience seeing an NFL game. If you like to gamble and don’t have the opportunity at home that could be fun at night. Live music. Wish we had taken a ghost/cemetery tour. My husband’s favorite Cajun restaurant is an hour or hour and a half away, Mary Mahoney’s in Biloxi. We’ll be stopping by on our way back from Florida this summer, and will be bringing their gumbo home with us. Have fun! We will be staying in Biloxi on our way to Laurel MS after NO so I will look that restaurant up. We took a cooking class in Thailand a few years ago and I really enjoyed it. DH has discovered that he loves gumbo so that is what I am interested in learning to make.
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Post by melanieg on Mar 17, 2024 19:46:48 GMT
Freetoursbyfoot.com You just pay what you feel at the end as a tip. Tours are led by locals. We did 4 of them when we were down there. All were awesome.
French quarter Garden district Voodoo Food tour
We also did a plantation tour to Oak Alley and Laura.
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Post by dewryce on Mar 17, 2024 20:04:25 GMT
That cooking class sounds awesome; we’d love to do that now but weren’t into cooking as much last time we went. Definitely report back and let us know how you liked it! We really enjoyed the aquarium. Walking around the French Quarter and visiting Cafe du Monde, as a tourist must do. Take the time to enjoy the various performers and artists. Great experience seeing an NFL game. If you like to gamble and don’t have the opportunity at home that could be fun at night. Live music. Wish we had taken a ghost/cemetery tour. My husband’s favorite Cajun restaurant is an hour or hour and a half away, Mary Mahoney’s in Biloxi. We’ll be stopping by on our way back from Florida this summer, and will be bringing their gumbo home with us. Have fun! We will be staying in Biloxi on our way to Laurel MS after NO so I will look that restaurant up. We took a cooking class in Thailand a few years ago and I really enjoyed it. DH has discovered that he loves gumbo so that is what I am interested in learning to make. I highly recommend it, this will be our 3rd stop I think. It’s homed in a lovely building as well. Be aware, they’re closed Sundays and only open for lunch for a few hours. Originally we planned on staying at Beau Rivage and having dinner at Mary Mahoney’s but we added the Kennedy Space Center to our itinerary and so lost a day. We were willing to miss out on the gambling, but not Mary Mahoney’s so we rearranged when we headed back so we could stop and have lunch there, even though it means traveling a lot longer in one day And, if you don’t make it there they will ship the gumbo to you. I’ve done that for DH’s birthday, and froze it in individual portions for him. Also, we got their cookbook which included the recipe. I’m happy to snap a photo for you. I’m not a fan of Cajun food, too spicy for me because I’m a wuss, but I’ve loved what I had each time I was there. Mary Mahoney’s You’ve reminded me that when we go somewhere with specific regional food we want to take cooking lessons, I will have to remember to keep that in mind on top of trying out great examples of regional food!
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Post by simplysharon on Mar 17, 2024 20:33:33 GMT
What time of year are you visiting?
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Post by cadoodlebug on Mar 17, 2024 21:13:55 GMT
I can send you my gumbo recipe if you like. I make it many times during the winter and freeze it for future dinners. Interestingly, when we were in NOLA for my 50th HS reunion, DH ordered some gumbo but said he likes mine better. It's what you get used to. Same with my pralines.
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Post by juanita on Mar 17, 2024 21:18:51 GMT
What time of year are you visiting? We are there from April 7-11
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Post by juanita on Mar 17, 2024 21:19:32 GMT
I can send you my gumbo recipe if you like. I make it many times during the winter and freeze it for future dinners. Interestingly, when we were in NOLA for my 50th HS reunion, DH ordered some gumbo but said he likes mine better. It's what you get used to. Same with my pralines. I would love that
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Post by cadoodlebug on Mar 17, 2024 21:54:54 GMT
I can send you my gumbo recipe if you like. I make it many times during the winter and freeze it for future dinners. Interestingly, when we were in NOLA for my 50th HS reunion, DH ordered some gumbo but said he likes mine better. It's what you get used to. Same with my pralines. I would love that I sent you the recipe in a PM. Let me know if you have any questions.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Mar 17, 2024 21:55:32 GMT
What time of year are you visiting? We are there from April 7-11 Perfect! It should be very nice weather for you.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,119
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Mar 17, 2024 23:18:59 GMT
When we went to New Orleans we went on a plantation tour. We also took a swamp tour. We were hoping to see alligators, but we went in the winter and it was cold, so we didn’t see any. I was hoping to do a cemetery tour, but we didn’t get around to it. We did both of these things in Mid March...and saw BIG gators. Really enjoyed the air boat tour! Steamboat up the Mississippi We enjoyed this also, but it is a bit of a 'slow' day. Not that it is bad, but it's a more sedate adventure. WWII Museum. Fabulous! The welcome movie is narrated by Tom Hanks. We were there for 4 hours but could have stayed all day. Excellent museum! And we have been to a lot of War museums. Top notch. We also went to the Confederate museum which is very close by. It was quite interesting, and my Great grandfather was a Union soldier. Kind of interesting to see 'the other side' ... We enjoyed the trolley cars. You can buy a day pass for very little $$ and you can hop on and off. We rode one out to the cemeteries and walked around a bit.
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Post by katlady on Mar 17, 2024 23:45:29 GMT
When we went to New Orleans we went on a plantation tour. We also took a swamp tour. We were hoping to see alligators, but we went in the winter and it was cold, so we didn’t see any. I was hoping to do a cemetery tour, but we didn’t get around to it. We did both of these things in Mid March...and saw BIG gators. Really enjoyed the air boat tour! We went in late December, it was so cold even the water fountains iced over. The boat guy though knew we probably wouldn't see any gators, so he had a baby gator with him aboard the boat. Kids loved that though because they got to pet it. I wish we had seen big ones in the water. Would have been cool.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,119
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Mar 17, 2024 23:51:17 GMT
I wish we had seen big ones in the water. Would have been cool. I was actually a little nervous with how close we were and how HUGE that gator was. Even my unflappable husband was a bit iffy! LOL That would be the Iowa in us. He can go give his favorite 2000 pound bull a nice back scratch - but that gator was a bit off putting!
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Mar 18, 2024 0:49:12 GMT
Lots of good suggestions. I also enjoy just walking around the French Quarter and stopping in stores that look interesting. We always leave a morning for the French Market and some time to wander down Royal St.
Also, the MS Gulf Coast is where I grew up, and we end up in Laurel at least once a month when we go to “the country.”
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Post by zuke on Mar 18, 2024 12:32:00 GMT
We did 2 cooking classes, on 2 different trips, about 10-12 years ago, at the New Orleans School of Cooking. My entire family loved it! The chefs tell stories, experiences, about the food and recipes etc. To this day, everyone of us (6) still use the recipes from those classes. We even have quart size containers of their seasoning, Joes Stuff. Delicious!!! Our son was the Katrina graduating class at Tulane Univ. We went on a tour of NOLA that showed the good and the bad of Katrina. I say the good because the locals are so proud, gracious and thankful for life. It was very inspiring. The cemetery tour part was VERY interesting!!! We stay away from touristy restaurants and tend to enjoy where the locals eat more. Our favorite is a place called The Parkway Bakery and Tavern. I had an awesome Shrimp Po Boy. It was overflowing with 23, YES 23, succulent large shrimp. I had to count them! The plate was covered with shrimp! The bread/roll was delicious as well!!! That's our Go To place to eat!!! New Orleans School of Cooking
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Post by juanita on Mar 18, 2024 12:59:28 GMT
We did 2 cooking classes, on 2 different trips, about 10-12 years ago, at the New Orleans School of Cooking. My entire family loved it! The chefs tell stories, experiences, about the food and recipes etc. To this day, everyone of us (6) still use the recipes from those classes. We even have quart size containers of their seasoning, Joes Stuff. Delicious!!! Our son was the Katrina graduating class at Tulane Univ. We went on a tour of NOLA that showed the good and the bad of Katrina. I say the good because the locals are so proud, gracious and thankful for life. It was very inspiring. The cemetery tour part was VERY interesting!!! We stay away from touristy restaurants and tend to enjoy where the locals eat more. Our favorite is a place called The Parkway Bakery and Tavern. I had an awesome Shrimp Po Boy. It was overflowing with 23, YES 23, succulent large shrimp. I had to count them! The plate was covered with shrimp! The bread/roll was delicious as well!!! That's our Go To place to eat!!! New Orleans School of CookingThat is who I booked my cooking class with.
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Post by juanita on Mar 18, 2024 13:02:04 GMT
Lots of good suggestions. I also enjoy just walking around the French Quarter and stopping in stores that look interesting. We always leave a morning for the French Market and some time to wander down Royal St. Also, the MS Gulf Coast is where I grew up, and we end up in Laurel at least once a month when we go to “the country.” Can you recommend anything for the MS Gulf Coast? We will be there for three days before heading to Laurel. We travel in our camper van for 6 months and are on our way back to Canada with a stop in Laurel, watched alot of Home Town during Covid so we need to check it out.
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Post by workingclassdog on Mar 18, 2024 13:14:43 GMT
I went years ago and had a couple of dinners at Deanie's. OMG I still can remember my dinners there.. so so so good. I even ate at Emeril's restaurant NOLAs and Deanie's is what sticks in my head. deanies.com/restaurants/french-quarter-private-dining/This is what I ordered twice..haha.. CRABMEAT AU GRATIN Fresh lump crabmeat baked into our creamy four-cheese blend. Served with salad and French bread. It's such a fun place.. went to a cemetery, swamp tour, beignets, antique stores on Royal, Bourbon Street, 12 Oaks Plantation..
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Post by peano on Mar 18, 2024 13:26:45 GMT
New Orleans is not just food. Great music too. Preservation Hall is a classic, as is Tipitina’s, or you might want to try the latest and greatest. Ask your concierge. One night while we were waiting to get into a restaurant, a couple of players just started playing on a street corner nearby, and they were excellent.
But for food, muffuletta at Central Grocery.
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Post by kmcginn on Mar 18, 2024 14:12:27 GMT
You have some great ideas here. All the ones I would have suggested, being a native. Definitely the WWII museum, and Commander's Palace. Since you'll be on the MS Coast for a few days, Mary Mahoneys should be on your list, but don't skip Commander's for it. Good but not nearly as good as our restaurants in NOLA!
Ocean Springs is a great little town to walk through as well.
Have fun. The weather should cooperate in April, so it should be nice.
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Post by cadoodlebug on Mar 18, 2024 17:19:37 GMT
Another thing to try for an informal lunch: a roast beef poboy, dressed! It should be slightly dripping gravy and, to this day, after moving to CA from Louisiana 40 years ago, my mouth still waters for one.
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Post by smasonnc on Mar 18, 2024 18:42:24 GMT
We go to Jazzfest every year. First stop, Steamboat Natchez Evening Jazz Cruise, top deck. (Skip the dinner part.) We like to go to Bamboula's on Frenchman's Street or Tipatina's for music. We stay off Bourbon Street except for Fritzel's, Maison Bourbon, and wherever Marty Peters is playing. We've been to Preservation Hall, and it's good but they herd you in, play for one hour, then herd you out. There are other more relaxed music experiences everywhere. We also like Acme Oyster House or similar for grilled oysters, but that might not be your thing. Commander's Palace is nice but keep in mind, there's a dress code. I always bring something nice. The cemeteries with above-ground tombs are really cool. Marty Peters & the Party Meters
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Post by simplysharon on Mar 18, 2024 21:54:03 GMT
Since you are visiting in April, I recommend Audubon zoo and park. It should be lovely that time of year. Not sure if it has been mentioned but I always recommend a visit to The St. Louis Cathedral and beignets and coffee at Cafe Du Monde. Not an elegant place like Commander's Palace but the best thin fried catfish is at Middendorf's in Manchac.
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