New Orleans after Katrina

Hi

We are doing a road trip from Atlanta,Ga next may, down to Mobile along to Biloxi and Gulfport and Baton Rouge before heading north to Memphis.

We have been to the states many times but never done this neck of the woods.

A simple question, is New Orleans safe and is it worth coming in the wake of Katrina, has much changed, is it worth a day or so stopover on our trip.

I have no doubt it is fine but we always check with the locals first, it%26#39;s the sensible thing to do.

Also, any opinions on the other places would be welcome.

New Orleans after Katrina

To answer your simple question...YES...it is safe for tourists, it is worth visiting, much has definitely changed, and IMHO it is worthy of more than just a day stopover.

As a local, I would recommend staying at least 3-4 days to really enjoy the city. Not sure how long or what your plans are for the other cities, but my ';slightly biased'; opinion is that New Orleans is much more interesting than any of the other cities that you mentioned.

Be sure to read through this forum for posts from other visitors who shared your same concerns. You%26#39;ll also get ideas as to how to spend your time.

New Orleans after Katrina

Thanks caseyno, that%26#39;s pretty much what I thought a reply would be.

The other places are just passing through really, although we may stop over in Biloxi for a couple of days for the beach. So, it looks like we are heading for New Orleans after all, we will stay a few days, it%26#39;s likely we won%26#39;t go back that way again so we will make the most of it.

Once again, thanks for your reply, any idea%26#39;s what to see and do would be welcome.

I%26#39;m one of the posts who had serious concerns about safety and things being open, but we are now in the process of getting reservations for the French Quarter for next June! There are many posts assuring me that we should visit again, and we will. This has always been one of our favorite places. Don%26#39;t miss it!

I am convinced it%26#39;s fine for a go, especially the French Quarter. Still lots of damage in some areas of the city, but the FQ is the historic district of the city and where most visitors stay and visit.

We%26#39;ve been many times pre-Katrina, and it%26#39;s definitely worth several days if you can spare the time. We love the historic buildings and the food--don%26#39;t miss Deanie%26#39;s for seafood %26amp; Gumbo Shop for, well, gumbo, %26amp; bread pudding--these aren%26#39;t fancy or expensive places but have always been very good the times we were there. Also Cafe Dumond near the river for the beignets %26amp; coffee--just everyone goes there at least once. We usually stay a week and never get bored. There is a lot more to New Orleans than just Bourbon St. (fortunately, IMO.) :-)

Check on the condition of the beaches near Biloxi, and the city itself--they might still be in bad condition from the hurricane. Maybe you%26#39;ll get other replies from people who are more knowledgeable about the Biloxi area, as I%26#39;m not.

The Gulf beaches farther east in Alabama or Florida panhandle are absolutely beautiful but probably out of your way. Or were you even interested in the beaches?

I%26#39;ve been to Memphis only once. There%26#39;s lots of musical history there--Elvis (the King!) of course, and blues and rock %26amp; roll. I live near Atlanta, and like most large cities, there are good areas and awful areas. The traffic is heavy usually, but you can find some interesting things to do there. MLK Center, Stone Mountain, World of Coca-Cola, the new Georgia Aquarium, Fox Theatre, High Museum, etc. Six Flags if you like big amusement parks. Have not been to the other cities you mentioned, except for one brief stay in Mobile years ago.

All these places will be pretty warm (hot for UKers?) in May, BTW, but everything should be lovely and green.

I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll get lots of other posts that have more information.

i think you%26#39;ll like (most of) the people in the South--we%26#39;re mostly a very friendly lot. Enjoy your visit to the states!

Well, I just noticed in your reply to another post that you ARE interested in the beaches. (Me too--we%26#39;ll go there again the following summer after New Orleans!)

If you can possibly find the time, the Gulf beaches from the Gulf Shores, Alabama, area on to the Florida panhandle area (Pensacola Beach, Destin, etc.--and some smaller spots in between) to the east of Mobile are just absolutely gorgeous--probably some of the very prettiest in the entire US, definitely prettier than the Atlantic beaches IMO. Since you say you may not get back to this area of the US again, seeing one of these beaches is highly recommended. In May they won%26#39;t be nearly as crowded as in June %26amp; July and won%26#39;t take much of your time--unless you decide to spend more time there! They aren%26#39;t terribly far out of your planned route, so do consider seeing them even if you don%26#39;t spend more than a day.

They are just lovely and would add so much to your trip, a different slice of the US--pure white, soft sand and (usually) very clear blue-green water, usually calm and great for swimming. You won%26#39;t be sorry, I think. We%26#39;ve visited several of these many times and they are also some of our favorite places. (New Orleans and the Gulf beaches are the two areas we return to again and again and again.)

Pensacola Beach might be the fastest one to get to for your trip --I%26#39;m not sure. Gulf Shores, AL, is nearer in distance. I%26#39;ve never been to Pensacola Beach, but the beaches all along that area are all beautiful, I think. Destin and areas east would have more additional activites, maybe, but the beaches are the big draw here!

Don%26#39;t miss these! You will be so CLOSE to them!

Not to knock the other places you mentioned (I%26#39;m sure they have their own attaction), but these beautiful beaches and the French Quarter in New Orleans would be my personal picks for spending the most time, and they are two totally different experiences even though they aren%26#39;t that far apart geographically.

So many places, so little time. . .

Check out the forums for the areas you%26#39;re considering visiting--you%26#39;ll find lots of info. Have fun all along the way! Best wishes--

Hey moviemaker, my wife and I just returned last week along a similar route that you are looking to take and all is a oh k. If you have never seen Biloxi, get ready to see the rebuilding, 2 years after the hurricane they have finally started knocking down some of the ruined homes or rebuilding, but certainly give yourself some time to drive around and see the crazy power of Katrina especially along the coast. As for New Orleans, if you have never been it is absolute must........ The wife and I have been there 3 times since the hurricane, ranging from a week to 3 days and it has been amazing every single time... The city has an almost addictive nature to it. A friend of ours that we brought along this time is eager to return, he has even talk about moving down there, lol. As for safety, I personally have travelled many a place and along the main streets I have never felt safer, more relaxed or just happy to be anywhere than when I am there.... So have fun, take in the sight and enjoy the south, there is no place like it.

Busternfruss

Wow, what a reply.

Yes we will look at your idea%26#39;s and work round that.

As for Memphis, been there many times, I am a big fan of Elvis and I am hoping to see some Elvis stuff down in New Orleans.

Atlanta, been through it many times, even driven I-75N through rush hour. In fact we spent a day in Atlanta 3 months ago, CNN Etc...we wanted to go to world of coke but it was not open when we were there.

We are pretty much traveled in the south, Atlanta, Nashville, Pigeon Forge, Memphis, Tupelo,Ms but the gulf coast, Mobile, Baton Rouge, Biloxi will all be new for us and we are really looking forward to coming again.

So once again, thanks for your views. Say hi to Atlanta for us, we will be back there next may to start our road trip.

I am so thrilled to read what people from out of town have written about my beloved city. I was born and raised in New Orleans, and absolutely love it. We%26#39;re as close to a European city as you get in the U.S., and lovingly call ourselves the northern most city in the Caribbean, because we have plenty of island influences as well. Thus, of course I think we are a very worthwhile stop to make on your road trip.

New Orleans is safe, as long as you are aware of your surroundings. We%26#39;re just like any big city, we have concentrations of unsafe areas (generally, the poorer and/or less inhabited areas, because of drug-related crimes). The French Quarter is well patrolled, and the two main Uptown street - St. Charles Avenue and Magazine Street - are busy and safe pretty much all of the time.

You can easily stay in the French Quarter, and find amusement for days without ever getting in your car. However, I would definitely recommend a drive along Magazine Street - that%26#39;s where many of our amazing antique stores, funky shops, and lots of restaurants are located. St. Charles Avenue is our grand boulevard, filled with oak trees and gorgeous mansions. If you haven%26#39;t been here before, you won%26#39;t realize how bare the oak canopy is to us (the poor trees lost many limbs, but are still large and majestic).

Almost all of oour restaurants have opened back up (Mr. B%26#39;s, one of my personal favorites, only re-opened a month or so ago, though plenty have been open since early 2006). You definitely will not run out of places to eat!!

Thankfully, the Garden District was spared most of Katrina%26#39;s wrath, so you can enjoy taking a walking tour, or grab a book and be your own guide.

In summary, we are open for business, but we are definitely still in recovery mode. Katrina is still the main topic of conversation, residents are still living in trailers (I%26#39;m out of mine, whew, but there are several on my block), we%26#39;re tired and a bit crazy, but really, the storm didn%26#39;t do that to us.

Hi Onewiththefun

Thanks for your views, it really does help to read replies like these, it does put our mind at ease. Another thing is we would not want to tour around anywhere that folks are still struggling in, we would feel awkward and feel we were intruding. The main concern is that everyone is safe and rebuilding their lives, the last thing they would want is tourists hanging around.

Silly I know but we would not want to intrude. I think what I have read online, and reading posts on here, most folks are getting back to normal and the rebuilding is going to plan.

So gulf coast, here we come.

Nolachar

Thanks for your input. Reading all the posts, we are coming to NO, so get ready for 2 Brits next may:))

Thank you and take care. See y%26#39;all next may.

Oh, in response to your comment that you do not want to intrude - PLEASE DO INTRUDE! I promise you, many of us who have worked for the past two years to rebuilt our city are THRILLED (I know - all caps makes it seem like I am shouting, but I am fairly emphatic abou tthis) to see tourists. We welcome you. We might invite you in for a tour. There are bus tours through the neighborhoods even. We want you to come to town, have a lot of fun (spend a lot of money), feel carefree and fill up on our great food and music, but we are also very pleased when people take out a bit of time to see the devistation. There is still plenty to see, and I know much will remain in May 2008.