New Orleans must do-s

I am coming to New Orleans for a weekend in July with my boyfriend. We are in our late 20%26#39;s. I am wanting to spend time in the french quarter, do the french market, and get into some nice places where we can hear good jazz music and eat good food, but not too expensive. Any recommendations? We won%26#39;t have a car so it needs to be in walking distance from the FQ. Also, we want to take a swamp tour, any suggestions on which ones are best? What else must we do? Know anything about the mint or Mardi gras world? Worth doing? What is not an option after Katrina? Please let me know. We are up for partying but not of the all night bourbon street nature, though we will get a hurricane or two.

New Orleans must do-s

There are many previous posts answering all of your questions. Just do a quick search. if you are only staying a weekend you won%26#39;t have much time to do all things you mentioned.

New Orleans must do-s

where we can hear good jazz music ?

If you like the old style dixieland jazz, go to Preservation Hall in the FQ. I believe they start at 8 PM and cover is about $8.

If you like other jazz, go to Frenchmen Street which is right next (downriver) from the FQ. Go to Chartres St. and Frenchmen St. There are about 6 music clubs in 3 blocks. Some don%26#39;t have a cover but please tip the band.

good food, but not too expensive ?

Coop%26#39;s, Angeli and Fiorella%26#39;s (all are on Decatur St.). Napoleon House and Central Grocery for muffalettas. Johnny%26#39;s Po Boys, Cafe Du Monde, Croissant d%26#39;Or, La Peniche, Port of Call (great burgers and baked potato).

Also, we want to take a swamp tour, any suggestions on which ones are best?

Dr. Wagner%26#39;s Honey Island Swamp Tour in Slidell, LA.

The Old US mint is still closed per the LA State Musuem website but I read on NOLA.com that it will be used for the Satchmo Summerfest in August. A large portion of the copper roof was lost due to Katrina and is being repaired for $4 million.

I have not been to Mardi Gras World. It is easy to go there. Take the free Canal St. ferry across the Mississippi to Algiers. A Mardi Gras World shuttle will be waiting for you.

Some musuems are still closed: Old US Mint, Madame John%26#39;s Legacy, 1850 house.

The Cabildo and Presbytere are open and should not be missed. You can buy combo tickets. The Beauregard-Keyes house, the old Ursaline Convent are open and are right across Chartres St. from each other.

Maison Bourbon has jazz in the 500 block of Bourbon st. and Fritzels in the 700 block....CajunPride has a decent swamp tour...easier to take one more local to save using up so much time but Honey Island Swamp Tour is real good as the other poster mentioned. Mardi Gras world..take the ferry over, free shuttle to it...try costumes on..eat King Cake ..see them working on actual floats for next year..it is very nice..shuttle back to ferry picks up at the voodoo shop which is a trip in itself.

At Pat O%26#39;briens...be aware the Hurricanes price has the price of the glass in the fee..you head out the tour and end up tipping the guy a $1 to box it for you. Your evening will be interesting after two hurricanes.

Eat at Coop%26#39;s, Naoleon House and Mr. B%26#39;s.

Drink at Carousel Bar in the Monteleone, Jean Lafitte%26#39;s Blacksmith Shop, Tropical Isle and of course Pat O%26#39;s.

Do the Cemetery Tour, Haunted Tour or see the Garden District. Time permitting of course.

This is in addition to all the great ideas above.

Pat O%26#39;s is kind of a must-do. But I much prefer the Hurricanes at Carousel Lounge in the Monteleone and at Lafitte%26#39;s Blacksmith Shop. One is PLENTY.

Mardi Gras World is definately worth doing. Bring cameras and enjoy the fun props.

With no car, you%26#39;ll probably need to look for a Swamp Tour that has hotel pick-up.

High on our list next time we go is Donna%26#39;s Bar on Rampart for jazz and/or good eats. Preservation Hall is great.

Enjoy!

We took both swamp tour and Katrina tour from the Gray Line by the Jackson Brewery. Both tours were fine.

Definitely recommend to take some Katrina tour, since there is no sign of the devastation in the FQ or the CBD.

%26lt;%26lt;%26lt; Living in baltimore too Ksigns :)

If you don%26#39;t have your room booked you might want to make sure your hotel has a pool...........gonna be hot. You might want to see if Kermit Ruffins is playing any of the clubs on frenchmen st. that weekend.......he%26#39;s really great (trumpet player). Big Al Carson at the Funky Pirate on Bourbon St. is lots of fun and easy to find....no cover. Agree w/ another poster for Coops on Decater.....verrrry good food, seems very authentic and very reasonable. Also, the breakfast po-boys at Johhny%26#39;s are very good ( and filling, might cut into lunch). Have a great time!

Is the Honey Island swamp tour and cajun encounters the same tour? If not, which one is better or is it the same swamp?

ksigns1...Honey Island Swamp (Dr. Wagners) and Cajun Encounters are two very different companies. I highly reccommend the Honey Island Swamp Tour that originated with Dr. Wagner. You will get to see El Whoppo...immense 15 ft gator if he%26#39;s in the mood.

The grayline devastation tour is not allowed through most of the residential areas hit by Katrina whereas some smaller van type tours can go in where the bus is not...such as toursbyisabelle.com and with Sahara tours with hassan awad..do a forum search.

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