Our Favorite Places

The list of what makes New Orleans special is endless: streetcars, oak-lined pathways, beignets, Creole cooking and the lazy Mississippi River alongside the famous Audubon Park are just a few of the city's distinguishing characteristics. Below are a few of our favorites:

Magazine Street
Beginning at the edge of the French Quarter and ending Uptown near Audubon Zoo, Magazine Street offers six miles of eclectic and fun shops that can be enjoyed by all. Magazine Street is the place to go for hip clothing, antiques, unique gifts, original jewelry, chocolates, toys as well as delicious cafes and restaurants. It is also the perfect place to buy "retro” clothes for Mardi Gras costumes or to find New Orleans-themed gifts and souvenirs.

Café du Monde
Tourists and locals alike head to Café du Monde on Decatur Street in the French Quarter for café au lait and beignets. Café au lait is a steaming cup of dark roasted chicory-flavored coffee and hot milk, and beignets are squares of fried dough topped with powdered sugar. While you sip your coffee and eat your beignets, you can watch the fascinating parade of people through the French Quarter, just as Café du Monde visitors have done since 1862.

New Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden
The New Orleans Museum of Art, the city's oldest fine arts institution, has a magnificent permanent collection of more than 40,000 objects, valued in excess of $200 million. The collection, noted for its extraordinary strengths in French and American art, photography, glass, African and Japanese works, is continually expanding.

NOMA's beautiful sculpture garden, set among live oaks and meandering paths, features fifty-three works by artists from around the globe. The sculpture garden is free and open to the public.

The Louisiana Superdome
The Superdome is home to our beloved New Orleans Saints. The Saints' Super Bowl victory in February of 2010 was undoubtedly one of the most exciting times in New Orleans recent history!

Commander's Palace
Commander's Palace serves famous New Orleans food right in the heart of the Garden District. Housed in a stately Victorian mansion, patrons enjoy legendary dishes such as turtle soup and bread pudding soufflé with whiskey sauce. For a truly unique experience, book a table inside the chef's kitchen to get a close-up view of timeless New Orleans food preparation.

National WWII Museum
Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and designated by Congress as the country's official World War II Museum, this remarkable attraction illuminates the American experience during the WWII era with moving personal stories, historic artifacts and powerful interactive displays. From the Normandy invasion to the sands of Pacific Islands and the Home Front, the Museum brings to life the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who won the war and changed the world.