Inside New Orleans Take a self-guided or docent-led tour of St. Louis Cathedral , a 1724 church overlooking Jackson Square in the French Quarter. 12 Tours to Try Download the free GO NOLA app for five celebrity-guided, set-your-own-pace walking tours of New Orleans. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find: 5 Walking St Louis Cathedral ©Chris Granger Catch live music on Frenchmen Street , site of one of the highest concentrations of venues in the city. 13 A WALK ALONG THE RIVER Pick up a bag of beignets at Café Du Monde or Café Beignet . These deep-fried dough confections, topped with powdered sugar, are often described as “French donuts.” 14 Your celebrity guide: John Goodman Length: 1.5 miles Meet the Mississippi River, a.k.a. “Big Muddy,” and see the sights along her bank, including Spanish Plaza — where Rex, the King of Carnival, proclaims the official start of the celebration. A perfect walk for families. Find great deals, free cooking demonstrations Café Du Monde ©Denise Chambers and free concerts at the Crescent City Farmers Market , held four days a week at locations throughout New Orleans. 15 CANAL STREETCAR RIDE Your celebrity guide: Patricia Clarkson Length: 3.5 miles Buy a Jazzy Pass so you can hop on and off the Canal/Carrollton streetcar line to explore tour highlights such as the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium and the iconic cemeteries, or “Cities of the Dead.” Ride the streetcars with the Jazzy Pass, available via the New Orleans RTA’s GoMobile smartphone app. A one-day pass costs just $3. 16 DOWN IN THE TREMÉ Your celebrity guide: Wendell Pierce Length: 1.25 miles Soak in the rich history of this 200-year-old African-American neighborhood. Along the way, note the Creole architecture, see the elaborate costumes of Mardi Gras Indians and check out Louis Armstrong Park. Check out street musicians in Jackson Granger St. Charles Avenue Streetcar ©Chris Square , Washington Artillery Park and Royal Street in the French Quarter — and if you like what you hear, feel free to tip. 17 Rent a bicycle and ride along the Algiers Point levee , easily accessible via the Algiers/Canal Street Ferry. 18 NOLA GAY HISTORY TOUR Your celebrity guide: Bryan Batt Length: 1.1 miles Learn more about the gay artists, writers and entertainers — from Tennessee Williams to Ellen DeGeneres — who have called the city home, and stop to have a drink at the first gay bar in America. Take a break from the Algiers Point levee ©Chris Granger heat with a snoball . Similar to its cousin the snow cone, these shaved-ice treats are a New Orleans original found at street-side stands throughout the city. 19 UNDER THE OAKS OF CITY PARK Your celebrity guide: Soledad O’Brien Length: 1.1 miles Take a stroll under the magnificent oaks of New Orleans’ historic City Park, and hear tales of hotheaded dueling Creoles and romantic gondola rides. Plus, see where the Beatles performed in 1964 during this family-friendly walking tour. ©Louisiana State Museum Tour the Mardi Gras galleries of the Louisiana State Museum ’s Presbytere, where you’ll find floats, costumes and artifacts dating back decades. 20 V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E AT N E W O R L E A N S I N F O . C O M 11
New Orleans Official Visitors Guide Winter/Spring 2017: Page 11
