A Guide To Enjoying New Orleans Even If You Don’t Like To Party

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD CITY OF NEW ORLEANS 

When you hear the name New Orleans often, brilliant images of Mardi Gras parades and heavily intoxicated partiers enjoying themselves on the infamous Bourbon Street often come to mind.

But, there is SO much more to this city steeped in history! 

My husband and I had the opportunity to travel to NOLA for our anniversary in April. 

Many people asked us, “What’s in Louisiana?” and “Why New Orleans?” 

Well, New Orleans had been on both of our traveling bucket lists for quite some time due to the culture and exciting history of the city. We are certainly suckers for history! 

Not to mention traveling out of the states was pretty tricky at the moment due to covid restrictions. So it just seemed like the perfect time to visit NOLA!

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment.

– Hilaire Belloc

THE TOP 13 PLACES YOU NEED TO EXPERIENCE DURING YOUR TIME IN NEW ORLEANS

1. A Food Tour 

I cannot recommend this enough! During our first full day in The Big Easy, my husband and I booked A Food Tour. 

Despite the heavy rain, our tour guide Laurent was phenomenal, the food AMAZING, and it was a fantastic way to get our bearings around the French Quarter and learn some of the city’s unique history. 

During the food tour, we visited several different restaurants nestled into the heart of The French Quarter. The Food Tour was a great way to try many of the foods on our list in smaller portions and learn the difference between Creole and Cajun cooking. 

We had the opportunity to try foods like Fried Alligator, Pralines, Oysters, Shrimp Gumbo, and Jambalaya. 

The Food Tour lasted about three hours, and by the end of the tour, my husband and I were SO stuffed we could barely take another bite. 

So if you like good food and history, you should consider The Walking Food Tour!

2. A Walking Ghost Tour 

During my research for our trip to New Orleans, the idea of taking a ghost tour continually popped up in my searches. 

So we booked a walking ghost tour for our first evening in the city!

I thought The Walking Ghost Tour was a lot of fun and another great way to get to know more of the city, specifically The French Quarter. 

The tour was fun and interesting, though I did find that most of the stories told were untrue or embellished. It was still a fun way to see the city, and it was great to hear some of the local legends. 

You will also get the chance to visit the outside of the most haunted house in New Orleans. The home has some crazy creepy history! 

Our tour was about an hour and ended near Royal Street, where we stopped for a spooky dinner at The Vampire Cafe. (The food was SO good, and you should definitely try this place while you’re in NOLA.)

3. The Jazz Experience 

Sadly during our visit to New Orleans, most of the local Jazz clubs were closed due to Covid. Some were open a few select days a week so be sure to double-check when creating your travel itinerary. 

Many recommended The New Orleans Jazz and Live Music Tour.

Even with the closing of many of New Orleans’ famous Jazz hubs, we were still able to experience plenty of live Jazz, thanks to the many talented street performers that inhabit the city. 

We especially enjoyed the ever-present jazz musicians at Jackson Square near the St. Louis Cathedral.

A few of the recommended Jazz stops include:

• The Spotted Cat Music Club
• The Jazz Playhouse
• Preservation Hall
• The Maison

4. Jackson Square 

Out of all of the places we visited during our trip, Jackson Square had to be my favorite! 

The beautiful square is surrounded by quaint shops, an old cathedral, musicians, street vendors, and mouthwatering smells wafting from restaurants. 

We often found ourselves visiting Cafe Du Monde across the street for their famous beignets, after which we would proceed to eat in the park at Jackson Square. 

Jackson Square is a lovely place to take a seat and enjoy some tasty treats from nearby vendors while listening to some of the local musicians.

It is also a great spot to grab some beautiful photos of the city! 

5. The French Market 

The French Market certainly should make your list of places to visit while in NOLA.

The market is home to various vendors and a fantastic place to try out the ever-famous Po Boy Sandwich. 

At the far end of the market, you can find isles of booths from which vendors sell everything from brightly colored bags, clothing, and wood carvings to intricately crafted pieces of art. 

The market is far smaller than Pikes Place in Seattle, but I found that it was still worth the visit! 

6. Magazine Street

If you love to shop for antiques or beautiful furniture, then magazine street is the perfect place for you to visit! 

Each shop housed stunning works of art, jewelry, light fixtures, and other wares. We made a day of visiting each of the shops dotting this part of The French Quarter. 

7. Brunch At Brennan’s

We ate at many different restaurants during our time in New Orleans, but the restaurant that takes the cake would have to be Brennan’s! 

The brightly painted pink building is across the street from the stunning marble courthouse. Upon entering Brennan’s, you will be greeted by the beautifully decorated pink walls and decor; they offer indoor as well as outdoor seating. 

The food was probably some of the best we tried during our time in New Orleans.

We decided to try their turtle soup, rabbit, eggs benedict, and fresh croissants with homemade blueberry jam during our brunch, all of which were fantastic. 

Brennan’s also offered a wide array of freshly squeezed juices. I recommend trying the pineapple juice! So good! 

8. Woldenberg Park

Just a quick walk from The French Quarter, and you will arrive at Woldenberg Park, which overlooks the Mississippi River. 

Woldenberg is Also home to the Steamboat NATCHEZ, which you can book a tour on during your visit! The experience includes a creole tableside lunch and live Jazz music out over the water of the Mississippi. 

We sadly were unable to get tickets during our visit but will definitely go should we venture back to NOLA in the future. 

The park is also a short walking distance from the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, which houses a lovely array of fish and even some incredible birds! Great for kids or adults who just enjoy aquariums. 

9. The WWII Museum 

For all the history buffs, this is definitely a worthwhile stop. The Museum is located in The Garden District, a short ride from The French Quarter by Trolley. 

Upon your arrival at The WWII Museum, you will be given a dog tag of a soldier who fought in World War II; during your time in the Museum, you will follow your specific soldier’s life while exploring the Museum and learning more about the war. 

There are stations set up at every museum level for you to scan your dog tag and learn about your veteran. 

It was such a great learning experience, and there is so much to listen to and read! 

10. Swamp Tour 

You simply can’t visit New Orleans without experiencing the wetlands! 

My husband and I booked an airboat tour at a nearby swamp, and it was by far one of my favorite experiences. 

Upon pulling up to the docking area, we saw several small alligators sunbathing in the grass and some turtles hanging out in the reeds.

Our tour guide was a lot of fun and even jumped out of the boat at one point to catch an alligator which he let us pet before releasing it back into the water. 

The tour was about an hour and a half long, during which time we saw some large alligators saw some old homes on stilts in the swamp where people lived off the grid. 

The swamp was so beautiful and green! A Swamp Tour is a MUST during your trip to NOLA. 

11. City Park And The Botanical Gardens 

This was probably one of my favorite stops during our time in New Orleans. The massive park is a whooping 1,300 acres, almost double the size of New York’s Central Park. 

The lush green landscape of the park with all its hidden treasures was breathtaking! 

My favorite place we stumbled across while in the park had to be The Botanical Gardens. The gardens were like stepping into the courtyard of a King or Queens palace.

The Gardens were massive, and the variety of fauna growing there was so diverse! 

The beauty of the Botanical Gardens also makes it a fantastic photo spot for your trip! So don’t miss out; mark this spot on your itinerary! 

12. Cemetery Tour

Taking a tour of the beautiful architecture of New Orlean’s many cemeteries is an absolute must!

In NOLA, it was and still is very common for people to be buried in tombs above the ground, which has resulted in some stunning works of art. Each cemetery is unique and full of loads of history.

Sure, you can visit these cemeteries on your own (though that isn’t recommended), plus you don’t want to miss out on all the interesting history of how New Orleans buried the dead!

Be sure to book ahead and double-check that the cemeteries are open before going. Several of them were closed due to COVID during our visit.

So definitely plan ahead when booking your Walking Cemetery Tour!

13. New Orleans Pharmacy Museum 

Last but not least, be sure to make your way to this incredible gem hidden away in the heart of The French Quarter, a mere four-minute walk from Jackson Square. 

This Museum is housed in the old home of what used to be a doctor in the early days of New Orleans. 

The Pharmacy Museum focuses, as you might have guessed, on the history of pharmacy throughout the years, though there are many more unique treasures to be found inside. 

Hundreds of tiny jars with old labels line shelves along with strange medical tools and articles. 

Be sure to go online and book your tour in advance since the entrance to The New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is by appointment only. 

But seriously, don’t miss out on this excellent history spot! 

CONCLUSION 

New Orleans is full of so much history, and there are plenty of non-partying types of activities to fill your time during your visit. 

The food is undoubtedly one of the main draws of New Orleans, so to try everything you can, definitely make your way to Jackson square several times if possible; brunch at Brennan’s is a must, be sure to visit a cemetery or two, and don’t forget about the wetlands during your visit! 

Have you ever visited New Orleans? Do you want to? If you have visited New Orleans, what did you think? 

I’d love to know! 

Part of creating your dream life often includes having the ability to travel and free up one’s time. Traveling can be such an essential part of your life and health! 

If you would like to learn more about how you can achieve your dream life, be sure to SUBSCRIBE to our monthly newsletter and get a heads up on future articles. 

Have a bright day!