We are planning our first trip to New Orleans, my son is 11. So far we've found a nice hotel in the french quarter and know that we want to do some of the walking tours and of course the zoo and aquarium. I've seen a little about the street cars, is that how most of our traveling should be done? How much does that cost? This will be a very inexpensive vacation for us.. any suggestions or info would be greatly appreciated!!!
New Orleans - 8 Answers
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Answer 1 :
have a good time and dont take him (ur son) to bourbon street and james has it right the french quarters are nice but ull want to be careful in someplaces and yes i can ignore my advice if u dont mind ur son seing tons of drunk people and a whore house on every street, bourbon street isnt a place for 11 year old kids
Answer 2 :
Stay in the french quarters and be careful
Answer 3 :
Well, street cars and buses are the way to go )) I'll give you the number to United Cab which you can store in your cell phone...it's so handy and they'll be there in five minutes!!...in case you get lost: 504-522-9771 Cab fares can cost around $10-20 The bus is $1.25, I believe, but I think there are some free (and really nice!) shuttle buses throughout the city as well! I put up an answer a while ago, about a list of things to see and do in the city: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvSZHPaTmy5sFmtJ0xnxetjty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080622143940AAIYMwx&show=7#profile-info-jeRbmHVTaa Hope that helps! EDIT: Ignore that first post...Bourbon Street is pretty boring, actually. And you can take your son there if you want, it's mostly like bars like you'd find on a street anywhere.
Answer 4 :
The first answer is wrong and there is NOT a "whore house on every street". Prostitution is illegal in all of Louisiana, including New Orleans, and has been since 1917. However, there are strip clubs in the FQ, and almost all of them are in the first 5 blocks of Bourbon Street (starting at the intersection of Bourbon & Canal). The strip clubs have R-rated advertising (that pushes being X-rated) outside that I agree isn't suitable for viewing by an 11 year-old. You don't need a car to get around in the French Quarter, Central Business District, or Warehouse District. Also, the parking regulations are Byzantine and there are lots of Parking Control Agents. If you drive or rent a car, leave it in a lot or garage unless you are traveling away from downtown. The regional transit authority (www.norta.com) sells 1 and 3 day passes that offer unlimited use of buses and streetcars for the day(s) you select. There are also lots of taxicabs. New Orleans has mild weather from late October to early May and the city stays green all year most years (rarely freezes and almost never snows). We pay for the mild winters with hot, humid summers – particularly in July & August. Just wear light, cotton clothes and try to do outdoor activites (ex. the zoo) during the moring and air-conditioned things (ex. the aquarium & museums) during the afternoon. The good news for summertime visitors is that hotel rates are lower. Regarding crime, use the same common sense necessary in every major city in the world and there is little chance you will be a victim of anything except a need to visit the gym. Things to do: Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year: http://www.nola.com/festivals/ There are many sightseeing opportunities in the greater New Orleans area, including carriage rides/tours, plantation tours, swamp tours, ghost tours, and even Katrina disaster tours. The steamboat Natchez also does a harbor tour. There are numerous tour companies and your hotel can help with the arrangements. Try to avoid scheduling an outdoor tour until you know the weather forecast for the day in question. The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a "tourist attraction" in its own right. It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines: http://www.norta.com/ There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music. Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set " of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell - not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can't be any confusion at the end of the evening. About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge. Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions). Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park). The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com). The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.) The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com). Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn't miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d'Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry. The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to about September 25th each year. All of the famous restaurants (Antoine's, Arnaud's, Brennan's, Commander's Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends. Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices: http://www.tujaguesrestaurant.com/ Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635). The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: http://www.napoleonhouse.com/ Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome: http://www.preservationhall.com/ New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre: http://www.nobadance.com/ http://www.neworleansopera.org/ http://www.lpomusic.com/ http://www.lepetittheatre.com/ There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_street_ferry The Aquarium, Audubon Zoo, and the new Insectarium are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. The Zoo is several miles from downtown. You can drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter. The Louisiana State Museum is in the French Quarter: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/ New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking. Go to http://www.neworleansmuseums.com/ for info on more museums. Harrah’s Casino is in the Central Business District: http://www.harrahs.com/casinos/harrahs-new-orleans/hotel-casino/property-home.shtml New Orleans City Park has an amusement park with rides and attractions for children + adults, free parking, plus "Celebration in the Oaks" from late November to early January: (www.neworleanscitypark.com). Check www.frenchquarter.com for ideas about other things to do. Hope you have a great time!
Answer 5 :
I agree with surfer. Don't take your son on Bourbon Street. Even if there are no people around, the shops have suggestive things in the windows, and most have opened doors, and you hear things from inside. Not a place for moral adults, much less a child. But, the Aquarium is a must! And you said the Zoo. great. Canal St. has Street cars also now (again). Try to go up and down St. Charles to see all the great mansions. There are museums, too. And if you go into Kenner, go to the river road at the end of Williams Blvd to River Town. Great for an 11 year old.
Answer 6 :
If you are in the french quarter, you can walk everywhere. I would take a ride on a street car just to do it though. I think it's $1.25 a ride.
Answer 7 :
we are going this 4th of July and plan on taking the mardi gras tour and the some other tours around the city just be careful around some areas and have fun. Good luck
Answer 8 :
definitly eats a camellia grill and port of call both are a must but have long waits so go early! other things would be the zoo and the aquarium. i enjoy just walking around the french quarter, during the day they have plenty or artists and street performers. rock n bowl is fun and you can check the schedule to see if anyone you like will be here by chance same with house of blues which is fun. i wouldnt recommend riding the buses as they arent that clean and if you are staying in the french quarter you can easily walk down town for restaurants and what not have fun and also dont forget to go to cafe du monde for beignets you can get them in the french quarter then sit by the river and eat them
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