New Orleans Insider .com

New Orleans Insider

World-renowned for its smooth jazz and extravagant Mardi Gras celebrations, New Orleans is an diverse city that will surprise visitors at every turn.

Museums are everywhere in New Orleans. Tourists can choose from a variety of museums to visit including the New Orleans Fire Department Museum, the Historic New Orleans Collection, the Musee Conti Historical Wax Museum, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, The Presbytere and The New Orleans D-day Museum. Shoppers will absolutely love New Orleans. Those shoppers who like bargaining will enjoy the French Market and Farmer's Market on Decatur Street at Ursulines. This historic marketplace, dating to the 1700s, strongly encourages bargaining. For those who do not really like bargaining, they can try an array of different shopping centers such as the Riverwalk Marketplace, the Shops at Canal Place and Jackson Brewery. Magazine Street has many delightful shops and boutiques. International shoppers will be happy to learn they can shop tax-free at more than one thousand stores in New Orleans.

New Orleans is famous for its fine dining and Cajun/Creole dishes. Popular restaurants include Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Cafe, Sara's Restaurant, The French Table, and Embers Steakhouse. There are also more than 350 bars in New Orleans, so those that enjoy a fun night out will have plenty of places from which to choose. World famous Bourbon Street is home to many restaurants and karaoke bars and is alive with action day and night while City Park is the perfect place for families, golfers, and anyone who loves the outdoors. Visitors can travel to New Orleans via Amtrak or Greyhound or fly into Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. The airport offers shuttle service to and from the airport, or travelers can choose to rent a car. However, if they opt not to rent a car, they can travel around New Orleans by taxi, bus, or streetcar.

Booking accommodations in New Orleans is simple, and visitors will find that hotels offer specials packages, especially during Mardi Gras and the Jazz and Heritage Festival. The Ritz-Carlton, the Doubletree Hotel, Cotton Exchange Hotel, Garden District Hotel, and the Baronne Plaza are among the many hotels from which tourists have to choose. No matter what time of year visitors choose to come to New Orleans, they are sure to find plenty to experience and enjoy.