Things to Do in New Orleans, Louisiana

French Quarter (Vieux Carré)

The French Quarter, officially the Vieux Carré, is New Orleans’ oldest neighborhood and the city’s most compact historic district. Its tight street grid, courtyard houses, and layered architecture—from French colonial to Spanish and Creole townhouses—create a distinctive streetscape of wrought‑iron galleries, stuccoed brickwork, and inner courtyards protected by the Vieux Carré Commission.

On foot, the Quarter feels intensely urban: Royal and Chartres Streets host galleries and antique shops, quieter blocks hide jazz clubs and small museums, and Bourbon Street supplies louder nightlife. Allow time for courtyard glimpses, gallery visits, and riverfront promenades, and check official sites for tours and temporary programs.

Official French Quarter (Vieux Carré) website →

Jackson Square

Jackson Square sits at the heart of the French Quarter, framed by St. Louis Cathedral, the Cabildo, and the Presbytère. Originally the colonial Place d’Armes, the square’s landscaped pathways, mature trees, and flanking Pontalba Buildings create a deliberately framed public space that has hosted civic life since the eighteenth century.

Today it functions as an active public stage for portraitists, street musicians, and artists, with nearby museums and historic restaurants forming a compact cultural cluster. Visitors should pause to read plaques and notice the square’s long civic uses; verify guided programs and special‑event closures on official listings before planning a visit.

Official Jackson Square website →

The National WWII Museum

The National WWII Museum chronicles the American experience of World War II across a multi‑pavilion campus in downtown New Orleans. The museum presents a chronological narrative—from the home front through major campaigns—using artifacts, oral histories, restored vehicles and aircraft, and immersive galleries to convey personal testimony alongside larger strategic context.

Highlights include campaign galleries, the US Freedom Pavilion with large artifacts, and the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion interpreting the Higgins boat. The site emphasizes remembrance, primary sources, and conservation; allow several hours or multiple visits and consult the museum’s official site for guided tours and temporary exhibits.

Official The National WWII Museum website →

Garden District

The Garden District is a leafy Uptown neighborhood known for its 19th‑century mansions, formal lawns, and mature live oaks. Architectural styles range from Greek Revival to Italianate and Victorian, with St. Charles Avenue providing a ceremonial spine marked by the historic streetcar line.

Magazine Street offers shops, galleries, and restaurants that complement the residential fabric, while Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 illustrates local funerary traditions with above‑ground tombs.

The district benefits from preservation protections that maintain façades and landscapes; the best ways to explore are on foot, by streetcar, or with a guided walk, and visitors should respect that it remains a living neighborhood.

Official Garden District website →

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Sited on the Mississippi Riverfront near the French Quarter, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas presents ecosystem‑focused galleries that move from Gulf and coastal habitats to tropical river and reef environments.

The aquarium combines large viewing windows, immersive tanks, and interactive touch displays to explain regional ecology and species behavior, emphasizing rescue, rehabilitation, and public education linked to the Audubon Nature Institute.

Designed for families and visitors interested in Gulf and Caribbean waterways, the compact facility pairs naturally with riverfront walks; check the aquarium’s official site for ticketing, programs, and accessibility information before you go.

Official Audubon Aquarium of the Americas website →

Audubon Zoo

Audubon Zoo occupies a gardenlike campus adjacent to Audubon Park and St. Charles Avenue, with shaded paths beneath an old canopy of live oaks. The zoo organizes animals by habitat regions—African Savanna, Asia‑themed areas, Jaguar Jungle, and a Louisiana Swamp that highlights local species—pairing species displays with landscaped boardwalks and interpretive signage.

Conservation, education, and regional recovery programs are central to the zoo’s mission, and family amenities include interactive play areas and a seasonal waterpark. Plan at least a half day to move comfortably through major habitats, and consult the zoo’s official site for changing exhibits and special experiences.

Official Audubon Zoo website →

Frenchmen Street (live music)

Frenchmen Street, on the edge of the French Quarter in the Marigny, is a compact corridor of small clubs, bars, and open‑air stages with a strong focus on live music.

Venues range from intimate listening rooms to louder dance clubs, and nightly offerings include jazz, brass bands, blues, and contemporary roots music performed largely by local working musicians. Street performers and impromptu brass parades add outdoor, communal energy.

Because rooms are small, expect cover charges and limited capacity at peak times; pick one or two venues and arrive early to secure seating and hear multiple sets.

Official Frenchmen Street (live music) website →

Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at float building and parade craftsmanship developed by Kern Studios. The working studio displays large‑scale sculptures, painted scenery, and elaborate float armatures while guides explain how krewes commission floats, the materials and engineering involved, and the collaborative production process.

The attraction ties object spectacle to civic tradition, showing how local artisans sustain Mardi Gras pageantry. Photo opportunities and changing workshop displays are common; verify tour options, booking details, and special access with the attraction before you go.

Official Mardi Gras World website →