I’ve always been interested in visiting New Orleans because of its history, music, culture, food, and more. This trip was a nice escape from the cold and a great way to explore the United States more!
Where to stay
I stayed in an Airbnb in the seventh ward, a predominately Afro-Creole community. Based on reviews, some thought the area was “shady” and advised not walking through the neighborhood. However, while it may have a rough exterior, this neighborhood has a rich history and beautiful New Orleanians living here.
About the seventh ward
Once home to many jazz greats, successful businesses, and wealthy community members, this ward has been through a lot. From a built highway splitting the community in half and causing property values to decrease. Which, in turn, forced folks to abandon their homes and businesses. To the impact of Hurricane Katrina decades later, the seventh ward is still recovering from natural and man-made disasters. But, one thing that’s still consistent in this community and New Orleans, is that southern hospitality. The epitome of it was right next door to us, a sweet older woman who immediately made us feel welcomed.
Where to play
Bourbon Street
The atmosphere on Bourbon Street is lively and unlike anything I’ve seen. There’s music playing in every bar and shop, day and night; you can freely walk in and out of bars since there are no cover charges. And since there’s an open container law, you see people drinking and walking around. There are performers, restaurants, tarot card readers and so much more on Bourbon Street.
Studio Be
An art warehouse in the Bywater neighborhood, the current exhibit, called “Ephemeral Eternal”, was created by visual artist Bmike. It showcases the constant struggles of being black in America and black history. It’s moving and empowering, one piece that stuck out to me was the “I am a man” painting. It displayed Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and Oscar Grant all holding the “I am a man” sign. This sign resembles those held in marches during the civil rights movement.
Canal Street
A bustling street, Canal Street is adjacent to Bourbon Street, you can stroll and shop.
Jackson Square
This historic park is close to Bourbon Street, Café du Monde, and Café Beignet.
Louis Armstrong Park
Named after Jazz legend Louis Armstrong, there are ponds, sculptures, and Congo Square (where slaves used to meet).
Tours
The Whitney Plantation
Since we weren’t driving, we booked a tour through Legendary Tours, a small locally owned tour company. I’d highly recommend taking this tour to learn the history of slavery at the Habitation Haydel and in New Orleans. Legendary Tours provides hotel/Airbnb pick-up and drop-off and Edward is the best tour guide!
American Horror Story Unauthorized Tour
This tour discusses American Horror Story: Coven and Madame Delphine LaLaurie’s torture of slaves. Learn about the real-life tales that inspired some of Coven’s plot and discuss voodoo in New Orleans.
Where to eat
Café Beignet
Our Lyft driver recommended this place because he liked the atmosphere more than Café du Monde. It’s a 9-minute walk from Café du Monde and you can order 3 beignets for $3.99. The beignets here appear bigger than Café du Monde’s and offer other breakfast/brunch options.
Café du Monde
I didn’t try their beignets but I did attempt to, however I didn’t realize it was cash only. I did see Café du Monde’s atmosphere and it’s a bit crowded and busy, but they’re open 24 hours.
Cajun Seafood
Po’ boys, crawfish, catfish, crab legs, cajun fries, gumbo, and shrimp – Cajun Seafood has it all! There are four locations in New Orleans and my Airbnb was a 5-minute walk from one of their locations. I went to this place twice, the first time ordering fish & fries and crawfish the second time.
The Joint is a 10-minute walk from Studio Be and is known as one of the best barbecue restaurants. That’s probably because they smoke their barbecue out back. Besides the delicious food, the Joint also plays great music, they had 90’s-00’s hip-hop playing in the background. We enjoyed our food while also singing along to the music.
New Orleans Travel Tips
Getting Around
- Ridesharing: We used Lyft frequently throughout the trip and spent about $25 in total per person. From getting to the: French Quarter, other Wards in New Orleans, and the airport. The cost of each trip from our Airbnb was roughly $6, besides the trip to the airport which was $20. I used Uber from the airport because Lyft wasn’t allowed to pick up passengers, which cost about $30. Since I was traveling with my sister and a friend, it was cheaper when split three ways.
- Walking: Based on where you’re staying, getting to the French Quarter might not be a daunting task. Our Airbnb to Bourbon Street was around a 30-minute walk. Once you’re in the French Quarter, everything is essentially within walking distance.
Things to note:
- Public Transportation: There are streetcars in New Orleans that you can take, however, they might not go to certain places you want to go. I recommend checking their website to make the best judgment.
- Airport transportation: I normally use public transportation because it’s usually a fast and cheap option. But after some research, I learned that while public transportation in New Orleans is cheap, it isn’t the most convenient. In fact, it’s rather slow and makes frequent stops. If you’re considering taking a taxi to the French Quarter, the fare is around $33 without a tip (for two passengers). Each person after two is an additional $15 – so in reality taking an Uber is the best/cheapest option.
Money
Like any U.S. city, New Orleans can be somewhat expensive, especially if you’re eating out every day. Also, if you decide to take Lyft or Uber frequently like we did, it adds up. I’d advise taking out cash before landing in New Orleans. I figured since it was a U.S. city I would find my bank (Bank of America) there. Unfortunately, I never saw any BOA ATM/branch. You’ll be fine with finding an ATM/branch if you have Chase and/or Capitol One.
Safety
New Orleans has a bad rep for being “sketchy” and unsafe in certain areas. However, I believe if you’re aware of your surroundings, and belongings, you’ll be fine.
