North America Chevron. United States Chevron. Louisiana Chevron. New Orleans Chevron. Another of the absolute best things to do in New Orleans , of course, is experience the live music that is the heartbeat of the city—but NOLA offers so much more than those well-known headlines. We've gathered our picks for what to do in New Orleans, covering the classics, the off-beat, and everything in between, so you're covered when you get there.
Laissez les bons temps rouler , indeed. Read our complete New Orleans travel guide here , which includes:. Having been built on a swamp, New Orleans is mostly low-rise, and so this observation deck, though not that high in relative terms, still delivers memorable views of the surrounding city.
Upon entry, follow a bevy of interactive maps to the elevator, where further video traces the history of New Orleans. This studio—in a huge warehouse space in the Bywater neighborhood— showcases the work of local artist Brandon Odums aka BMike. The real stars of the show—and the works for which he is most famous—are the floor-to-ceiling portraits. Until , the banks of the Mississippi River bordering the city's downtown Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods were essentially unwalkable.
The city invested in a large renovation program that's transformed unsightly, post-industrial wasteland into a lovely riverside park. Crescent Park is a mile-and-a-half long and feels very much like a local spot; you're unlikely to find Mardi Gras-beaded tourists here. Grab a bottle of wine and a cheese plate from nearby Bacchanal Wines , and find yourself a grassy riverside spot for an afternoon picnic.
Almost all of New Orleans life is contained within this park—museums, golf courses, cafes and high-end restaurants, a stadium, waterways, and all that green space. The building itself, set back in City Park , is imposing and grand with its alabaster walls and Greco-Roman columns. There's also a beautiful five-acre sculpture garden, with artwork beneath magnolias and Spanish moss-laden live oaks. Inside, the collection is equally impressive, with French and American art and traveling exhibits that feature everything from fashion to digital media.
