What to do when visiting the “Big Easy”

Ahhhh New Orleans… known as the “Big Easy” for its laid back atmosphere, and “The Crescent City” for the way the Mississippi River loops around the city in the shape of a crescent. 

Before I visited for the first time, I definitely heard some varying opinions about the city – It can be loud. Crazy. Maybe even a little dangerous.  

But that didn’t stop me from getting there and having an open mind. I went in with ZERO expectations. 

And that, my friends, is the best thing I could’ve ever done. 

We planned the trip to celebrate my dad’s birthday, which just happens to be over Memorial Day Weekend. 

New Orleans is about a 10-hour drive from my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In Tulsa, no one’s 100% sure if they’re Southerners or Midwesterners, but if there’s one thing about Tulsans, we’ll drive to get somewhere. 

No flight, no problem. If it’s 12 hours or less, we’ll jump in the car and go. 

So we stayed the night in Shreveport, Louisiana on Wednesday night, May 24 and arrived Thursday, May 25 after a brief stop in Natchitoches.

We wanted to get a meat pie at Lasyone’s (they’re famous for them), but didn’t have time. This was a personal recommendation from my mother-in-law, who was raised in Natchitoches. 

The minute I stepped foot in New Orleans, it felt like a second home to me. 

First and foremost, the people are some of the friendliest, liveliest and most helpful I’ve ever met. They’re PASSIONATE about their city. 

Many people we met were raised in New Orleans their entire life. If they weren’t from the city, they were from somewhere nearby, like Metairie. 

We had the honor to hold conversations with locals at restaurants, bars and even Ubers. That was definitely one of the best parts about New Orleans. 

So you’re probably wondering, “What the heck should I do when I get here?” 

I have some ideas. Mind you, I just had my first ever visit to the city. So yes, I did ALL the touristy things. 

But I feel like you have to get that out of the way before you get to the good stuff. Even though I did all the tourist activities this time, I STILL had the time of my life. And now I just want to go back and do more. 

Need help planning your next trip? Here are some ideas based on what we did when we were there!

Shop around at the local markets and shops

I drove down to New Orleans with my husband, sister and friend. We stayed in the Warehouse District in a two-bedroom, modern warehouse-style apartment. 

Our apartment was about one block away from the Poeyfarre Nesbit’s Market – which was SO convenient. They have a couple other locations in New Orleans as well, one on Julia Street, and another on Magazine Street. 

When I tell you this market was a lifesaver, I mean it. It’s a grocery store with all types of toiletries, snacks, liquor, wine, soft drinks and more. 

Nesbit’s has lunch specials and pre-prepped meals that can just be popped in the microwave. This came in handy when we needed a quick lunch. 

They also sell coffee and baked items. There are a few indoor and outdoor tables, including a super cute patio, in case you want to stay a while! 

Visit The National WWII Museum

You’re probably curious as to why the heck the National WWII Museum would be in New Orleans. Well, Andrew Jackson Higgins, owner of small New Orleans-based boat company Higgins Industries, created a boat that changed the way Americans were able to fight. 

Instead of attacking heavily-defended navy ports, the Higgins boats made it to where soldiers could access open beaches without being easily discovered. They could catch their enemies off-guard. 

These boats were crucial to American soldiers, and a New Orleans resident was able to make that happen. 

Even if you’re not a huge history buff, this museum is a must-see. You can explore important artifacts, news articles and exhibits from before, during and after WWII in this MASSIVE facility. 

You can go with a basic ticket package that includes a full walkthrough, or you can pay more to enjoy a 4D WWII experience. You’ll be given a showtime and watch an eight-minute video (featuring Tom Hanks) to preface the film. 

Then you’ll be escorted into a movie theater to watch the actual film that includes real-life testimony from reporters, soldiers and civilians from the countries involved in WWII. 

Special effects like bright lights, vibrating seats, props and more are used during the film to immerse you in the experience. 

It’s not your average “boring war documentary.” It was definitely worth the watch and one of my favorite parts of the whole trip! 

If you don’t plan to pay extra for the 4D experience, you’ll still get to enjoy the museum by being assigned a WWII American soldier through a military dog tag. You can follow along with your soldier’s story to see where their journey begins and ends.  

Your dog tag connects to a website so you can go back and reference your soldier, even after you’ve left the museum. 

Walk around Jackson Square 

While the French Quarter isn’t all New Orleans has to offer, it’s definitely worth the walk. Jackson Square is prominently marked by the large and gorgeous St. Louis Cathedral. 

Right across the street from Jackson Square on Decatur Street is Cafe Du Monde, home to the famous cafe au lait and beignet. Yes, there are tons of other beignets to try in New Orleans, but Cafe Du Monde is definitely worth checking out. 

You can also listen to many street performers in and around Jackson Square. They’re not commissioned by the city, but instead are individual artists. Feel free to leave a nice tip for acts you enjoy! 

Stop by Muriel’s or Tableau for dinner. My family ate at Tableau and enjoyed amazing service, a peaceful atmosphere and great food! My personal favorite thing we tried was the duck and andouille gumbo. You gotta try it! 

Check out Bourbon Street 

You have to see Bourbon Street at least once. And no, it doesn’t have to be late at night. In fact, Bourbon Street during the day is a lot of fun. It’s lively at all hours of the day. 

If you prefer a more touristy vibe, I definitely recommend going during the day. You can go into any bar, grab a drink and walk down Bourbon with your drink. 

Plus, you can walk into other bars with that same drink. No dumping necessary! 

Be warned, though, the souvenir shops on Bourbon are a lot more expensive than you’ll find in other parts of the city.  

There are lots of bars and restaurants to explore with balconies (for Mardi Gras beads) especially at night for a party feel. You’ll see street performers out at night, big snakes for you to hold, fun people to take pictures with and more. 

You’ll definitely want to stop by Tropical Isle for a hand grenade drink and Pat O’ Brien’s for a hurricane. Don’t drink too many, though! 

Krazy Korner and the Beach on Bourbon were both fun places to dance. Fat Catz has an in-house band that’s always playing live music. There’s no shortage of awesome things to do on Bourbon! 

Eat at Jacques-Imo’s Cafe

In the Carrollton neighborhood near Tulane University is one of my favorite restaurants we tried in New Orleans – Jacques-Imo’s Cafe. Their claim to fame is having real N’awlins creole soul food. It is so good. 

Of course, they joke around a bit with their sign that says: “Warm beer. Lousy food. Poor service.”

That couldn’t be further from the truth. The food was outstanding. The atmosphere was charming, hip and friendly. If you’re a loud talker, you’ll fit right in. Everyone’s talking, laughing, singing and having a great time. Our server was also a gem. 

Our group tried almost every appetizer on the menu and the fresh watermelon mojito. They were FABULOUS. Plus, you get complimentary cornbread mini muffins that are out of this world. 

Some honorable mentions: the alligator/shrimp cheesecake. I know what you’re thinking… WTF? This isn’t the sweet cheesecake that you’d find on a dessert menu.

It’s almost like a cheesy quiche with gouda, gator, green onions and gulf shrimp on top. Simply delectable. 

The fried green tomatoes, boudin balls, and duck/andouille gumbo were also amazing. We didn’t have one thing we didn’t like. We left full and happy. This is a place for locals and tourists alike. 

I think we were able to get a reservation pretty far out for my dad’s birthday, but they’re always pretty busy. I’d plan in advance to eat here or be prepared to wait a little bit. 

Take a walking tour of the Uptown neighborhood 

If you want to see classic mansions that belonged to the rich and famous, Uptown and The Garden District might be your jam. There’s a large collection of beautiful homes, especially on St. Charles Avenue. 

You’ll be blown away by the history of the homes and how breathtaking they are. While we just walked around on our own, there are plenty of paid and guided tours to get all the juicy information. Some tours are walking and others are by bus! 

Brunch at Ruby Slipper Cafe on Magazine Street

Love eggs benedict? You can get any benedict you’ve ever dreamed of at Ruby Slipper Cafe. But that’s not all. There are a plethora of breakfast classics that are absolutely mouthwatering. Plus, the service was AMAZING. Everyone we encountered was so kind. 

They are super duper busy, but they’re efficient. They’ll work to get you in as soon as possible. And they do have outdoor seating. 

Our group tried the seasonal beignets which had a lemon and blueberry compote. They were DIVINE. I got the biscuits and gravy (I’m an Okie, I had to). My husband got the pork eggs benedict (DELISH), my friend got the Migas (DELISH) and my sister got the fried chicken benedict (MY FAVORITE). 

Seriously, it couldn’t have been better. My husband also got a creamy vanilla spiced latte, which I drank a lot of. I couldn’t stop. 

We were lucky to have our Airbnb on Magazine Street because this breakfast place was to-die-for. Plus, we had a nice walk down Magazine afterward, which has so much to do and see! 

Try the Blue Crab Beignets at La Petite Grocery

La Petite Grocery is another restaurant you have to try. Located in Uptown on Magazine Street, this place is super cute and is housed in a refurbished building that used to be a grocery store. 

We tried a bunch of their food, including some of their daily specials, but the standout was the blue crab beignets. They were TO DIE FOR. In fact, they were so good, we had to order another batch as we were eating our meals. 

Oh, and did I mention their owner and chef, Justin Devillier, is a James Beard Award winner? 

Take a ride with New Orleans Airboat Tours, LLC 

Hands down one of my favorite parts of the entire trip was the swamp tour we took with New Orleans Airboat Tours, LLC. We had Captain Randy as our guide. You’d expect a swamp tour just to be stopping to look at alligators and other wildlife, but this was so much more. 

Randy’s family has owned the wetlands we were touring for over six generations. His grandfather was the one who dug the paths through the wetlands so that he and his family could hunt Nutria to live. 

They still live, breathe and work the bayou every single day. Randy taught us about the history of the land, the Nutria, how the levees in the Mississippi River affect the bayou, how important conservation of the ecosystem is and how they contributed to the preservation of the alligator population in Louisiana. 

I was blown away by this tour. The hour and a half flew by and I could’ve stayed out there all day listening to Louisiana history. This is a MUST-DO! 

Have a fancy dinner with the locals on the first floor of Galatoire’s 

On Bourbon Street, Galatoire’s is a great place to have a fancy dinner. Jackets are required for gentlemen and dresses/pants are encouraged for women. Lunch is more of a business casual vibe. 

The service at Galatoire’s is next level. They serve upscale Creole, steakhouse favorites and more. If you love a white tablecloth, elegant environment, this is your place. 

The souffle potatoes, gumbo and chicken creole were particularly delicious. My dad also loved his steak.

There’s still so much to accomplish in New Orleans…

In my four-day trip, I feel like I got to see so much, but I still want to see more. I’m excited to try some new things next time I’m in town! 

I want to experience Mardi Gras festivities, try Drago’s for seafood, Court of Two Sisters for Sunday brunch, visit the Carousel Bar at the Monteleone and Frenchmen Street, take a walking tour or a ghost tour, stay at The Chloe B&B, get a muffaletta at Central Grocery, try Loretta’s beignets and a purple drank at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar. 

This is just a “small” laundry list. See you next time, New Orleans!