Everything that you have heard about New Orleans is true! Someone once told me that “New Orleans is the cleanest, dirtiest, grittiest, happiest, absolute must visit place on earth”. When I first heard that I was a little taken aback but after visiting I can truly say it is all of that and more. New Orleans is full of rich history – some good, some bad – that spans over centuries. Southern hospitality is definitely not lacking in this beautiful city filled with hope & love. The residents here are so happy and proud of their city and not afraid to share a good story or two. New Orleans is a place for families, friends and romance. It is literally the city that never sleeps, with events happening at all times of the day. Here is a list of the top nine things that you must do while visiting New Orleans.

Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World is a must visit tourist attraction in New Orleans. They offer hour long tours that are fun and exciting for individuals of all ages. One thing that I loved is that Mardi Gras World encourages you to take lots of pictures, so don’t be scared to snap away. While here you will learn all about the fascinating historical events that led up to Mardi Gras and the fantastic floats that are paraded through the streets during this event. We enjoyed being able to witness the different steps and processes it takes to make these elaborate floats. The workers here really take pride in their work; they are very big on recycling old floats and turning them into something new.

Tickets are only $22 per adult for the tour and parking is $15.

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City Park

When you want to escape all the hustle and bustle of the city a great getaway is City Park. City Park is a huge lot of land that is beautifully landscaped and offers a wide variety of activities to keep your family occupied. The Carousel Gardens Amusement Park is a spectacular area within City Park that offers 16 carnival inspired rides, along with a roller coaster for the mild adventure seeker. While there you can rent a small boat or bike to travel around the park. It was very amusing to watch patrons rent the 4 passenger bicycles and struggle to make it up the small hill next to Cafe Du Monde. I hear the fishing in this park is superb so don’t forget to bring your fishing rods, lures, nets and whatever else you may need.

City Park is used as an ideal location for free photo backdrops. We noticed so many people setting up to take pictures on or around the Langles bridge and we can surely see why. Langles was built in 1902 and is full of exquisite charm and history. The landscape surrounding it really makes the bridge pop in any photo taken. Another popular location was the Peristyle building. City Park undoubtedly captured the Hellenistic architectural style with their Peristyle Building. Of course, I couldn’t help but partake in a little photo shoot around the parks famous landmarks myself.

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Bourbon Street

You absolutely cannot take a trip to New Orleans and not visit Bourbon Street. It is almost like a rite of passage when visiting this wonderful city. Bourbon Street is full of established history where each wall has an exciting story to tell. The architectural design of the buildings is unique to New Orleans and the art scene pairs well with the city’s “theme”. We enjoyed perusing through some of the art galleries throughout.

New Orleans allows for open alcohol on the streets, so it’s only right to bar hop the numerous bars along Bourbon Street.

Be sure to visit Pat O’Brien’s and sample their signature drink – The Hurricane. This drink is absolutely delicious–it’s sweet, subtle and undoubtedly strong. The Hurricane will sneak up on you like a thief in the night. The sweet mixture in the drink disguises the alcohol very well, so please drink this concoction responsibly! Another reason to visit Pat O’Briens is the beautiful outdoor courtyard with its signature flaming fountain in the center. The courtyard is where the action happens. If the courtyard is too much for you be sure to go inside to see their amazing piano singers performing some of your favorite tunes. Just write down your favorite song on a napkin and slip the piano player a tip to hear them sing it. As a result, the crowd really gets into the fun.

Lafitte Blacksmith Shop is another great bar hop location to visit off Bourbon Street. The establishment is very small so don’t expect to grab a seat and lounge here especially during peak season. You aren’t going to want to sit here for too long anyway once you purchase a cup of their Voodoo Daiquiris. Some people come for the history (since it is one of the oldest and longest run businesses on Bourbon Street), but most keep coming for the Daiquiri’s.

One thing to note if visiting Bourbon Street is that the parking is $13 an hour (unless you can find parking on the street). My recommendation would be to take a ride share service to cut down on some of the parking costs.

Cafe Du Monde

Many know that Louisiana is famous for its beignets, so you absolutely have to try them before you leave. There are a few places that sell these delectable treats but Cafe Du Monde has perfected the recipe. They’ve been around since 1862 so I believe they have had a little time to make this recipe flawless. I personally love the old-timey, plain sailing, simplicity of this place. The menu is classic and straightforward; it isn’t bogged down with a million items for you to look through. As a result, you aren’t bombarded with that anxious feeling when you haven’t been there before and there are a million people waiting in line for you to order and you have no idea what to choose.

We ordered two servings of beignets (3 per serving), a medium iced coffee and a large frozen cafe au lait (which stands for coffee with milk). Amazingly their coffee pairs well with their beignets. Our total came up to $16 which wasn’t bad at all. The experience and the taste alone will have you hooked and continuously coming back.

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Metairie Cemetery

If you are not overwhelmingly spooked out by going to cemeteries I would suggest visiting one of New Orleans historical cemeteries. We chose to look at the beautiful grave sites of Metairie’s Cemetery. We first thought that they were the graves of some historical figures that died hundreds of years ago, but upon closer inspection we found out that these elaborate gravestones/mausoleums are not only for those of an older generation but for recent individuals as well. You can tell the cemetery pays close attention to the wants and needs of their clients all the way down to those small intricate details. Whether on a ghost tour or just driving through I would suggest stopping by Metairie Cementary.

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St. Louis Cathedral

The grounds surrounding the St. Louis Cathedral are so lovely and pristine, but the inside of this historical landmark is absolutely breathtaking. The cathedral is free but they do accept donations. The tours are self-guided and you can purchase a brochure that features highlights for $1.00. The St. Louis Cathedral is open Monday-Saturday from 8:30 o 4:00 p.m. They do hold daily mass which occurs at 12:00 p.m. daily. If you are looking for some adorable keepsakes you’re going to want to visit their gift shops. They have a nice selection of literature, keepsakes, jewelry, trinkets, and religious ornaments.

Buckner Mansion

If you are into the show American Horror Story then you have seen the Buckner Mansion featured in Season’s 3 and 8. Located on the corner of Jackson and Coliseum in New Orleans this house is hard to miss. You can’t go in but you will know you are at the correct house because of all of the cars and tourists standing on the sidewalk to get a selfie with this famous house. If you are not into the show I will say don’t waste your time unless you just want to photograph some of New Orleans’ architectural history. I personally love the show so this stop was just unavoidable for me. History says that a ghost lives in there and that the house has been known to have some paranormal activity pulsing through it. I’m not sure if it’s true or not but a house this old has to have some type of existence wandering through the halls.

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Voodoo’s BBQ and Grill

If you are looking for some New Orleans flair then visit Voodoo BBQ and Grill. The colorful atmosphere of the establishment is tasteful and inviting. Just reading the menu will have your mouth watering as you try to decide on what you want to eat. I chose the half rack of ribs, sweet potato souffle, macaroni & cheese and cornbread. It was so good and we were so hungry that we forgot to take pictures, lol. To finish off our gut busting meal I ordered a slice of white chocolate bread pudding. It is served warm with a white chocolate sauce drizzled all over the top. It is a must try and if you don’t stop by for the BBQ at least stop by for the bread pudding.

Voodoo’s BBQ has multiple locations so check out their website to see if there is one closer to you.

NOLA Brewery

NOLA Brewery is a must visit location because they offer FREE brewery tours with tastings every Friday and Saturday from 2-3 pm. During their tours you will get a wonderful history on the beers served here. It’s easy to fall in love with the quirky atmosphere when the beertenders and tour guides working there are so funny and relatable. A plus is the adjoining barbecue restaurant. You come for the beers but end up staying for the food!

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New Orleans has a lot of non-mainstream places to visit. If you know of any that you would like for the Traveling 4 to visit and blog about drop us a line in the comments.