10 Things to do in New Orleans (That Aren't Bourbon Street)

While getting trashed on Bourbon Street is sort of a rite of passage, there is so much more to New Orleans beyond that. I’m sharing ten amazing things to do in New Orleans that go beyond Bourbon Street.

New Orleans City Park, New Orleans

Immerse yourself in nature at New Orleans City Park

New Orleans City Park is a 1,300 acre park studded with gorgeous old oak trees and moss canopies making it the perfect break from the craziness of the French Quarter. Langles Bridge (pictured above), a bridge made entirely from stone, is one of the most famous spots in the park for photographs. Also be sure to check out the Botanical Garden and the Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden while you’re in the park.

Browse the shops and art on Magazine Street

This six mile street features clusters of shops, charming homes and plenty of street art. Once you get your photos at the Greetings From NOLA mural and the colorful wall of Crescent City Automotive, weave your way through the neighborhoods to get your fill of cute houses. Make sure to visit the Ashley Longshore Gallery (free entry!) and stop in for a pick me up at French bakery, La Boulangerie.

St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans

Soak up some history on a cemetery tour

Of all the cemeteries in New Orleans, St. Louis No. 1 is definitely the most famous - partially, no doubt, because Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau’s tomb is there. It is also the only cemetery that requires you to be on a licensed tour to enter. We had an amazing time with Ghost City Tours and learned some absolutely insane facts (like the reason why Nicolas Cage owns a plot in this cemetery).

Listen to live music on Frenchman Street

Frenchman Street has done nothing but skyrocket to popularity over the past several years due to an outpouring of incredible live music. Check out clubs like The Spotted Cat, Blue Nile and Snug Harbor to hear everything from jazz to reggae. If you’ve got the late night munchies after a show, head over to Dat Dog or Adolfo’s.

Garden District, New Orleans

Red Gypsea

Stroll the Garden District

The Garden District encompasses several blocks of beautiful, historic homes - not to mention famed Commander’s Palace and Lafayette Cemetery No.1. Check out Morris Israel House, the inspiration for Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion (and rumored to be actually haunted). Make sure to stop at Our Mother of Perpetual Help, complete with “Romeo” spikes to keep young men from the house.

Take a trip back in time with the New Orleans street car

The St. Charles Streetcar has been in operation since 1835 and is a New Orleans icon. Normally, it runs along St. Charles Avenue, and through popular areas like Audubon Park and the Garden District. Due to the Hard Rock hotel collapse and construction, the route has changed and you should check online for the most accurate and up to date information.

Louisiana Bayou tour, New Orleans

Cruise for gators on a bayou tour

Taking an airboat tour of the Lousiana Bayou is one of my favorite things to do while in New Orleans. If you’re looking for alligators, you will have a much higher chance of seeing them in the warm summer months but we saw several even in November. I recommend Ultimate Swamp Adventures as they have many different types of tours and boats.

Visit a plantation

Visiting a plantation is a complex and emotional experience but honestly, everyone should do it for the sake of furthering their education about a horrendous time in our history. Oak Valley Plantation which lies about an hour outside of the New Orleans city center is one of the most famous. Seven miles down the road lies Whitney Plantation, a stark contrast to Oak Alley, and now a museum dedicated to the history of slavery in Louisiana.

Carousel Bar, Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans

See if the ghost stories are true

There are plenty of haunted spots in New Orleans and if you have time, you should definitely take a Ghost Tour (they have nighttime ones if you’re feelin’ dangerous). However, if you don’t have the time, you can check out some other supernatural hotspots on your own. Grab a drink at the haunted Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone or May Baily’s Place, a hotel bar that was originally a bordello.

Check out an even quirkier side of New Orleans

If you can believe it, New Orleans can get even weirder than you thought. If you’re fascinated by death and dying, you should check out the New Orleans’s Museum of Death. For a comprehensive (and creepy) version of our medical history, you can visit the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, complete with voodoo potions and medical instruments.

Safe travels,

V.