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What is Mardi Gras?

What kind of things are there to do in NOLA during Mardi Gras?

  • I'm going to Mardi Gras 08 for my 25th birthday. It's my 2nd time to NOLA for Mardi Gras (last time was 2004) and I was wondering what kind of stuff I can do in the area besides the usual French Quarter, Uptown, Garden District, ect.. type sightseeing. Is it worth it that time of year to go on a tour of the Bayou? Just wondering what are some cool things I can do besides all the parades, drinking, eating, ect.. What other cool or lesser known attractions do you enjoy there? I'm just hoping to do more on this trip and to actually remember more of it too.

  • Answer:

    Actually, it's NOT too early to start planning for MG 2008. Mardi Gras Day is February 5th, which is quite early. Book your hotel now - I recommend staying in the French Quarter or central business district. If you visited in 2004, you may have noticed MG also tends to take over the city during the last 5 or 6 days and many of the city's attractions will be closed or operating with reduced hours. Swamp tours will probably be operating. Regarding crime, use the same common sense you need in every major city in the world and there is little chance you will be a victim of anything except a need to visit the gym: Pay attention to your surroundings. Stay away from anywhere dark & deserted. Pay attention to your feelings - if anyone or anywhere gives you a bad feeling, leave the area. Don't leave something like a camera-bag or backpack unattended on a park bench while you wander off to take photos. Etc. Below are some things to do: There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music. Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums. Most of them charge admission but some are free (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions). Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park). The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com). The lobby for the Wyndham Canal Place is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack: http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/MSYCP/main.wnt Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn't miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d'Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food other than pastry. The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). All of the famous restaurants (Antoine's, Arnaud's, Commander's Palace, etc.) have reopened. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends. Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635). There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_Street_Ferry The Aquarium and Audubon Zoo are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. There is a shuttle boat (not free) between the Aquarium (which is next to the French Quarter) and the Zoo (which is several miles away). You can also drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter. The Louisiana State Museum (http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/visitor.htm) is in the French Quarter. New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking. Check www.frenchquarter.com for ideas on other things to do. Hope you have a good visit!

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well... since you dont want the usual scene.. why dont you come down in the summer time... between may - aug ? Not your birthday I know.. but its also not on Mardi Gras and the party scene and i'm sure you'll save a lot of money by visiting after Mardi Gras. Theres alot more to do in the summer .. its our festival season.. 100's of festivals. You can also look into some water sports in the lake or riviers. If you dont already have that opportunity where you live. I agree with JellyBean... the plantation tours and haunted tours are great ! Theres also a River boat tour you can go on. Its called Steamboat Nachez. It a 2 hour tour of the Mississippi River with lunch and a live jazz and/or cajun band. heres some websites: http://hauntedhistorytours.com/ (Hightly recommend, these guys are good) http://www.steamboatnatchez.com/ http://neworleans.com/ ( theres *tours* under *see and do*) http://bestofneworleans.com/ http://www.neworleansonline.com/ http://frenchquarter.com/ http://magazinestreet.com/ http://www.experienceneworleans.com/ ( there might be some coupons on this site ) a list of festivals should be listed on some of the sites. Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler !!

nola_cajun

besides the norm things and the parades, i would go on some plantaion tours, some haunted history tours, and just shop, the bayou tours should be up and running during mardi gras, remember to pack, warm, cold and rainy weather clothes cause the weather can change in like two seconds duing mardi gras, it was hot cold and rainy this year, i didn't know what to do lol and all that was at one parade lol. but since you've been before you probaly know that. taking a carrige ride would be good, i think they stop operating at night during mardi gras, check with them when you come.

JellyBean Bri

There is also the Natchez Jazz Cruise, The Battlefield Cruise, The Aquarium, Imax Theater, Beatutiful Audubon Zoo, The Wax Museum, The Mardi Gras Museum, The New Orleans Museum of Art, The WWII Museum, Plantation Tours, Global Wildlife Center., and the Swamp Tours. Check with your hotel for details. They will have the necessary information.

PEGGY S

I agree with one of the earlier answers that although there is normally a lot to do in and around the city, during Mardi Gras many things do seem to shut down. Due to the parades they close off many of the streets making it very hard to move around in and around the city by car. So if you can find things you are interested in locally in the city it will save you a lot of sitting in traffic. There are a variety of tours you may want to try during off peak times, cemetery tours, haunted tours etc. Also if you like museums you can try. The Odgen Museum is a wonderful museum. http://www.ogdenmuseum.org/index.html World War II/D Day Museum http://www.ddaymuseum.org/

traveler

Try Mardi Gras world. It is on the Westbank and is about a 15-minitue ferry ride from downtown. it shows u behind Mardi Gras

nolachick4life

It would depend on when exactly in the parade season you plan to come. Mardi Gras is VERY early next year--Feb. 5. Swamp tours do operate year-round, but there is a good chance it could be COLD. If the temperature is in the 40s or 50s, trust me, you do NOT want to take a swamp tour, as it will be miserable. It will be that much colder zooming thru the swamp on a motorized boat. Mardi Gras is only ONE day; it's the CLIMAX of the entire Carnival season, which officially begins Jan. 6 every year. The parades will start in mid-Jan. You can take tours and get around the city without too much trouble during parade season, UNTIL the week-end right before Fat Tuesday, when the big parades roll. If you stay downtown, NO TOURS will be operating on Fat Tuesday, because IT'S A HOLIDAY in New Orleans, and traffic is horrendous. If you are coming BEFORE the Big Week-end, there are still plenty of other things to do. There is enough to do and see in the French Quarter to keep one busy for weeks. SInce the parades will be rolling in the middle of winter, and it's not likely to be too warm, I would recommend going to musuems and shops where you can be inside. THe World War 2 Museum is a good place to visit, located on Magazine St. just 2 blocks from Lee Circle. It's open every day. In the Quarter, visit the Historic New Orleans Collection on Royal Street, and I'd also suggest a visit to M.S. Rau Antiques in the same block, the 500 block. They have the most amazing and interesting collection of items. For a great view of the city, go to Club 360, at the top of the World Trade Center at the foot of Canal St. There is no admission charge. Take a river cruise on the Natchez or Creole Queen. Take a plantation tour to Laura Plantation. I think Cajun Pride Tours still goes there. Again, planning to sightsee on Fat Tuesday in New Orleans is pretty much an exercise in futility due the crowds and parades all over town, though it will probably not be a huge crowd because it's so early in the year. It's best to come and do your sightseeing the week BEFORE Mardi Gras. I seriously doubt you're going to have much trouble with crowds if you plan to come the week before.

nolajazzyguide

Don't forget your Glock 9mm

RunAmok

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