The Ultimate Way to Spend Four Days in New Orleans

With limited vacation, one of the best ways to spend time in Orleans (or any city stateside for that matter) is a Thursday to a Sunday. Only 1.5 days of work what what! Keep bankin’ that vacation time. With only four days in the city, here is the ultimate way to spend them and still get the full New Orleans/ Big Easy experience.

This city is filled with energy and sprit. Pride here runs so deep that not even one of the world’s largest natural disasters can wash it away. Of course Hurricane Katrina will always have an imprint on the city- but it’s refreshing to see locals band together to make sure everything else the city stands for is even more paramount. Jazz, beignets, street music, artsy alleys, bustling Bourbon Street, beaded trees and historic homes and plantations are what make this city so unique.

For this year’s mini-vacation, come on down to the Louisiana bayous. You will find southern hospitality injected with a Cajun flare, set against a backdrop of giant live oaks expanding across shaded, sleepy

Day 1:

Arrive in New Orleans and check in at the historic Dauphine Orleans Hotel right in the middle of the French Quarter. (With such easy access at this point no need to rent a car) When you check in, you get a drink ticket for May Bailey’s- which is anything but a drab hotel bar. Now full of class, the bar was once home to one of the former red light district’s most well known bordellos (1897 – 1917).

Or take your wine in a plastic drinking cup (this is Nola after all) and check out the French Quarter- where you can choose your own adventure. Find everything from potent drinks on Bourbon Street to the more art and antique focused Royal Street.

By now the humidity may be getting to you. Make your way over to Iberville St and duck into The 21^st Amendment—a nod back to the Prohibition era where mafia reigned and speakeasies were tucked into dark alleyways. A mixologist wearing period clothing will craft a cocktail right in front of you.

When it comes time for dinner, stick to the French Quarter and head to Broussard’s, which is in a beautiful, renovated historic building. The executive chef, Guy Reinbolt, doesn’t mess around when it comes to mixing up Creole and French. Together, the two translate into menu items that include Filé Gumbo Broussard and Gulf Shrimp Jean Lafitte.

Then, dive into the heart of legendary New Orleans jazz. Since 1960, top jazz tunes have been streaming from Preservation Hall. Enjoy an intimate acoustic jazz concert with some of the greats. Tip: Make reservations beforehand. It’s worth the extra greenbacks for a seated spot. However, if it’s standing room only it’s still a great show.

Day 2

Time to explore the city—no need to hit snooze! Grab a bite from the Continental Breakfast at the Dauphine Orleans, or if you need something healthier, grab some produce from Rouses Market, which is focused on stocking local products and ingredients.

Take a seat on the red-hot hop-on-hop-off tour buses to get better acquainted with the city. Buses swing by the stops every 30 minutes between 9:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Step off along the way to explore the World War II Museum near Magazine Street. And Or hop off the bus at the St. Louis Cemetery #1 for a self-guided tour of the oldest still-serving cemetery in New Orleans. You will wander among eerily beautiful aboveground tombs—a unique, but necessary design because the city is built on a swamp.

For a chance to see some celebrity homes (Sandra Bullock, Dan Goodman, Archie Manning) upgrade your bus ticket to include a 45-minute guided walking tour of the Garden District. Tours leave at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.). Near the Garden District is Commanders Palace– which is best known for quarter martinis with the purchase of a meal. Reservations are recommended.

Another stop worth the frenzy is Mardi Gras World where you will get a behind-the-scenes look into how imaginative floats are created for the yearly outlandish parades—and of course the biggest of ‘em all- Mardi Gras. After a full day in the city, reboot back at the hotel poolside to catch your second wind.

Caught it? Ok great! Because Creole and Southern cuisine is warming up at Cochen Butcher. From jambalaya-stuffed whole chicken, to barbeque and sweet & spicy brisket sliders, the award-winning cuisine (featured in publications that include Travel + Leisure and Food and Wine) will remind you why New Orleans cuisine is tops. However, you are looking for lighter fare or a vegetarian option you will want to check out Green Goddess—dishes are still crafted from a base of traditional New Orleans flavors.

More soulful jazz is up post dinner. Walk over to Carousel Bar & Lounge, in the Hotel Monteleone off Royal Street, to get the notes started. Sip a raspberry truffeltini while lounging in one of 25 seats secured to a colorful carousel that completes one full rotation every 15 minutes. Or if you prefer to soak in your jazz in a carnival-free atmosphere, venture over to Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans. Some of the city’s greatest jazz musicians come out ready to play.

If you aren’t ready to call it a night, dive into Pat O’Brien’s and sing along to your favorite tunes against a backdrop of dueling pianos. Not only is this bar a legendary New Orleans landmark, the facility boasts being the original creator of the ever powerful alcoholic concoction… The Hurricane.

Day 3:

Start the day chowing down on biscuits and gravy or cheesy grits and fruit at Cake Café & Bakery before heading to the bayou! Take a 9:30 a.m. Swamp Tour aboard an airboat and zip through Louisiana’s swamps and moss-draped cypress trees. Gators won’t be hard to spot in the summer.

After making it back to land around 1:30, relax in the Quarter’s French Market District just off the banks of the Mississippi River. Peruse vendors selling locally produced foods and jewelry. Dip into independent and high-end art galleries on Royal Street, and grab a light lunch at a small eatery or a food cart. Pause to enjoy the many musicians performing with brass horns and other instruments on street corners and in squares. Swing by the city’s oldest candy store, Laura’s Candies, for locally made treats like their Creole pralines to tide you over until dinner.

When it comes to dinner, Antoine’s Restaurant is a must try for a fine dining experience of French-Creole. This spot has been serving dishes since 1840. Even with a maze of 14 dining rooms, making a reservation is recommended. Famous people who have dined here include Pope John Paul II, five presidents, Tom Hanks and Sidney Poitier. Take note of the surrounding decorations that include framed menus providing glimpses into the restaurant’s longstanding history.

Tonight you will forgo the raucous, blatant drunken debauchery of the French Quarter. For your last night in “The Big Easy,” play like a local. Within walking distance of the Quarter, Frenchman Street is a vibrant epicenter of live music and clubs with no or cheap cover charges and late-night good eats. Three rooms in a renovated 1800s storefront are home to Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Listen to top jazz acts in an intimate setting. Check the bistro’s website for information about their two nightly acts at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. and ticket prices. For a more laid back (and cheaper) jazz alternative, pay $5 to enjoy new, up-and-coming artists perform at Spotted Cat Music Club.

Day 4:

A trip to New Orleans would not be complete without a stop at Café Du Monde for their famous powder-sugar coated beignets. Although service can be slightly chaotic during busy times and seating at outdoor tables is tight, all your troubles will dissolve as you bite into the greasy, sugary beignet. (A cup of coffee and a basket of three beignets costs less than 5 bucks)

After, it’s time to rev up the endorphins. Take in the outdoors with a jog in the 60-acre forest at City Park—one of the country’s oldest urban parks (established in 1854). Inside you will find a carousel, botanical garden, Sculpture Park and the world’s largest stand of live oaks—with one that is nearly 800 years old.

Or hop on a fat-tired cruiser and join a bicycle tour of the city with Confederacy of Cruisers. The bicycle company offers a selection of tours catering to many interests, including 9^th Ward, Culinary, and Creole bike tours.

Some fun facts & Festival’s

Louisiana produces 90 percent of the annual crawfish in North America, which stocks many of the city’s famous Cajun recipes. The city is bursting with flavor and year-round celebrations, such as these upcoming festivals: Greek Fest (May 23 – 25), Creole Tomato Fest (June 7 – 8), Tales of the Cocktail (July 16 – 20), Red Dress Run (August 9), and Running of the Bulls (July 13).