General Information
New Orleans has tons of fun for everyone. Long sand covered beaches, beautiful
water ways, beautiful landscapes and breathtaking seascapes all within
your reach. You will find an exiting nightlife which is definitely second
to none, plenty to eat, and many interesting attractions to choose from.
If you are looking for a relaxing getaway or plenty to do, you will surely
find it here.. Come spend as long as you like in beautiful New Orleans,
you will be glad you did. New Orleans has many local activities &
attractions. Amusement centers, deep-sea fishing, boat rides, sightseeing,
fine dining, dolphin watching, museums, and that is not all.
If you are looking for fun this is the place to visit. New Orleans is
famous for Marti Gras and for good reason. It is the celebration that
kicks off the year long party every year. New York is said to be the city
that never sleeps and if that is true, New Orleans should be know as the
city that doesn't care much about anything else but fun, and that includes
New York's sleeping habits. Come, have fun, and enjoy.
Whether you're on budget or not, you should be able to find affordable
accommodations in New Orleans anytime of the year. All About New Orleans'
online reservations system offers many hotels & resorts to choose
from with discounted rates. You can view individual hotel web pages with
pictures and information. Check rates, availability and make secure online
reservations. All About New Orleans also offers the guaranteed lowest
rates on car rentals anywhere in the city from major companies like Enterprise
& Thrifty. Our online services are easy to use and very secure. We
provide quality service to all of our customers.
While visiting New Orleans you'll never go hungry for quality food or
shopping. New Orleans offers lots of great restaurants that will please
anyone's appetite. You can eat everything from seafood to sushi and do
it with a fantastic ocean view. Restaurants serving Italian, French, American,
and Seafood can all be found close by. While you are here you must try
New Orleans' famous Creole cuisine. If shopping is what you are looking
for you are in luck. New Orleans has everything from your department store
chain to local gift shops. Shopping here is great for everyday items as
well as the special gift items you are looking for.
The staff at Automatit, Inc would like to thank you for visiting our guide
and encourages you to keep browsing and if there's something that you
can't find or would like to see, then please let us know.
Climate
Because New Orleans is on the Gulf of Mexico, the weather remains relatively
warm all year. Snow and ice rarely travel that far south, but the middle
of spring and fall are known for their rainy seasons. Summers can be extremely
hot and humid even though the city benefits from coastal breezes.
Hurricanes present the only important weather hazard in New Orleans. The
Gulf Coast is in hurricane season from June until September. The city
hasn't been hit head-on by a hurricane for many years, but any tropical
storm visiting Eastern Texas or Mississippi can cause torrential rain
and possible flooding in New Orleans.
Whether you are visiting for a family vacation, the Cajun food, or the
frenzied fun of Mardi Gras, you won't be disappointed in the wonders and
charm of this city. Getting Around The airport is located close to Interstate
10, which is in the far eastern section of town. Airport shuttles and
buses, which are far cheaper than taxis, are readily available. The shuttle
costs $10 one way to your destination, while a bus to the downtown depot
on Tulane Avenue is just $1.50. You can easily tour by bus, or you can
use the two streetcar systems. The St. Charles streetcar, more than 150
years old, is a living relic of New Orleans history. Running from Canal
Street (at the edge
of the French Quarter) to Audubon Park, it is a 13.13-mile stretch that
is great for sightseeing. A round trip takes about an hour and a half.
A second streetcar line runs across the Riverfront. The cars, which travel
a 1.9-mile route, are referred to as the "Ladies in Red." They
connect the Jackson Square area to the newest West Side commercial developments
along the river.
If you are planning a full day of bus and streetcar hopping, consider
buying a visitor's pass from the hotel or in a local shop. It costs $5.00
for one day or $12 for three days. If you are driving your own car, park
at your hotel or at a Park-and-Ride area outside of the downtown district,
and then do your sightseeing by bus. Downtown parking can be hard to find
and costly.
Holidays
By far, the most popular time to visit New Orleans is during the twelve
days of Mardi Gras, which starts around January 6th and ends on Ash Wednesday,
the beginning of Lent. This is a time of parades, parties and masked balls
that can best be described as a fun frenzy. However, if you can't visit
during these times, you can still get a taste of the elaborate decorations
by crossing the river by ferry to Newton Street where there are wonderful
displays of classic floats and costumes at Mardi Gras World.
Other lesser-holiday celebrations include St. Patrick's Day in March,
French Quarter Festival in the spring, and the Jazz and Heritage Festival
in May. October includes several Oktoberfests, and all of December is
celebrated as Creole Christmas with parades, pageantry and the Garden
District shimmering with lights and decorations.
Activities & Attractions
New Orleans is home to some great attractions, sites and activities. Some
of these attractions are well know and touristy while others are a little
less known but non the less, worthwhile to visit. It is a little more
difficult to find information about New Orleans attractions as opposed
to other destinations so we have outlined some of the best offered here
in Now Orleans. Look below for the attractions and activities and browse
the rest of this site for other useful information.
Audubon Zoo - One of the best natural-habitat animal parks in the country
provides hours of amusement, with sea lions, a white tiger, a flamingo
pond, a tropical bird house, and the Louisiana Swamp, featuring large
alligators. Admission: $8.75. Daily 9:30-5, summer weekend til 6; last
ticket sold 1 hr before closing. 6500 Magazine St., (504) 861-2537.
Aquarium of the Americas - With more than 15,000 specimens of fish, birds
and reptiles in their natural habitat, and over a million gallons of water,
The Aquarium of the Americas (affiliated with the Audubon Zoological Gardens)
is one of the most impressive and innovative aquariums in the world. Canal
St. (At the Mississippi River (504) 861-2537
Beauregard-Keyes House - This stately 19th-century mansion on Chartres
Street-restored in the 1940s by novelist Frances Parkinson Keyes-has a
beautiful walled garden, landscaped in a sun pattern, which is in bloom
year-round. $4. Mon.-Sat. 10-3; tours on the hr. 1113 Chartres St., (504)
523-7257.
Carousel Gardens - This amusement park has a New Orleans treasure as its
centerpiece - a carousel from 1906 that is on the National Register of
Historic Places. One of the few remaining authentic carved wooden carousels
in the country, it was lovingly restored in the late 1980s: each horse
was shipped to expert artisans in Connecticut. Surrounding it are a roller
coaster, tilt-a-whirl, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, and other rides. A miniature
train takes adults and children throughout the area on its own track,
and there is a wading pool with bronze statuary. General admission $3;
unlimited ride ticket $8. Hrs vary by season; closed in winter except
for last 3 wks of Dec. and the 1st wk of Jan., and when park is rented
out for parties. City Park, (504) 483-9356.
City Park - Encompassing 1,500 acres, this enchanting park has the New
Orleans Museum of Art specializing in pre-Columbian, African, and local
creations, the lovely Botanical Garden, and man-made lagoons. Admission:
$6 adults, $3 senior citizens and children 3-17; free Thurs. 10-noon to
Louisiana residents. Open Tues.-Sun. 10-5. City Park, (504) 488-2631.
French Market - This bustling complex of renovated centuries-old buildings,
extending several blocks along Decatur and North Peters streets, encompasses
specialty shops, restaurants, cafés, and a flea market. French
Market Information and Visitors Center, 1008 N. Peters St., (504) 522-2621.
Open daily 9-6.
French Quarter - The French Quarter, or Vieux Carré, literally
means "old square." Established in 1718 by the French as a military
outpost to protect their interests and provide a port for commerce, the
mile-square Vieux Carré spent the first half-century of its existence
as a decidedly French settlement. Unlike the English colonies, which were
often populated by dissidents hoping to distance themselves from their
mother country, the original citizens of New Orleans proudly embraced
and celebrated their French heritage, often sending their children to
school on the continent.
Hermann-Grima House - One of the largest and best-preserved examples of
American architecture in the Quarter, this house has the only restored
private stable and the only working 1830s Creole kitchen in the Quarter.
Cooking demonstrations on the open hearth are held here all day Thursday
from October through May. You'll want to check the gift shop, which has
many local crafts and books. $6; $10 combination ticket with the Gallier
House. Tours Mon.-Sat. 10-3:30. 820 St. Louis St., (504) 525-5661.
Jackson Square - The heart of the French Quarter, Jackson Square was founded
in 1718. Until the 1850s, the square was called the Place d'Armes and
was a military marching ground. It was also the site of public executions
carried out in various styles, including burning at the stake, beheading,
breaking on the wheel, and hanging. Today the square is a beautifully
landscaped park. Daily 8-6, excluding special events.
Jazzland Theme Park - 6600 Plaza Drive, Suite 206 New Orleans, LA 70127,
General Information 1-504-242-0220. Jazzland will be a 140-acre amusement
park in New Orleans showcasing the unique culture of Louisiana. The high
quality attraction will offer 31 outstanding amusement rides, spectacular
shows, scrumptious food and a variety of live music - everything that
makes New Orleans a world-class destination. All of this will be presented
in the clean, safe environment of a first-class family theme park. The
Jazzland experience is for every member of the family, appealing to both
locals and tourists.
Napoleon House - A longtime favorite haunt for local writers and artists,
this bar and café in an 1814 house with murmuring ceiling fans
and a lovely patio is perfect for late afternoon people watching. 500
Chartres St.
Nightlife
While New York may be the city that never sleeps, New Orleans is the city
that doesn't care about New York or when it does or doesn't sleep, nor
does it care about much of anything else besides having fun and enjoying
life. You will find a year long party which starts off with the world
famous Marti Gras and continues with all the fun you can imagine. You
can find great live music, bars, clubs, pubs, and just about anything
else you can imagine after the sun goes down. Check out the listings below
to get your party started.
Shopping
New Orleans' largest shopping area is the French Quarter, with one square
mile of antique shops, candy stores, jewelry shops, record stores, voodoo
houses, vintage clothing shops, and more. Another fantastic shopping haven
is the entire stretch of Magazine Street, featuring 140 specialty stores
that cater to all tastes and budgets. These are a couple major shopping
venues but there are also tons of specialty shops, malls and centers throughout
the city. If shopping is an adventure anywhere it is here. |
