New Orleans
New Orleans was founded in 1718 and named after Philippe Duc D’Orléans. Today, this little outpost is called ‘The Big Easy’, and is a city known worldwide for jazz, Creole cuisine, riverboats and carnivals.
Music plays an integral part in the unique atmosphere of New Orleans. Old-line musicians play classic tunes during brunch and dinner, street musicians huddle in doorways at dusk to perform, and free concerts are offered weekly in the French Quarter. Louis Armstrong, Harry Connick Jr, Fats Domino, Pete Fountain, the Neville Brothers and Jelly Roll Morton are all part of the city’s rich musical heritage. There is more music in New Orleans than ever before, with Zydeco, rock and roll, rhythm and blues, Dixieland, gospel, Cajun music and country joining the jazz tradition. To hear traditional jazz at its best, one should visit Bourbon Street or Preservation Hall, where musicians play every evening. Music festivals include the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which takes place in April and May each year. Stars that have performed at the event include Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan and Patti LaBelle.
New Orleans’ Mardi Gras is the biggest party of the year and rocks the whole city during the three weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday. Colourful parades, masquerade balls and street parties make the festival one of the loudest and liveliest celebrations in the world.
There is also a rich cultural side to New Orleans. It was here that the country’s first opera house was built. The city boasts an excellent Museum of Art and a Contemporary Arts Center, while the Warehouse District has been revitalised by galleries, restaurants and shops that display the crafts of local artists. The Louisiana State Museum on Jackson Square includes exhibitions on Mardi Gras and jazz. The collection of French works at the New Orleans Museum of Art is renowned throughout the world. At the Louisiana Children’s Museum, kids of all ages can pretend to star in their own TV show or shop in a recreated mini-mart. In addition to the opera, ballet and symphony seasons, there are regular Broadway shows and live theatre in almost a dozen locations.
There are tours of every description in New Orleans that take in everything from haunted houses to alligator-filled swamps. Also popular are the literary tours of the homes and haunts of famous writers – William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Lillian Hellman and Sherwood Anderson all lived and worked here. Bayou/swamp tours offer Cajun storytellers, food, music and an opportunity to go crawfish harvesting with the locals. Another special tour is one that explores the city’s Black Heritage and highlights the contributions of African-Americans to New Orleans.
Ponchatoula (and its antiques), Mandeville (on Lake Pontchartrain), Covington (with its artists colony) and Hammond are just a few of the towns within easy reach of New Orleans. At the Global Wildlife Center, visitors can enjoy horseback riding among the exotic animals that roam the 364 hectare (900 acre) park. Nearby, the lush swampland bordering the Pearl River is popular with birdwatchers. At Honey Island Swamp, boat tours are available. Kenner features Rivertown USA, which is a combination of historical sites and family attractions in a Victorian setting.
Ferries provide transport across the Mississippi River, including one departing from the levée at the foot of Canal Street. One-day cruises are available: Steamboat Natchez has harbour, dinner and jazz cruises; John James Audubon has a zoo cruise between the Aquarium and Riverfront Park to the Audubon Zoo; and Louisiana Swamp Tours offers a selection of special cruises through the Louisiana swamps, including buffet and dinner cruises.
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