8 Fun Facts We Love About New Orleans

8 Fun Facts We Love About New Orleans | One of America’s Most European Cities

New Orleans is a town whose very name evokes the lavish parades of Mardi Gras, red-hot jazz and earthy blues, Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, and the world of cajun cuisine from jambalaya and gumbo to po’boys and etouffee. There are so many things to do and see when visiting New Orleans. Its eclectic assortment of attractions adds to its unique charm.  Every year millions of tourists visit New Orleans to soak in the culture of one of America’s most European cities. To find out some of the best things to do when visiting the city, we asked our tour directors to tell us about some of their favorite haunts!

1) European Vibe

Originally settled by the French in the 1660s the city has retained its old-fashioned European vibe. The founder, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, dubbed the city La Mouvelle-Orleans, in honor of the Duke of Orleans, and many of the streets are named after French Royalty and Catholic Saints. In the 1760s New Orleans was taken over by the Spanish Empire which began to influence its cuisine and architecture. After 40 years, New Orleans reverted back to the French who sold it to President Jefferson for $15 million in 1803. 

Our Tour Directors love to take in the European vibe of New Orleans whether they are strolling down Royal Street, having a po’boy in a sidewalk cafe, or dancing to Dixieland like nobody’s business!! Today many of the events, food, music, and festivities like Mardi Gras and Bastille Day have their roots in French culture. New Orleans is home to French and Spanish-influenced architecture, a historic French Market, the oldest Catholic Cathedral in the U.S., and everyone’s favorite French-inspired beignets.

2) Wandering in the French Quarter

Wandering the cobblestone streets of the French Quarter, the oldest historic neighborhood of the city is a must according to all our tour directors. Its colorful blend of  Spanish and French-influenced buildings with cast iron balconies, open courtyards, and ornate parapets are uniquely European. Balcony gardens, black iron galleries, ceramic tile street signs, music that floats on the breeze, and the smell of delicious food are all part of the experience. 

There are 78 square blocks to explore on foot. Along the way, our tour directors suggest the following stops: Tennessee Williams’s House and the Voodoo Museum on Dumaine Street,  Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, one of the oldest bars in the city, on Bourbon Street, antique shops and art galleries on Royal Street, and a beignet and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde by the river. Don’t miss Jackson Square, the Saint Louis Cathedral, and the French Market which offers an excellent selection of local crafts, a flea market, and food stalls. 

3) The Food

New Orleans is a foodie’s paradise. The cuisine of New Orleans is heavily influenced by Creole, French, Spanish, and Cajun, cuisine. Our tour directors all have their favorite New Orleans guilty pleasures. Po’Boys tops the list. It is the New Orleans version of a sub where a French baguette is loaded with fried shrimp, oysters, and hot sausage. Another all-time favorite is crawfish etouffee, which is a very thick stew seasoned to perfection and chock full of crawfish or shrimp and served over rice. Jambalaya has been part of the culinary scene since the Colonial Spanish arrived and made this version of paella from locally sourced ingredients. And, then there is gumbo, in a class of its own with a heritage claiming both French and West African roots. This thick stew is made with a wide variety of ingredients from okra and peppers to sausage, seafood, and chicken.

A favorite dining spot of one of our tour directors is the Court of Two Sisters on Royal Street for authentic Creole and Cajun cuisine. The “charm gates” that you go through to get to the courtyard were wrought in Spain for this restaurant. Legend has it that Queen Isabella of Spain had them blessed so that their “charm” would pass on to anyone who touched the gates. 

4) The Bars 

New Orleans is known locally as the birthplace of the cocktail, so as you can imagine, there is no shortage of bars here!  Historic bars include Arnaud’s French 75 Bar, Old Absinthe House, and the Napolean. The Carousel Bar which actually rotates (slowly) located inside the historic Monteleone Hotel on Royal Street is one of our tour director’s favorites for a cocktail. 

5) New Orleans Music 

And, then there is the music, which is the lifeblood of the French Quarter - it is everywhere! And, of course New Orleans is the birthplace of Jazz. Looking for Dixieland jazz or Mississippi blues? Got it! How about Cajun and Zydeco music that comes directly from the bayous? No problem. A Tour Director’s tip is not to choose the music but just enjoy the different genres as you walk from venue to venue. Take a walk down Frenchmen Street, the main thoroughfare of the Marigny neighborhood, adjacent to the French Quarter, which has several blocks of cafes, music clubs, and restaurants. Our Tour Directors like Snug Harbor on Frenchmen Street for its live jazz music and upscale Creole cuisine. Another favorite is Preservation Hall on Bourbon Street which has offered traditional New Orleans Jazz since 1961.

6) Cruising On Ole Mississippi

To just unwind and take in the beauty of the Crescent City, one of our tour directors suggests that you take a paddleboat cruise on the Mississippi River to enjoy unparalleled views. On the historic tour, you will take a journey through 300 years of New Orleans history that includes a shore excursion to the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and the historic Chalmette Battlefield.

7) Cities of the Dead

New Orleans is surrounded by water and built below sea level which is why the departed are entombed above ground. Not as creepy as it sounds, one of our tour directors suggests taking a cemetery tour because it is an interesting way to learn about the city’s storied past. The ornate marble burial vaults are home to everyone from rock stars, writers, and politicians to voodoo queens. Writer Anne Rice,  chess player Paul Morphy,  Voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau, musicians Fats Dimino, and Al Hirt, and many more interesting characters are all resting permanently in New Orleans. The most famous cemetery is St. Louis No. 1 where Nicholas Cage has built a white pyramid that is waiting for him to take up residence.

8) Tour the Garden District

To get away from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, our tour directors enjoy strolling the Garden District. Magnolia and live oaks tower over the shaded streets, the smell of jasmine scents the air, and magnificent mansions, gourmet eateries, and interesting shops line the streets. Our tour director’s tips are to visit the gothic splendor of the Lafayette Cemetery where Anne Rice used to entertain fans, walk along St. Charles Ave. to admire grand historic homes, and go shopping on Magazine Street. If you have worked up an appetite you might want to try a po’boy from Stein’s Deli or indulge in Creole Cusine at the historic Commander’s Palace.

These are just some of our favorite things to see and do in New Orleans on a guided tour of ‘Cajun Country’ and we hope that they become your favorites as well.