For years Vegas has been depicted as sin city and the party capital of the world. However, only the elite can strut in Vegas and have an incredible time. New Orleans has been flying under the radar for many years with music and nightlife which can rival Vegas. New Orleans even has Harrah’s Casino right on the Mississippi River. Twenty dollars in a New Orleans can last all night long since most beers are two dollars and after every four drinks you purchase, in most bars, you will receive a complimentary double shot of whatever alcohol that deserves you on that evening. Here is a guide to enjoying New Orleans over Vegas in four days.
Day 1: April is a great time to visit New Orleans because it is hot but the humidity has not started to settle in the air. After landing at Louis Armstrong International Airport take a taxi to Algiers Point where you booked an entire house for your crew using Homeaway.com. The French Quarter can be too tempting and hotel rooms can cost as much as a house during certain seasons. For as little as three-hundred dollars per person, if you have five people, you can rent an entire house for your team for five days and four nights. The historic Algiers Point is loaded with 19th century charm and gives you a local perspective throughout your stay. Drop your bags and head to the Canal Street Ferry which is in walking distance to every home in Algiers Point. Since 1827 the Ferry has provided safe passage across the Mississippi River and will serve as your main form of transport downtown. The thirty minute ferry ride will cost you two dollars and runs every day from as early as 6:00am to as late as 11:45pm.
Once across the Mississippi head over to Marigny Brasserie for a cocktail and fine Louisiana cooking. Start out with the Boudin Balls which is Cajun sausage breaded and fried served with a magic crystal Aioli. Next dive into BBQ shrimp and grits which will keep you full for days. Before leaving grab some of the local brew Abita Purple Haze before hitting Bourbon Street hard. How long you last on Bourbon Street is entirely up to you. Your night should start at Lafitte’s Blacksmith shop which is the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. When you are ready to close out the night, head over to the Cat’s Meow for some late night Karaoke. The bar gets more and more entertaining as the night draws to a close
Day 2: After sleeping off your hangover head back to Bourbon Street for your New Orleans Cemetery History Tour. This twenty-five dollar two hour tour meets in front of Rue Zombies Voodoo Shop twice a day and ends in St. Louis Cemetery which is the oldest City of the Dead in New Orleans. The tour covers tomb architecture, burial procedures, and ghost stories which will stay with you the rest of your life. The tour will also take you to the tomb of Marie Laveu who was he most infamous Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.
Day 3: New Orleans has a lot to offer their visitors but nothing compares to an exciting adventure on the Bayou. Jean Lafitte offers daily swap tours which allows guest to jump inside a fan boat and cruise through the swamps of Louisiana getting up close and personal with snakes, alligators and other native creatures of the Bayou. The tour costs around sixty-five dollars but with pick up service it will be eighty-five dollars. You will cruise through the Bayou with 450 horse power at your back and experience the life of a Cajun. You might even be lucky enough to hold a baby alligator at the end of the tour.
Day 4: On your last full day in New Orleans stop by the Fair Grounds Race Course for Jazz Fest. The Festival has been a staple in New Orleans since 1970 and takes place during the last weekend in April and first weekend in May every year. The Festival attracts more than 300,000 people annually and is considered to be one of the most popular times of the year to visit the city. Local and national talent perform their genre of music on more than ten stages from 11am in the morning to 7pm at night Thursday – Friday during Jazz Fest. Acts such as the Beach Boys, Foo Fighters and Bruce Springsteen have performed at Jazz Fest in the past so be sure to see who is playing the week you plan to go so you can get a good spot in front of the stage to see their performance live.
New Orleans is a high octane adventure which will leave your liver cheering as you get a plane to head home. While I do encourage a family trip to the best part of the Louisiana Purchase, this city needs to be explored with people over the age of twenty-one. Especially the first time around. The seasons are littered with festivals and reasons to celebrate. In October there is Voodoo Festival and in March there is the world famous Mardis Gras. This short article focused on Jazz Fest which occurs around the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May every year. The actual Jazz Fest takes place at the horse track where local and famous bands all over the world charm and play tribute to music and the people who worship it.