Curator’s statement
New Orleans is, first of all, gorgeous—and a first trip there is genuinely once in a lifetime. My introduction to the city was “The Princess and the Frog,” and I spent years dreaming about gumbo and singing alligators. I never expected the real thing to live up to a Disney cartoon. It absolutely did.
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Day 1: Shopping
If you remember the fashion of The Princess and the Frog like I do, you’ll be just as disappointed that time travel isn’t included in this itinerary (sorry, I’m trying my best). While the glam of the movie isn’t the same as today’s NOLA fashion, you can still go on a quick shopping trip at Lakeside Shopping Center to get outfitted for your trip—or pick up any essentials you forgot to pack. Swing by the Café du Monde in the food court for your first beignets and café au lait (or cocoa for the kiddos) while you’re at it.
Day 2: City tours
New Orleans is so lively it's hard to know where to start—so let's narrow it down. If you want to lean into the Dr. Facilier and Mama Odie side of things, Tour Orleans does a fantastic Voodoo Tour that will not disappoint. For the little Tianas in your group who need to try every gumbo in the city, there's a food tour for that—and for the history lovers, I can't recommend the French Quarter Phantoms Tremé and Creole History tour enough. And if you just want to follow the jazz and let the city carry you, the Steamboat Jazz Cruise is the move.
Day 3: The big tour
This is the day for your big excursion and a little education mixed in. For fans of the ecosystem—or of Louis the jazz-playing alligator—a bayou tour is a must; you can feed actual alligators (marshmallows, mostly—they’re significantly more interested in those than in children; everyone goes home). For something more historical, The Whitney Plantation is a nonprofit dedicated to educating about the history of slavery—one of the most important stops you can make in the area. Whichever tour you choose, ask your guide for dinner recommendations before you leave—that’s how you find the really good stuff that tastes like home cooking.
Day 4: One last hurrah
Time to squeeze in everything you haven't gotten to yet—starting with a jazz brunch at Commander's Palace, because leaving New Orleans without one is simply not an option. After brunch, catch a show at Preservation Hall—it’s one of those only-in-NOLA experiences that never gets old, no matter how many times you've been. Then, it's time for your flight out in the evening, when everyone is exhausted enough from four days of sightseeing to sleep the whole way home.
Need to know
The ideal time to visit is late fall—October through November—when you miss the worst of the heat without landing in Mardi Gras crowds. It'll still be humid though, so pack a hand fan and build plenty of A/C breaks into your schedule.
Bourbon Street at night is loud, raucous, and exactly everything the movies have taught you to expect from Mardi Gras—year-round. It's a lot for kids and anyone easily overstimulated. Go during the day for the full experience with significantly less chaos.
Carry small amounts of cash. Café du Monde is open 24/7 and cash only, which means there's always time for a beignet—and tipping street musicians is one of the best things you can do in this city.
The streets predate cars by a considerable amount, and it shows—they’re narrow, uneven, and not designed with wheelchairs or strollers in mind. If you have mobility needs or stroller-aged kids, look into accessible transportation rather than planning to walk. The heat and humidity will make every block feel twice as long as it looks on the map.
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