Population: Approximately 220,000
Time zone: GMT -6 hours
Currency: US Dollar
Language: English
Int. dialling code: +1
Religion: Predominantly Christian
New Orleans home page
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New Orleans inside-the-city guide
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Essential New Orleans information
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Getting there - UK airport parking
Getting there - UK airport hotels
Getting there - UK airport lounges
Julia Buckley
Travel Editor, The London Paper
www.thelondonpaper.com
"New Orleans - it's not like anything you'd expect from a US city. The French Quarter's got an air of crumbling, Venetian hush, the Garden District's all palatial white clapboard mansions and Magazine Street's as trendy as it gets. And of course it's music central, and reinvents itself every generation. Stay off Bourbon Street, and you'll have much of it to yourself."
A bayou tour offers an opportunity to sample some Cajun culture and the chance to see an alligator in the wild swamp.
You can go through Gray Line Tours and ride in a custom-built swamp boat through the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. Cajun guides offer expert commentary and give an insight into their unique culture.
Or relive the age of the steamboat with a paddle steamer trip on the Mississippi river. There are a host of different excursions to choose from and convenient embarkation points. The river is a great place to see the city from during the day or at night.
A plantation tour is another way to savour the rich experience available in Louisiana. Expert guides tell the stories of the beautiful buildings and the families that lived in them.
If you visit in October you can take an unforgettable trip to the Angola Prison Rodeo. The Wildest Show in the South pits man against beast and in addition to watching the bucking broncos visitors can purchase refreshments, food and handicraft items made by the inmates.
All good hotels will have plenty of information on all of the above or visit the citys tourist website at New Orleans Tourism.
Did you have a fantastic trip out? Maybe you discovered a hidden sight or you have a Louisiana travel tip that you want to share with other visitors? Please let us know. We'd love to hear from you.