|
Welcome to New Orleans Attractions!New Orleans attractions are as colorful as the city. Experience a 30-foot-long tunnel that allows you to get an up close look at sea creatures in their underwater environment, see over 1,800 animals all in one place, or visit a former sugar plantation. One of the hot spots and a must see in the city is the historic French Quarter, a main social hub for vacationers and residents alike. Play Black Jack, take in a game of the New Orleans Saints, or cruise along the Mississippi aboard a steamboat. Walk the half mile stretch of the Riverwalk Marketplace as you shop, dine, and enjoy the entertainment. New Orleans has a number of interesting museums and the restaurants go without saying. There are so many places to eat in New Orleans it may be hard to decide. Let Onlinehotels.com show you some of our favorite places to stay and to play. Audubon
Aquarium of the Americas Audubon Zoo
City Park
Entergy IMAX Theatre French Quarter Garden District
Homes
Harrah's New
Orleans Jackson Square
Louis Armstrong
Park/New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Louisiana Superdome Riverwalk MarketPlace Six Flags New Orleans Steamboat Natchez
Louisiana's
Children Museum Louisiana State
Museum National D-Day Museum New Orleans Museum
of Arts The Cabildo Restaurants Arnaud's Crescent City Brewhouse Louis XVI Mulate's Cajun
Restaurant Palace Café |
||
|
The
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas introduces the public to the various
sea creatures of North and South America, including sharks, seahorses,
and sea otters. Aquarium guests learn interesting facts about various
species of fish and sea reptiles. Visitors enjoy meandering through the
aquarium's 30-foot-long tunnel, which allows them to get a close-up
of the sea creatures in their underwater environment. There are several
interactive programs and activities that make learning fun for children
who visit the aquarium, which is located at 1 Canal St. The aquarium is
open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 9:30 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. Admission to the aquarium costs $14
for adults, $6 for children 6 to 12, and $10 for seniors 65 and older.
Gorillas,
rhinos, white tigers, Asian elephants, and Malayan sun bears are just
a few of the animals that roam the 58-acre Audubon Zoo, which contains
more than 1,000 plant species and 419 varieties of animals. Its occupancy
currently exceeds 1,800 animals. The zoo, at 6500 Magazine St., has free
parking. During the summer, it is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays
and 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Zoo admission is $10 for adults,
$5 for children 2 to 12, and $6 for seniors age 65 and older.
This
former sugar plantation is America's fifth-largest urban park. The
1,500-acre City Park, at 1 Palm Drive, is lined with a plethora of sightly
oak trees. Its sprawling area contains the New Orleans Museum of Arts
and the several historic buildings. Visitors behold an eyeful when they
trek the park's grounds or swing on its world-famous carousel. 
Entergy
IMAX Theatre offers the next best thing to seeing unique sea creatures
at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas; it allows visitors to swim alongside
the underwater inhabitants. At least that is what visitors appear to do
as they peer at a state-of-the-art IMAX screen through 3-D goggles. Entergy
IMAX guests get to voyage beyond the sea though. Other 3-D journeys include
trips to space and through bug territory. Exciting adventures await newcomers
of Entergy IMAX, which is next door to the Audubon Aquarium at 1 Canal
St. The first show begins at 10 a.m. daily; the last picture starts at
6 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Admission into IMAX costs $8 for adults, $5 for children 2 to 12, and
$7 for children 65 and older.
This
thriving area of New Orleans is often the first stop for tourists. The
historic French Quarter is the city's social spot, and the location
of some of New Orleans' national landmarks - some date back
to the early 1700s. The city has approximately 35,000 buildings listed
on the National Register of Historic Places. This preserved neighborhood
is the treasure chest for many of these buildings and the highly trafficked
Bourbon Street and Jackson Square. New Orleans' tourists flock to
the French Quarter to see live jazz performances and the area's
long-surviving businesses, sample authentic Cajun food, and shop at the
boutiques. The area spans 120 blocks and encompasses the area between
Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue. 
This
historic area of New Orleans offers a refreshing look at 19th-century
architecture, including the Greek Revival style. The Garden District,
a National Historic Landmark, contains the homes of famous people in history,
including late author Anne Rice. Some of these homes have interesting
folklore. The city is packed with several tour services that offer paid
sightseeing explorations of the area, which includes St. Charles Avenue.
Visitors
might want to try their hands at blackjack, video poker, slots, or craps
at Louisiana's "best casino," according to readers of
Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Gambit magazines. Gamblers shouldn't
pass up an opportunity to win some cash at this 100,000-square-foot casino
while visiting New Orleans. Harrah's, in the heart of the city,
has more than 100 gaming tables and approximately 2,500 slot machines.
Visitors will find the most up-to-date slot machines at the casino, which
is located at 512 S. Peters St. Harrah's also features a food court,
live jazz performances, and The Buffet and The Manor Room restaurants.
Call the casino toll free at (877) 277-GAME for more information about
its operation hours. 
Jackson
Square - the historic site of public executions and military drills
- honors the late Gen. Andrew Jackson for his success during the
war of 1812. Today, tourists and New Orleans residents frequent the landmark
for fun and entertainment. The square, near St. Louis Cathedral in the
French Quarter, is a mall that is full of shops and roadside performers.
The
vocal and instrumental tunes of late musician Louis Armstrong ring in
the heads of jazz fans the moment they set foot into this 32-acre park
- an old meeting place of 19th-century slaves. Fans of the jazz
great are reminded of Armstrong's talents and his influence on the
music industry as they view the park's signature, 12-foot statue
of him. The verdant park - between North Rampart and St. Phillips
streets - regularly hosts musical programs and performances, and
contains exhibits and information about other famous jazz musicians and
the genre in general. The park (open from dawn to dusk) will soon become
the permanent site of the ground-breaking New Orleans Jazz National Historical
Park, which was created to preserve information and artifacts that explain
the birth of jazz in New Orleans. The New Orleans Jazz Park, currently
based at 916 N. Peters St. in the French Quarter, will permanently relocate
to Armstrong Park sometime in 2004. The jazz park is open from 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
This
jumbo sports complex is the seat of activity in New Orleans. Sports fans
of all kinds crowd the 27-story Louisiana Superdome throughout the year
for various events: including the Bayou Classic, New Orleans Saints'
games, Nokia Sugar Bowl Classic, and NOKIA Sugar Bowl Prep Classic. The
Superdome, which spans 13 acres, also has hosted six Super Bowls and three
NCAA finals. It connects to other popular places, including the New Orleans
Centre Mall and the New Orleans Arena (home of the NBA's New Orleans
Hornets). The sports facility is located on Super Bowl Drive. Call the
Superdome at (800) 756-7074 for a schedule of events. 
Visitors
who love to shop and eat could probably spend a day at Riverwalk Marketplace,
a half-mile stretch of shops, restaurants, and musical entertainment.
Riverwalk, located near the Aquarium of the Americas, hugs the Mississippi
riverfront. This busy port, just a hop and a skip from downtown New Orleans,
has 120 venues. Visitors may take advantage of the Louisiana Tax-Free
Shopping program, and receive a 9 percent cash refund on their purchases
at Riverwalk. To do so, patrons must show their passports and ask for
a tax-free voucher during buys. Most stores and shops at Riverwalk generally
open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m.
to 7 p.m. on Sundays; some businesses open earlier or close later and
change their hours during holidays. 
Six
Flags New Orleans has a ride for everyone, from the petrified first-timer
to the roller coaster-riding enthusiast. The park debuted two new roller
coasters in 2003: Batman and The Jester. The Batman ride carries passengers
up to 105 feet in the air at 50 mph, and zips them through a series of
loops and turns while their feet dangle. The Jester, with 1,900 feet of
track, is just as hair-raising. Six Flags New Orleans, located on Lake
Forest Boulevard, is packed with fun for the whole family. Call the park
at (504) 253-8100 for information about its hours and ticket prices, which
start at $22.99 for visitors shorter than 48 inches.
Cruising
on the 265-foot-long, 44-foot-wide Natchez is a favorite tourist activity
in New Orleans. Sophisticated sounds of jazz tickle the ears of steamboat
passengers as they feel the refreshing touch of a cool river breeze and
dine buffet-style. Passengers get an ideal view of New Orleans'
scenes as they coast the Mississippi River during one of Natchez's
inviting dinner and jazz cruises. The steam-powered and air-conditioned
vessel departs daily from the Toulouse Street Wharf, near Jackson Square,
and holds up to 1,600 passengers. Fares for adults and children vary according
to the type of cruise and time of day. Call the New Orleans Steamboat
Company toll free at (800) 233-2628 to make a reservation or get more
information about its cruises. 
Louisiana's
Children Museum has maintained its original edifice - a brick building
with wooden beams and big, arched doorways and windows - for more
than a century. The museum, originally built as a warehouse in 1861, opened
its doors as an educational facility for children in 1986. Today, it offers
fun interactive games, videos, and educational programs that teach children
science and challenge their thinking abilities. The museum, at 420 Julia
St., is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and
noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays; but not on major holidays. During the summer
only, it is also open on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission
is $6 for children 2 and older and adults. 
Many
vacationers fancy a trip to the Louisiana State Museum to eyeball some
of the United States' most precious landmarks, including the Presbytere,
Cabildo, and Old U.S. Mint. These revered tourist attractions contain
several vestiges from American history, but historians are not the only
ones that traverse the intricate web of sights. Music lovers visit the
Louisiana State Museum, in the French Quarter, to listen to the beloved
recordings of jazz greats or study the origins of the smooth music style.
The world-famous New Orleans Jazz Club Collection, in the U.S. Old Mint,
contains the largest collection of jazz instruments played by past and
present-day music icons - some of them include the late trumpeter
Dizzy Gillespie and cornetist Louis Armstrong. Visitors could spend a
day patrolling each attraction at the museum complex, which basically
reveals every aspect of Louisiana's legacy. Call the Louisiana State
Museum toll free at (800) 568-6968 to get information about each property's
admission fees and operation hours.
The
National D-Day Museum, at 945 Magazine St., honors American veterans and
martyrs of World War II. The 70,500-square-foot museum features exhibits,
artifacts, documents, and photographs that recount the timeline of events
and tell the story about this unforgettable period of history. Written
and narrated accounts about the lives and deeds of the fighting men and
women of World War II describe the sacrifices made in behalf of the United
States. The museum is an outstanding educational resource for present-day
and future generations. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except
on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and Mardi Gras. Call the
museum toll free at (877) 813-3329 to get information about admission
rates. .jpg)
The New Orleans Museum of Arts - the city's oldest fine arts
establishment - has been collecting valuable masterpieces from various
cultures since 1911. NOMA has a multimillion-dollar permanent collection
of more than 40,000 pieces of art, from ancient to modern times. African,
Asian, Chinese and Japanese artworks are included in its collage, which
also showcases Louisiana art from the 19th to 20th centuries. In 2003,
the museum premiered the "Jefferson's America and Napoleon's France"
exhibit in honor of the Louisiana Purchase bicentennial. The museum, at
One Collins Diboll Circle in City Park, is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesdays through Sundays; it is closed on Mondays and major holidays.
Admission at NOMA - one of America's largest and principal
museums - is $6 for adults, $5 for senior citizens, and $3 for children
ages 3 to 17. 
The
Cabildo marks the spot where former President Thomas Jefferson signed
the Louisiana Purchase agreement in 1803. The National Historic Landmark,
located at 701 Chatres St. on Jackson Square, is a part of the Louisiana
State Museum. Reenactments honoring the momentous real estate transaction
are scheduled to occur at The Cabildo in December 2003. The historic museum
abounds with artifacts and materials that trace the state's history.
Admission costs $5 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, and free for
children younger than age 13. 
Arnaud's
specializes in Creole cuisine. The restaurant, at 813 Rue Bienville, claims
that it is the best in the culinary old guard category. Visiting patrons
might want to sink their teeth into the restaurant's superb oysters
Bienville, or try one of its other superb meals. Arnaud's guest
may choose a more formal evening in the restaurant's lavishly decorated
dining room or a more relaxed experience served with live Dixieland jazz
and a five-course meal at its bright and cheery bistro. Lunchtime at Arnaud's
is from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; it serves dinner
from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and until 10:30 p.m.
on Fridays and Saturdays. Call the restaurant toll free at (866) 230-8891
to make a reservation or to get more information about its Sunday Brunch
and Jazz, which begins at 10 a.m.
If
you like poached eggs and breakfast is your favorite meal of the day,
then get your mornings off to a pleasant start at Brennan's Restaurant
(at 417 Royal St. in the French Quarter). "Breakfast at Brennan's"
is a catchphrase that has taken the restaurant for a spin to national
prominence since the early 1950s. After sampling its addictive French
and Creole dishes, people see why this family owned restaurant -
known worldwide among food critiques - is a culinary spectacular.
Brennan's, conceived as a result of a challenge to late founder
Owen Edward Brennan, serves more than a dozen varieties of poached eggs.
Although its breakfast is scrumptiously irresistible, dining there is
ideal any time of the day. Call the fine dining restaurant at (504) 525-9711
to make reservations. 
The
Crescent City Brewhouse, at 527 Decatur St. in the French Quarter, is
a place of distinction. The establishment is New Orleans' and the
state's first brewpub. The restaurant and brewery is also known
for its historical location - the site of an early 18th-century
home and former fur processing business. Today, Crescent City Brewhouse
is a fun dining experience for everyone. Votive candles, stainless white
linens, a relaxed atmosphere, and live jazz entertainment create the perfect
atmosphere for casual dining. Crescent City Brewhouse serves a traditional
New Orleans cuisine - some made with the area's best seafood
catch - and offers varieties of its specially brewed beer. Call
the restaurant at (888) 819-9330 to make a reservation or inquire about
its business hours. 
An
award-winning French cuisine, European-style service, extravagant dining
atmosphere, and fine wines make Louis XVI. This world-class restaurant,
with its finesse and precision, takes dining to a new level. The restaurant's
diners enjoy personal service in an atmosphere touted, by the local and
national media, as the Big Easy's most impressive when it comes
to interior and exterior beauty. Louis XVI, a Distinguished Restaurants
of North America (DiRoNA) award winner, gratifies customers with a variety
of top-quality and reasonably priced meals. Customers should dress in
casual business attire if they want to be seated at Louis XVI, which is
located at 730 Rue Bienville. Call the restaurant at (888) 535-9116 to
make a reservation. 
Mulate's
Cajun Restaurant offers patrons an opportunity to work off the calories
after they enjoy one its delectable, authentic Cajun meals. Customers
are adopted into the Cajun culture as they munch its food and two-step
to live music. The restaurant's dance hall explodes with catchy
Cajun rhythms that provoke even the shy and reserved to sway their hips
and boogie. The restaurant, at 201 Julia St., is open from 11 a.m. to
10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
There is open seating from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; reservations are accepted
until then. Call Mulate's toll free at (800) 854-9149 to make a
reservation.
New
Orleans visitors have an opportunity to dine in style at the award-winning
Palace Café. It has received top reviews from the national media.
Top food critiques from CNN, USA Today, Esquire Magazine, the New York
Times, and many other notable publications and television networks claim
that Palace Café is one of America's best restaurants. The
family owned eatery has received such high ratings since it debuted in
1991. Owner Dickie Brennen, an offspring of well-known restaurateur Owen
Edward Brennan, offers New Orleans' families and visitors classic
Creole and Cajun food. The lively Palace Café, at 605 Canal St.
in the French Quarter, is a casual fine dining place. Call the restaurant
(504) 523-1661 to get information about its business hours and jazz brunches.