You’ve seen the French Quarter, taken a ride on the streetcars, and strolled through Jackson Square. What now? Well, plenty! New Orleans is filled with hidden gems just waiting for you to explore. If you’ve think you’ve seen everything, think again— here are 13 things to do in (or near) New Orleans when you think you’ve done it all.
- Barataria Preserve
Jackie Ann/Flickr Just a stone’s throw away from New Orleans in Marrero, you’ll find this paradise. Barataria Preserve is filled with several miles of boardwalk trails that will lead you through areas of the bayous and swamps you wouldn’t be able to get to any other way.
Learn more about Barataria Preserve here.
- Take a nighttime bike tour
Wayne J./Yelp Nola City Lights offers night tours on bikes with LED lights. Cruise down the streets on a colorful bike with your favorite music, a beverage of your choice, and 10 to 20 of your friends. It’s certainly a unique way to spend an evening with your buddies.
- Longue Vue House and Gardens
Kim M./Trip Advisor This hidden gem is perfect for anyone interested in architecture, design, or gardens. You can tour the historic estate featuring a world-class house museum and eight acres of perfectly manicured gardens seven days a week.
- National WWII Museum
The National WWII Museum/Facebook The WWII Museum is an essential stop for both tourists and locals. You could easily spend five hours here and still not see everything. The museum features immersive exhibits and a massive collection of artifacts and first-hand personal stories. You’ll walk away with an understanding of this war, why it was fought, and deep appreciation of our Veterans.
- French Market
French Market/Facebook Established in 1791, the French Market is America’s oldest public market. The large variety of food stands, restaurants, shops, crafts, art, and antiques make this one of the most popular destinations for locals and tourists alike.
Learn more about the French Market here.
- Garden District
tracyrocks/Trip Advisor Stroll down one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in America, the Garden District. Admire the architecture of these historic homes and enjoy the beautiful gardens that compliment each home.
- Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
Tony T./Yelp The sculpture garden is located within City Park and free to enter. Stroll through the garden and admire the breathtaking sculptures that are perfectly nestled in nature. There are more than 60 sculptures within the garden along with reflecting lagoons and 200-year-old oaks.
- Audubon Park
Audubon Park/Facebook An afternoon at Audubon Park is a wonderful way to spend the day. Located in historic Uptown, there’s a 1.8 mile paved jogging path, three playgrounds, picnic areas, and wide open spaces for laying out or throwing the ball around. Among the 150 oak trees in the park, one stands out from the rest — the Tree of Life. Just about every local has memories of climbing this ancient oak, and if you haven’t done so yet, go ahead and check this off your bucket list.
- St. Louis Cemetery No. 1
Larry W./Trip Advisor The St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 was opened in 1789, and it’s worth your while to pay this historic site a visit. Famous New Orleanians buried there include Etienne de Bore, Homer Plessy, and of course, the Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau. You need a tour guide to enter the cemetery, so be sure to schedule a tour ahead of time.
- Magazine Street
Robert B./Trip Advisor Magazine Street is perfect for shopping and dining. The six-mile stretch from the Garden District to Uptown has some of the best art galleries, antique stores, and boutiques in the city.
- New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum/Facebook Head on over to the French Quarter for an interesting lesson in the history of pharmacy and healthcare in Louisiana. The building is the site of America’s first licensed pharmacist, Louis J. Dufilgo, Jr., and you’ll learn about the different medicines and treatments that were used in the 1800s.
Read more about the Pharmacy Museum in our previous article here.
- Music Box Village
New Orleans Airlift/Facebook Kids and adults with have a blast wandering through this space, creating music from the most unlikely of sources. Each house has its own sound unique sound quality to it, and you’ll discover how to make music from the doors, windows, shutters, practically everything. On the weekends you can find local and national musicians performing, so be sure to check their website for future events.
Learn more about the Music Box Village here.
- Watch an improv show
Stuart R./Yelp Once you’ve seen all there is to see, head on down to the Bywater district for some laughs. The New Movement has improv, sketch, and standup comedy six nights a week performed by the some of the best comedians in the city. You can find it at 2706 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115.
How many of these attractions have you seen? Should there be anything else on this list? Let us know in the comments below!
Jackie Ann/Flickr
Just a stone’s throw away from New Orleans in Marrero, you’ll find this paradise. Barataria Preserve is filled with several miles of boardwalk trails that will lead you through areas of the bayous and swamps you wouldn’t be able to get to any other way.
Learn more about Barataria Preserve here.
Wayne J./Yelp
Nola City Lights offers night tours on bikes with LED lights. Cruise down the streets on a colorful bike with your favorite music, a beverage of your choice, and 10 to 20 of your friends. It’s certainly a unique way to spend an evening with your buddies.
Kim M./Trip Advisor
This hidden gem is perfect for anyone interested in architecture, design, or gardens. You can tour the historic estate featuring a world-class house museum and eight acres of perfectly manicured gardens seven days a week.
The National WWII Museum/Facebook
The WWII Museum is an essential stop for both tourists and locals. You could easily spend five hours here and still not see everything. The museum features immersive exhibits and a massive collection of artifacts and first-hand personal stories. You’ll walk away with an understanding of this war, why it was fought, and deep appreciation of our Veterans.
French Market/Facebook
Established in 1791, the French Market is America’s oldest public market. The large variety of food stands, restaurants, shops, crafts, art, and antiques make this one of the most popular destinations for locals and tourists alike.
Learn more about the French Market here.
tracyrocks/Trip Advisor
Stroll down one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in America, the Garden District. Admire the architecture of these historic homes and enjoy the beautiful gardens that compliment each home.
Tony T./Yelp
The sculpture garden is located within City Park and free to enter. Stroll through the garden and admire the breathtaking sculptures that are perfectly nestled in nature. There are more than 60 sculptures within the garden along with reflecting lagoons and 200-year-old oaks.
Audubon Park/Facebook
An afternoon at Audubon Park is a wonderful way to spend the day. Located in historic Uptown, there’s a 1.8 mile paved jogging path, three playgrounds, picnic areas, and wide open spaces for laying out or throwing the ball around. Among the 150 oak trees in the park, one stands out from the rest — the Tree of Life. Just about every local has memories of climbing this ancient oak, and if you haven’t done so yet, go ahead and check this off your bucket list.
Larry W./Trip Advisor
The St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 was opened in 1789, and it’s worth your while to pay this historic site a visit. Famous New Orleanians buried there include Etienne de Bore, Homer Plessy, and of course, the Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau. You need a tour guide to enter the cemetery, so be sure to schedule a tour ahead of time.
Robert B./Trip Advisor
Magazine Street is perfect for shopping and dining. The six-mile stretch from the Garden District to Uptown has some of the best art galleries, antique stores, and boutiques in the city.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum/Facebook
Head on over to the French Quarter for an interesting lesson in the history of pharmacy and healthcare in Louisiana. The building is the site of America’s first licensed pharmacist, Louis J. Dufilgo, Jr., and you’ll learn about the different medicines and treatments that were used in the 1800s.
Read more about the Pharmacy Museum in our previous article here.
New Orleans Airlift/Facebook
Kids and adults with have a blast wandering through this space, creating music from the most unlikely of sources. Each house has its own sound unique sound quality to it, and you’ll discover how to make music from the doors, windows, shutters, practically everything. On the weekends you can find local and national musicians performing, so be sure to check their website for future events.
Learn more about the Music Box Village here.
Stuart R./Yelp
Once you’ve seen all there is to see, head on down to the Bywater district for some laughs. The New Movement has improv, sketch, and standup comedy six nights a week performed by the some of the best comedians in the city. You can find it at 2706 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115.
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