I loved the walking tours of the French Quarter, Garden district and cemetaries....and the food was fantastic. I did miss out on the day trip to one of the old plantations - that would have been interesting too.

Haven't been since before Katrina. I wouldn't miss the cemetary walking tour if it is still available. There were alot of walking tours, but they may not be the same as I haven't been in years. DH was on business so I spent the days shopping and sightseeing and loved every minute!

Grab a Zagat's and make lots of reservations too! Did meet Emeril Lagasse and Billy Joel in Emeril's restaurant the first nite of our stay.

Stayed at the Bourbon Orleans which was offered decent accomodations at the time. The hotel was in a great location as well.

Unfortunately since we were there on business, we didn't do any plantation tours. I would love to have done at least one.

Oh, don't forget a cup of Cafe DuMonde coffee and some bengets (sp?).

What fun, can't wait to go back.

the best burgers EVER are at the 'port of call'... a hole in the wall place next to the quarter, if they want a delicious yet reasonable dinner!

she will see a gazillion t-shirts if walking down the quarter if you like tshirts. a nice, local jazz cd would be a great gift if you like jazz.... (or a zydeco cd or cajun fiddle cd, etc... LOTS of GREAT music in NO)

Love NOLA! the day tours to the old plantations are great. Staying in the French quarter is the best and if Jazz is an interest, don't miss the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
http://www.preservationhall.com/band/index.aspx

We've not been since Katrina either. I would love to see how cleaned up it is now. We've stayed in the Garden District. We enjoyed the D Day Museum. Cafe DuMonde is not to be missed. So many good restaurants. There are many areas I would not want to be walking alone though.

Plantations are good and I'm thinking there are some ghost tours, although we didn't take those.

Natal and Wodka should have some good suggestions.

tina

There was a time I loved visiting NO. Met dh there almost 34 years ago. Now I tend to avoid it if at all possible.

Here is a link that might be useful: some things to do

Just remembered ... there are special Papa Noel hotel rates and Revellion dinner deals in December.

Here is a link that might be useful: Christmas in New Orleans

Haven't been there in many years, but I remember enjoying the ride on the street car and a tour of the Garden District. I poked my head into a couple cemeteries but was afraid to walk in alone. I believe maybe homeless live there sometimes.

My husband and I lived in New Orleans for almost nine years in the Warehouse District on Julia Street. Lots of art galleries, Emeril's across the street. We sold our second car (no where to park and garages were quite expensive) so I either walked, cabbed or took the street car to work. It was a great experience. We loved it while we were there (from 1991 - 2000.)

There is so much more to New Orleans than the French Quarter and the Garden District. Magazine Street is great - lots of cute shops (accessories, like jewelry, made by locals) and restaurants, as are the funky little neighborhoods like Bayou St. John. If one needs to catch a cab, United Cab is the most reliable - we were told that when we first moved there. I still remember their phone number by heart, I called them so many times.

As far as souvenirs go, there are so many to choose from. Artisans who feature blown glass ornaments, vases, etc.; foods and spices, such as pralines. (One Christmas for a little "happy," I bought my sisters tins that were designed to look like street cars, filled with the most delicious pralines!) Mignon Faget, a local designer/artist, makes beautiful things (some pricey, some not so much.) Her shop, last time I checked, was in Canal Place. Preservation Resource Center hosts a Holiday Home Tour in the Garden District every December, but I'm not sure when it is this year. It's a wonderful tour of beautiful homes, complete with food (turtle soup from Commander's Palace was always featured), and a boutique where you can buy all sorts of gifts and Christmas stuff!

I hope your DD and her husband have a wonderful time! New Orleans is a beautiful place to visit this time of year, when the weather is so nice and the city is decorated for the holidays. Of course, you have to be careful, just like you do anywhere these days.

We loved Celebration in the Oaks, the annual holiday display in City Park where giant ornaments are hung from the beautiful live oaks. Below's a link, but I don't think it adequately shows the grandeur of the displays. City Park is still one of my favorite places in the country -- so beautiful.

Here is a link that might be useful: Celebration in the Oaks

I'm going to be in NOLA that week also, this will be our second trip. After the first trip in early 2010 I told hubby I wanted to go back 'some day' to see the city all decked out for Christmas. I turned 40 this year, and this trip is what I 'asked for' as a gift. :)

NO is one city where I absolutely enjoyed the walking tours. There is so much to see in NO, and I found these tours showed you the best & important stuff in a reasonable time. I think they lasted 2 - 2.5 hours. Last time we did three - French Quarter, Garden District and Cemeteries. I would recommend any of them. The tour guides we had absolutely knew their stuff and we SO interesting. The Garden District guy was especially good. This time we're planning to do the 'cocktail tour' which should be fun.

We also enjoyed a river cruise on the Steamboat Natchez... and we took one day and rented a car to drive upriver & visited Oak Alley and Laura plantations. That was one of our best days, we really enjoyed it, so I'd definitely recommend doing that if time permits. There are so many great restaurants to try.... we're going to brunch at Commander's Palace this time (had dinner there in 2010), and I really enjoyed Mr. B's Bistro in the French Quarter. Not sure how many 'repeat' restaurants we'll do this trip, but I do want to go back to Mr. B's.

When your DD is there, in City Park there is an event called "Celebration in the Oaks" which I don't know much about... it's a Christmas themed event with lots of lights, etc. I think we'll check it out because we've never been to City Park. Also, if they're still there on the 18th there is a 'tour of homes' in the FQ and caroling in Jackson Square, along with a Christmas concert in the Cathedral. Someone recommended on Tripadvisor to ride the St. Charles Ave. streetcar at dusk to see all the lights & beautiful houses decorated for Christmas.

Bourbon Street IMO is a bit of a sewer.... we walked down it once, and then pretty much stayed away. I'd like to spend more time on Frenchmen Street this trip.

There are great museums... I can't think of all the ones we visited right off-hand. There is one in the Cabildo building on Jackson Square, I think, that we really enjoyed.

I'm so excited to go..., if you can't tell. :) I know NO is a city with warts - but what city doesn't have it's issues & dark side. Some better, some worse of course... but we used common sense and good judgement in NO (same as I would in any city) and never felt unsafe. I'm sure it's cliche, but I developed my initial interest in NO reading Anne Rice books as a teenager. I'm much older & over all the 'vampire' stuff now, but I still fell in love with the City. I love the mix of so many cultures & the history. I'm from eastern Canada and although I'm not French, the Acadian influence in LA is very interesting to me also. I hope your DD enjoys it as much as I did!!

i have been many times, the last was early this year. I love NO. It's such an active place. This trip we took mom and our 5 year old. It's a bit of a march for the five year old :) Do be sure to visit the fabulous antique stores in the Quarter. They're on the main shopping street where all the fancy shops are (anyone have the name of that street?) Peter's shop is beyond fabulous (and no I don't know the name LOL But it's full of antique jewelry). Will you let me know if the 24' dining room table is still there? I think they'll bargain if it's still sitting around LOL

We have eaten at Bayona on every single trip to NO. It's in the quarter and it's beyond fabulous. We've been going for about ten years now and it never disapoints. Reservations are necessary far in advance and they do a couple of really special holiday meals so check them out. It's worth the wait for a late dinner if that's all you can get in for. Honestly it's the best restaurant in NO. Have a glass of wine for me LOL

igloochic, the street you're referring to in the French Quarter is Royal Street. There used to be a group of musicians who played every Sunday on Royal Street. The woman played a clarinet, and they would spend their summers in France (New Orleans summers are brutal.) There are such talented, interesting, unique people who live in NOLA.

I also totally agree with you about Bayona. When we lived in New Orleans, we always took our guests there. One of my favorite dishes was the grilled shrimp and black bean cakes. My husband used to tease me, because I would always order it. Such a beautiful place, with loads of ambience. You probably already know, or might even have it, but the chef/owner, Susan Spicer, has a great cookbook out, and the recipe is in the book. And yes, wine is definitely a great accompaniement.

Pesky, if you have a sweet tooth, the best thing your dd could bring you is some pralines. If I could only have one sweet for the rest of my life, it would be a praline.

I agree that Cafe du Monde is a "can't miss" stop. They sell boxed beignet mix, too, if you'd like to try recreating that treat at home.

Of all of the well known restaurants, my favorite is Commander's Palace, not just for the amazing food but also for the service and friendliness. I will never forget how happy they made my late father when he visited us and we had brunch at Commander's. Napoleon House (it's on Chartres St.) is a great place for a cocktail.

Two (now old school)music venues I'd suggest checking out are Tipitina's and Maple Leaf. I started going to Tip's when it first opened and have some very fond memories.

Sadly, the crime situation in NOLA was bad back then, too. A piano player who'd moved from NYC to NOLA to play with the Professor at Tip's was murdered after work one night, just after getting off the streetcar near his home. He was a dear friend. On a much lesser scale, I experienced mugging attempts and most of my friends had bikes stolen, cars broken into or pockets picked. I know that can happen anywhere, but it's best to stay in well lit and well patroled areas at night. An optometrist from Slidell, who would know NOLA better than a tourist, was murdered recently when he apparently lost his way near the Quarter and wandered a few blocks off course.

I don't mean to be a fear mongerer, but would hate for anyone to go to NOLA thinking it's no more dangerous than downtown Omaha. I'd feel safe enough shopping alone on Magazine St., riding the streetcar along St. Charles, or visiting the more populated parts of the Quarter during the daytime. Your dd may want to look into guided tours for the days when she's on her own. There are also some short cooking classes geared to visitors she might enjoy.
Hope they have a great visit.

Thank you everyone for the hints! I'm passing on this thread for her to peruse. I'm so excited for her. On their honeymoon they went to Ireland and loved it, so I can only imagine the good time they'll have there.

Fortunately the kids lived in Portland, OR for a while, and know what it's like in 'the big city', so they know how to be safe. I can't wait to hear their adventures!

Wodka mentioned Mignon Faget's work. She has a shop here in Baton Rouge and today I read an article about her. I'll link it if you think your daughter might be interested.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mignon Faget

I just got my new Southern Living, and it has a spread on NO during the holidays. It is one of my favorite cities, and we go at least once a year.

We love Brigsten's, Bayona, Stella!, Commander's Palace, Acme Oyster Bar, Casamento's, August and Muriel's. Last trip we went to the lounge at the Ritz Carlton to hear Jeremy Davenport and his band. He is a trumpet player. Loved the lounge, it has awesome comfy couches and chairs.

Have fun!