Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World
If your trip to New Orleans misses Mardi Gras, you can still visit the working studio of Blaine Kern, New Orleans’ busiest carnival float designer. Kern works full time on giant floats and props for the city’s famous celebration, and a visit to the museum allows you to watch Kern and his team in action. The museum is on the Mississippi River’s east bank at the end of Convention Center Boulevard.
Address: 1380 Port of New Orleans Place.
Telephone: (504) 361 7821.
Website:www.mardigrasworld.com.
Opening time: Open daily, 9:30am – 4:30pm.
Admission: Tours: Adults - $19.95, Children - $12.95.
The Cabildo
The Cabildo museum is one of the best in the state and examines Louisiana’s history from a multicultural perspective, starting with early European explorations and ending with the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. The museum itself is a historic building dating back to 1799. It was once the offices for the Spanish city council and was the site of the Louisiana Purchase Transfer ceremonies in 1803. Five American presidents have visited the museum.
Address: 701 Chartres St.
Telephone: (504) 568 6968.
Website:www.lsm.crt.state.la.us.
Opening time: Closed Mondays and state holidays. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am – 4:30pm.
Admission: $6.
National WWII Museum
Famous World War II historian and author Dr Stephen Ambrose founded the National WWII Museum in New Orleans in 2000. The museum is located in the city’s warehouse district and has become a regular stop for New Orleans tourists. Exhibits include text panels, films, artifacts and personal account stations depicting every aspect of D-Day, from the home front to the Pacific and European invasions. A giant panorama exhibit even recreates a Normandy beach landing.
Address: 945 Magazine St. The entrance is located on Andrew Higgins Drive.
Telephone: (504) 528 1944.
Email:info@nationalww2museum.org.
Website:www.ddaymuseum.org.
Opening time: Daily, 9am – 5pm.
Admission: Adults - $19, Students - $9, Children - $9. Children under age five are free.
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
The modern Audubon Aquarium is one of the best in the country and can be found on the banks of the Mississippi River. The facility has several interesting exhibits including underwater tunnels exploring a Caribbean Reef and a recreation of the Gulf of Mexico. You can also walk through an Amazon rainforest or explore what it’s like to live in a swamp. Every kind of aquatic animal resides in the aquarium, including jellyfish, sea horses, sea otters and penguins. The Audubon institute also runs the New Orleans city zoo, the aquarium’s sister attraction, in uptown New Orleans’ Audubon Park.
Address: Canal Street.
Telephone: (504) 581 4629.
Email:air@auduboninstitute.org.
Website:www.auduboninstitute.org.
Opening time: Aquarium: Open daily 10am – 5pm. Zoo: Closed Mondays. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 7pm.
Admission: Aquarium: Adults - $19.95, Children (ages 2-12) - $12.95. Zoo: Adults - $14.95, Children - $9.95.
French Quarter
New Orleans’ historic French Quarter is the heart and soul of the city. The quarter covers 90 square blocks that fan out from Chartres Street and Jackson Square. The French Quarter began as Vieux Carré, a French military outpost in 1718. It was later taken over by the Spanish and the two cultures merged into a loose world of slaves, pirates, mercenaries, call girls and free men. The area is much the same as it was before Hurricane Katrina. Wrought iron railings adorn clubs, bars and Cajun restaurants that are constantly buzzing with activity, especially Bourbon Street. It’s one of the best people-watching spots in the world by day and one giant street party at night. Listen to live jazz or dine at a world-class restaurant.
Website:www.frenchquarter.com.
“Hurricane Katrina: America’s Worst Catastrophe!” Tour
Bus tours drive through the areas of New Orleans hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina, one of the worst hurricanes in the country’s history. The tours last three hours and aim to gather support for rebuilding the city. Tour guides describe the events surrounding the storm and pass around pictures of its destruction. Tourists are not allowed to get off the bus to take pictures, to protect residents’ privacy.
Telephone: (504) 569 1401 or (800) 233 2628.
Email:tours@glno.com.
Website:www.graylineneworleans.com/katrina.
Opening time: Daily, tours depart at 1pm.
Admission: Adults - $38, Children - $30.
Preservation Hall
Head to historic Preservation Hall to listen to some great New Orleans jazz. You can hear the famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band and other groups perform seven nights a week in the hall, which began as a residence in 1750. Sunday night performances are by the Olympia Brass Band.
Address: 726 St Peter St.
Telephone: (504) 522 2841.
Website:www.preservationhall.com.
Opening time: Nightly, 8pm – 11pm. Performances begin at 8:30pm.
Admission: $12.
