The French Quarter is also called the Vieux Carré. This is the original city as planned by the French in the early eighteenth century. History seeps through the brick walls of the Quarter – which is heavy on tourists and light on locals.

FIRST: TOP SIGHTS IN THE FRENCH QUARTER

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JACKSON SQUARE is the anchor of the French Quarter and the beating heart of this corner of New Orleans (going forward we’ll say, NOLA which is used everywhere for expediency).

*The stately St. Louis Cathedral in the heart of the city*

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ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL is still used for services and gets packed out on Christmas Eve at midnight mass. It is known as one of the most important – and beautiful – churches serving Catholics today.

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CABILDO This magnificent building is the former seat of power in Colonial Louisiana. It serves as the gateway for exploring the history of Louisiana and NOLA in particular.

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PRESBYTÈRE Visit a museum that is dedicated to contemporary Louisiana. You’ll find a wonderful permanent exhibit on Mardi Gras that explores the city’s most famous holiday.

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ROYAL STREET offers block after block of high-end antique shops and galleries. It’s the elegant YIN to the well-known YANG of the famous Bourbon Street.

SECOND: THE CBD AND WAREHOUSE DISTRICT

Canal Street is the “great divide” that splits the French Quarter from the Central Business District (CBD) and the Warehouse District. It stretches from the Superdome to the river.

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THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM drops one right into the action with wall-sized photos that capture the confusion of D-Day and offers riveting oral histories that reveal outstanding accounts of survival.

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THE OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART is just steps from the WWI museum. This vibrant collection of Southern art is one of the most engaging art displays in NOLA.

THIRD: FAUBOURG MARIGNY & BYWATER

North of the Quarter is the Creole “faubourg” – literally suburb or neighborhood – an established area for gays, lesbians and successful creative types (artists, graphic designers and more). A top spot would be Frenchmen Street. CLICK HERE to see our blog.

FOURTH: LOWER GARDEN & CENTRAL CITY

Proceeding south along the Mississippi, following the curve of the river’s “U” – the streets become tree-lined and the houses considerably grander --this is the Garden and Lower Garden District. CLICK HERE to view our blog about Commander’s Palace – which is located here.

FIFTH: UPTOWN AND RIVERBEND

This is the area where American settlers decided to prove to the original French inhabitants that they could be as tasteful as any old-world aristocrat. Note: Magazine Street is one of the coolest strips of restaurants and shops in all of New Orleans. CLICK HERE to read more.

SIXTH: MID-CITY & THE TREMÉ

This area includes the gorgeous green spaces of City Park and the elegant mansions of Esplanade Avenue where the two elegant Rathbone Mansions are located. CLICK HERE TO READ to read about City Park and our stylish, antebellum hotel.

We have done all the heavy lifting for you with this short-and-sweet list that you can read fast for a complete overview of one of our favorite cities in the whole world: New Orleans.

Shaun Nelson-Henrick

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