Think “Free” in NOLA, Part I
It’s true! You can have lots of fun in New Orleans without spending one thin dime. We looked near and far for the best deals for you – take a look:
STROLL UP MAGAZINE STREET: FREE
This famous street goes on for an astounding six miles – from Canal Street to Audubon Park. It runs parallel to the Mississippi and is where you’ll find clusters of shops next to elegant private homes. You’ll also discover charming renovated warehouses plus stores selling pottery, period furniture, clothing, books, toys, china and jewelry.
Moreover, it’s the ideal spot for a leisurely stroll that allows you to take a break at a café, restaurant or coffee shop. If you’re hesitant about this trek – never fear. There’s a Magazine Street bus that starts from Canal. No matter what you decide your day will be quite adventurous.
ENJOY COOKING DEMOS: $8 AND UNDER
City Park is more than a green space. It’s twice the size of New York’s Central Park and includes a Botanical Garden, bike trails, walking paths, performance spaces plus a golf course. It also offers events and classes, including gardening tips, live music and culinary classes that tend to last about two hours. Teachers include chefs from around the city. Snacking is encouraged.
Classes that are held in the garden cover topics such as: mixing cocktails, making bread and selecting seafood. If you decide to visit, you may discover the wonders of the outdoor oven.
WOLDENBER RIVERFRONT PARK: FREE
Why not take a stroll along the French Quarter from Canal to the Moon Walk? This will allow you to cover the riverfront and see large barges being pushed or pulled by tugboats – or steamboats and other ships – that ply the mighty Mississippi. At Crescent Park (which is part of the French Market District and stretches 1.4 miles along the Mississippi) folks enjoy breathtaking views of New Orleans.
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART: $15
The New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park is the oldest fine arts museum in the city and has a permanent collection of more than 40,000 objects. It is noted for its French, American and Japanese works. You’ll find it’s a short distance from the intersection of Carrollton and Esplanade Avenues. It’s also near the terminus of the "Canal Street-City Park" streetcar line.
The exterior of the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park
NOLA BREWERY AND TAP ROOM: FREE
Every Friday and Saturday there are free tours at this two-story brewery with a roof deck. Tours take place from 2:00 to 3:00 pm and are open to the public (no reservations). You can enjoy live music after your Friday tour. This fun spot can be found at 3001 Tchoupitoulas (or chop-a-tool-us) Street.
SYDNEY & WALDA BESTOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN: $5
The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden occupies approximately eleven acres that are adjacent to the museum in City Park. Come and enjoy a landscape of pines, magnolias and live oaks. It is also home to more than 90 sculptures created by renowned artists from around the world.
BARATARIA PRESERVE VISITOR CENTER: FREE.
You can just visit this preserve or, if you wish, participate in many year-round free programs and walks. Trail maps and up-to-date info can be obtained by speaking with a Ranger at the Visitor Center. Bayou Coquille Trail is a one-mile (round trip) boardwalk that offers a view of our wild wetlands. You can get a look at: swamps, marshes, bayous, alligators and birds. The center is located at 419 Decatur Street in the French Quarter.
BRENNAN’S SABER CHAMPAGNE: FREE
Head for Brennan’s courtyard at 417 Royal Street on Fridays at 5 pm to learn how to saber champagne. Or, said differently, you can add suspense to popping a champagne cork by slicing it open with a saber! Youza!
Here’s how: chill the champagne, remove the foil, look for the seam in the glass, take off the wire cage, hold the bottle away from you at a 45-degree angle, position the blade flat against the bottle, slide the saber in a smooth motion along the seam of the bottle and follow through. The bottle should crack right under the lip, taking the cork with it. Note: I won’t be trying this any time soon.
You can also order a champagne cocktail for $7 or buy a bottle of champagne that’s “half off” – making it very reasonable. CLICK HERE to find Champagne sabers on Amazon.
The handsome, four-legged creatures at the Audubon Zoo
GREENERY AT THE AUDUBON ZOO: FREE
This is known as “The Fly” and is located behind the Audubon Zoo – on the banks of the Mississippi River. It’s a perfect place to watch the spectacular sunsets of New Orleans. One can also view a great show from Lakeshore Drive where you can sit on a bench and marvel at the sun slowly sinking over Lake Pontchartrain.
WHY RATHBONE MANSIONS? If you’ll notice many of the spots mentioned above are in City Park – which is a hop-and-a-skip from Rathbone Mansions. You’ll have no problem getting to, and enjoying, the freebies we found there.
PLEASE CHECK THE WEB for any additional information you may need about the fun stuff we’ve described in this blog.
Shaun Nelson-Henrick