The Best Outdoor Activities in New Orleans

New Orleans is a renowned city worldwide, with people traveling from across the globe to visit the French Quarter, watch the Mardi Gras festival, and hear the smooth, live jazz. New Orleans, often referred to as The Big Easy, is home to beautiful music, interesting culture, amazing architecture, and great food. There is plenty to explore, but here is a top list of the best outdoor activities in New Orleans.

How To Travel to New Orleans

First of all, when traveling the US, it is well worth the trip to New Orleans. Getting an RV or hire car and making your way around America is one of the cheapest ways to do it. You can still drop your vehicle off and leave it in a secure car park if you fancy a trip elsewhere. 

New Orleans has its very own airport, which has connections to many great cities across the US, such as Atlanta, Orlando, Los Angeles, and New York. Parkway Parking finds the best Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport parking vouchers, to save you money when traveling. As traveling can be expensive, finding a way to cut down on expenses such as this will ensure your trip can last as long as possible. It also offers peace of mind that your vehicle will be kept in a safe and secure place while you go sightseeing. 

Visit The French Quarter

Perhaps the most famous place in New Orleans, the French Quarter is home to stunning architecture and incredible jazz bars. This area of New Orleans was first populated by the French, hence the quarter’s name. It was inhabited in the 18^th century, with some of the buildings dating back to 1789, such as St. Louis Cathedral. To delve more into the history and culture, visit the Historic New Orleans Collection, which is a museum located within the French Quarter. 

Jackson Square is the closest thing to a town square that New Orleans has and is a populated area full of lively energy, with street performers, brass bands, and fortune-tellers. For all your shopping needs, visit the French Market, which is full of stalls for souvenirs, local cuisines, and cool trinkets to take home. For the best experience of the French Quarter, find a local tour guide. They can give you the best places to visit and the history behind each area. 

Check Out City Park

No matter where you go in New Orleans, there is beauty to behold. City Park is a landscaped space with moss-drenched trees, native birds, and serene walking paths offering one of the best outdoors activities in New Orleans. If you are traveling with kids, you can rent a boat on the lake, visit Storyland, or have a go on the Carousel. The botanical gardens located within the park are also worth a look. There is even an equestrian farm that offers horseback lessons. 

Walk Through The Garden District

Another beautiful district in New Orleans, the Garden District is home to historic and ornate mansions and some pretty trendy bars and restaurants. Unlike the French Quarter, this part of the city is more known for its relaxed and quiet vibe. This district was designed as a haven for the rich looking to settle in New Orleans, as the French Creoles didn’t want Americans to invade their territory.  

The Garden District is also where the Lafayette Cemetery is based. For anyone who enjoyed The Originals, which was the spin-off to the hit US TV show The Vampire Diaries, this cemetery may look familiar, as many scenes were shot here. To get the best views, hop on one of the green streetcars which will take you around the district. If you are looking for a place to eat, Commander’s Place is by far one of the most popular eateries. 

Take A Voodoo Tour

New Orleans is said to be one of the most haunted cities and is renowned for stories of voodoo, witchcraft, vampires, and ghosts, hence why many TV shows and movies reference the city. The voodoo culture in New Orleans first started as a religious underground practice and was founded in the city by enslaved Africans brought over by rich Americans. 

There is also a small voodoo museum that was first opened back in 1972 and is home to all sorts of talismans, artifacts, and voodoo dolls. If you are really interested in the culture, you can also grab yourself a psychic reading while you’re at it. 

Listen To Fine Music

You cannot go to New Orleans without listening to some of the incredible musicians that reside here. Whether walking down the street or visiting a local bar, you are bound to find some extraordinary music. One of the best places to visit for jazz is Frenchman Street, which is home to bars like The Spotted Cat. 

You can find record shops, book stores, and cafes here too. If you are looking for a party, Bourbon Street is the place to be. Here you can find rock, jazz, and other live music venues, along with great whiskey and even better vibes. If you love carnivals, you should try and visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras, one of the largest outdoor parties in the US. 

Head For The Bayou

The bayou is a swampy section of the river in New Orleans and is a wonderful place to visit to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a few hours. Here, you can spend an entire day outside, taking a kayak tour around the river, exploring the moss-covered trees and catching a glimpse of the alligators. The Bayou was once a place for settlers to call their home, using the natural offerings of nature to create houses from trees. To this day, the Bayou remains an important part of the New Orleans culture. If you prefer, you can also rent out a boat and make the journey yourself.  

---

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why New Orleans is worth a trip while traveling the US. Whether you want to understand more about the culture of America, visit stunning locations, see amazing architecture, or spend the day outside, New Orleans is the place for you.