Things to do in New Orleans!!!

rude awakening

Same as the last few years guys. Just done a bit of research into the place.
Not very much from what I can see in the way of activities.
Feel free to add to the thread
RA

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Bars/Lounges - Where to Eat

As there are hundreds of Pubs and places to eat, I created two maps showing all places I found on New Orleans sites and their locality to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Bars
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=z7IOjifW7fcc.kMU3vM3HNk0w

Where to Eat
https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=z7IOjifW7fcc.kWS3trZHLZN8

Shopping in New Orleans

Royal Street
One block over from the raucousness of Bourbon Street is the French Quarter’s more refined and elegant epicenter of local artistic culture. Royal Street is an eye-pleasing mix of classy antique shops and boutiques, fine jewelry stores, colorful art galleries and world-class hotels and restaurants.
It is no wonder tourists and locals alike flock to Royal Street when they want a real New Orleans experience. Some of the most picturesque and most frequently photographed buildings and iron lace balconies – many of which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries – are along the 13-block stretch of Royal between Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue. World-class restaurants with scenic courtyards – containing bubbling sculptured fountains and colorful gardens – offer a pleasant, shady respite from the elements. Art galleries contain sculptures, paintings and mixed media from artists who are on a par with any residing in New York, San Francisco or other fine art meccas, including George Rodrigue and his internationally renowned “Blue Dog.”

Tanger Outlets
http://www.tangeroutlet.com/gonzales/directions
Tanger Outlets in Gonzales is 60 miles northwest of New Orleans, or about an hour's drive. I-10 West takes you there from New Orleans. Tanger is a national name in outlets, so if you have been to a Tanger Outlets mall before, you'll have a pretty good idea of what brands to expect to see:

• Bass
• Jockey
• Gap
• Reebok
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Liz Claiborne
• Izod
• OshKosh
• Mikasa
• Samsonite
• and about two dozen more popular names.

Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge, LA
Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge is 78 miles northwest of New Orleans, or about an hour and a half in drive time. You will have passed through Gonzales to get here. Mall Of Louisiana is not an outlet mall, but certainly nothing short of spectacular, with two levels, 155 shops, full-service restaurants and an antique carousel. Again, it is not an outlet mall, but you're bound to find some great buys as well as a host of essential items you may need for the remainder of your trip.

Nine West Mall
http://www.ninewest.com/

Wildlife and Aquariums

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
www.auduboninstitute.org
Discover a world filled with 15,000 water-loving creatures, like graceful seahorses, neon-colored frogs and jaunty penguins. Come face to face with a white alligator. Pet a baby shark. And feel like an undersea explorer as you walk through the 30-foot-long Caribbean Reef tunnel. With so much to explore, you could spend all day at this amazing, state-of-the-art museum.

The Audubon Zoo
www.auduboninstitute.org
Audubon Zoo is a New Orleans landmark and a living museum filled with some of the rarest and most beautiful creatures of nature. There have been animals at this site since the 1884 World Exposition in Audubon Park. Today, Audubon Zoo is 58 acres of animals in their natural habitats. The Zoo consistently ranks among this country’s best.

Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge
www.fws.gov
The largest urban National Wildlife Refuge in the United States is located only 15 minutes from the French Quarter. Bayou Sauvage supports over 340 bird species, including wading and secretive marsh birds dependent on the refuge for survival. There are also healthy populations of alligators, turtles, otters, fish, and other wild animal species. Try your hand at canoeing, hiking, or birdwatching as you take in Lousiana's natural beauty.

Activities and Tours

New Orleans Gardens
www.neworleanscitypark.com
The New Orleans Botanical Garden at City Park offers a serene retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Nature lovers of all ages wander around the lush foliage, play in the open gardens or relax near the tranquil fountains. Surrounded by the nation’s largest collection of mature live oaks, patrons enjoy a sensual walk past 2,000 varieties of plants. Most of the vegetation is native to Louisiana, but there are many other more exotic species.

American Italian Cultural Center
www.airf.org
The American Italian Cultural Center in the heart of downtown New Orleans is a repository of priceless information and memorabilia celebrating the contributions of the sons and daughters of Italy to the city’s cultural life.

Big Lake at City Park
neworleanscitypark.com
Take in the natural beauty of NOLA by floating through the historic bayous and lagoons of City Park. Slow down and you’ll notice ducks, swans, geese and other aquatic wildlife, plus a fountain that shoots water about 30-40 feet in the air. With pedal boats that seat 4 and rowboats that seat 3, it’s fun for the whole family.