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Day 17 | Houston, TX to New Orleans, LA | https://goo.gl/FSxBwA |
Links to Points of Interest
- The French Quarter—or Vieux Carré, the oldest and most famous neighborhood in New Orleans—is home to a plethora of shops and restaurants, and is the city’s cultural hub.
- Jackson Square in the French Quarter is a year-round hangout for street performers and artists. The perimeter of the park is lined with painters and sketch artists creating and selling original work. On the square’s two side streets, street performers do everything from tap dancing to living sculptures.
- Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France is an impressive blend of Old World architecture and Catholic treasures. The church features ornate woodwork, stained glass windows, and beautiful sculptures. While mass is still held inside the church, you can tour both the grounds and worshiping areas Wednesday through Saturday from 1pm to 4pm.
- Large above-ground cemeteries scattered around New Orleans known as the Cities of the Dead are must-see for any visitor. You can pay for a guided tour of many of them, but they’re also open to the public free of charge. The Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 in the French Quarter is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 3pm, and from 9am to 12pm on Sundays. Here, you can see what many believe is the grave of Voodoo queen Marie Laveau, where people still leave ritual offerings. In the Garden District you can visit Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 between 9am and 3pm daily.
- New Orleans Museum of Art Located in City Park, the neo-classical, Beaux Arts-style New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) presents an impressive collection spanning the 15th-20th centuries. A great escape from the hectic pace of life in the Big Easy,
- National World War II Museum The museum focuses on the contribution made by the United States to Allied victory in World War II. Founded in 2000, it was later designated by the U.S. Congress as America’s official National World War II Museum in 2003
- The Fly is a secret among New Orleans locals; it’s a strip of frontage along the Mississippi River behind Audubon Zoo. On weekends, people flock in droves for grilling, crawfish boils, sunning and to throw the frisbee. Set up camp feet from the Mississippi and watch the big boats maneuver through the currents. Numerous fields exist for kids and adults to enjoy their favorite ball games. If you don’t come with enough to field a squad of your own, others will be glad to include you in their pickup games. Dusk is a great time to show up, as the sun sets right over the river, a truly spectacular sight.