It feels like Mardi Gras every day on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Between the delicious food, the charm of the French Quarter, the amazing history, and the fun LGBTQ+ nightlife, you can't go wrong with a visit, even in winter.
What to do
• Walk around the French Quarter and along the banks of the Mississippi River.
• Vue Orleans is the new interactive museum and observatory atop the Four Seasons Hotel at 2 Canal Street. The immersive experience explores the diverse cultures that converged to create New Orleans, showcasing the incredible mix of traditions and nations that made it the great city that it is today. The Voodoo Lady, the miniature baby Jesuses in the king cakes, how the po'boy sandwich got its name — these are just some of the things you will learn about this fascinating city, which is a blend of Spanish, Haitian, African, Italian, Native American, and French cultures, to name a few. Details at https://www.vueorleans.com/.
• Take the streetcar — using an all-day "jazzy pass," a steal for $3 — along St. Charles Avenue. The red ones on Canal Street go all the way to City Park, home to a sculpture garden next to the New Orleans Museum of Art.
• Taking a class at the New Orleans School of Cooking and learn how to make jambalaya, gumbo, pralines, and white chocolate bread pudding. (524 St. Louis Street; online at https://neworleansschoolofcooking.com/)
Nightlife
• Café LaFitte in Exile (901 Bourbon Street) is the oldest Gay bar in the US. It is still going strong.
• The Bourbon Pub (808 Bourbon Street) is celebrating its 47th anniversary. It is a lot of fun. Sit on the balcony to enjoy the scene below.
• "Freaky Friday" at the Oz Bar means drag shows. (800 Bourbon Street)
Not Gay but also worth a stop are:
• The House of Blues at 225 Decatur — great for live music and has a good bar.
• Listening to the jazz band at the Ritz Carlton Davenport Lounge (921 Canal Street). It's a nice break from the honky-tonk noise of Bourbon and Canal Streets on a weekend night.
Where to eat
• Try the barbeque shrimp at Neyow's Creole Café in Mid-City (3332 Bienville Street). Also on the menu: shrimp creole, fried Gulf oysters, pasta on the bayou (fresh Gulf shrimp and crawfish), stuffed crab, and gumbo.
• The red beans and rice and salmon are excellent at Landry's (8000 Lakeshore Drive), which has a great $18 lunchbox special.
• 33 Galatoire's Bar and Steak (215 Bourbon Street) is a great option.
• The Napoleon House Restaurant (500 Chartres Street) is located in a 200-year-old French Quarter landmark. The building's first occupant was the mayor of New Orleans, from 1812 to 1815, who offered his residence to Napoleon in 1821 as a refuge during his exile. Napoleon never made it, but the name stuck.
• Café du Monde (various locations) features café americano and beignets (the fried donut treat). The coffee in New Orleans also contains chicory, giving it a unique flavor.
Where to stay
I stayed at the Marriott on Canal Street. Bargain hunters may also like the nearby La Quinta. All the chains are here, as well as boutique hotels.
Getting there
I took Southwest to the new Louis Armstrong Airport and then the E1 Jefferson Parrish Veterans-Airport bus from the third-floor departure area to downtown for just $2. Or take the RTA Airport Express route 202.
Other tips
Here are some informative links to plan your visit to the amazing Crescent City:
• Pick up a copy of the weekly Gambit (online at https://www.bestofneworleans.com/).
• LGBTQ+ itineraries: https://www.neworleans.com/things-to-do/lgbt/lgbt-itineraries/
• LGBTQ+ bars: https://www.neworleans.com/things-to-do/nightlife/gay-bars/
There is nowhere else like New Orleans. It makes for a great holiday!
Special thanks to New Orleans and Company for their travel tips.
Bill Malcolm is North America's only syndicated LGBTQ+ value-travel columnist.