This historic city features an expansive list of fun things to see, do, and explore while on your next vacation. With historic districts, streets, homes, and more, you can learn about the deep and rich history, explore the great outdoors, learn about the supernatural, and so much more while in the beautiful and vibrant New Orleans. Take your next vacation to the Big Easy today and enjoy all of these great activities, tours, landmarks, and more!
Popular Activities
Audubon Aquarium
Spend time looking at the gorgeous marine life and wild animals at the Audubon Aquarium. The aquarium features a variety of exhibits showcasing different areas of the world, including the Amazon Rainforest, Gulf of Mexico, Great Maya Reef, and so much more. Animals at the aquarium to see up-close include jellyfish, sharks, frogs, sea otters, penguins, and so much more. With interactive exhibits, up-close animal enclosures, and even a giant screen theater for 4k adventures, your next trip to the Audubon Aquarium will be a blast for the whole family.
Audubon Butterfly Garden & Insectarium
Explore beautiful butterflies and creepy crawlers at the Audubon Butterfly Garden & Insectarium. The whole family will enjoy this expansive 23,000 square feet location filled with a variety of exhibits and attractions to enjoy. The museum includes interactive exhibits and displays so you can understand how many of the insects around the world live and survive from day to day. With a huge variety of exhibits to explore including Termites to learn about these wood terrors, Louisiana Swamp to see insects and alligators, and to top it all off, the Butterfly Aviary where you can step inside and see a vast Japanese Garden filled with beautiful free-flying butterflies.
Hop On/Hop Off New Orleans
With the hop on hop off adventure of New Orleans, you can enjoy a ride on a double decker bus around the city to see the beautiful sights of the area and learn about each location with this 2-hour narrated experience. The tour allows you to hop off at any time during the ride to see any of the locations in the area, once you’re done exploring, head back to the drop off point and the next bus loop will pick you up to continue your way through the city of New Orleans. Sights include Arts District, Jackson Square, French Market, Lafayette Hotel, and so much more. This adventure allows you to get the perfect overview of the entire city while on your next vacation trip.
Honey Island Swamp Tour
Enjoy exploring the great wetlands and swamps of Louisiana with this adventurous swamp tour. On this 2-hour tour, you will head out on a flat bottomed boat to see the vast wildlife, animals you could see along the tour include alligators, birds, snakes, owls, raccoons, and much more. Learn about the history of the swamp and the beautiful environment provided by your local and professional tour guide for an in-depth and exciting tour.
Plantation Tours
The area holds a deep Southern history, with that, there are a variety of plantations to explore the rich history of this beautiful Louisiana area. There are multiple tour options to take you to the most notable plantations in existence in New Orleans including Whitney Plantation for a detailed description of the slaves and people who lived at this 262-year-old home, Laura Plantation to learn about the Creole culture, Laura, and the gorgeous gardens and slave cabins on the property, and Oak Alley Plantation which features beautiful 250-year-old oak trees that lead to the main house on the property. With all of these historic plantation homes, you will discover a true connection to the history of the city.
Architectural Wonders
Jackson Square
This central park is located in the French Quarter and is known for its historic significance on the site where Louisiana was made United States territory in 1803 during the Louisiana Purchase.
St. Louis Cathedral
The first cathedral built at the site was in 1718, today, the third cathedral in place still standing was built in 1789 and was expanded and largely rebuilt in 1850, with mainly only just the bottom structure still remaining of the original 1789 structure. The church sits just beyond the Jackson Square giving you beautiful views of the front facade from this historic location.
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
This huge domed sports arena was constructed in 1975 and seats 73,208 people. The Superdome is home to the NFL sports team, the New Orleans Saints.
The Cabildo
The Cabildo was the seat of the Spanish colonial city hall and is now the Louisiana State Museum. The original was destroyed in the Great New Orleans Fire of 1786, but was rebuilt shortly after in 1799.
Museums
National WWII Museum
This military history museum focuses on the United States’ involvement in World War II. At the museum, explore the amazing exhibits and displays featuring artifacts, photos, and more during this historical time in American history.
New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
This museum showcases and preserves the history of pharmacy, medicine, and healthcare in Louisiana. The museum includes early medicines, elixirs, cures, and more from the early days of medicine.
Louisiana Children’s Museum
Perfect for the young children in your party, the Louisiana Children’s Museum features fun interactive exhibits, play areas, and hands-on activities for kids. Learn about plants, animals, food, history, architecture, and the great outdoors, all geared towards kids for a fun and lovely adventure to enjoy together.
Shopping, Dining, & More
Two of the top stops for shoppers to enjoy include some of the best experiences and opportunities for unique items, boutiques, retail stores, and more. Magazine Street runs from the Central Business District to the Warehouse Arts District, the area is filled with a cluster of shops and cute homes. The renovated warehouses and shops sell a variety of goods including clothing, books, toys, jewelry, housewares, and so much more. The area is also filled with coffee shops, restaurants, and cafes for a nice snack while exploring the great stores. For antique shops and fine art galleries, head to Royal Street to see it’s many unique stores while dining at the delicious restaurants in gorgeous courtyards for a vibrant and thriving atmosphere.
