Culturally, New Orleans is like no other. The city’s roots in jazz music provide a backbone for major festivals, events that are a weekly occurrence in New Orleans. The “Birthplace of Jazz” incorporates music into almost every festival the city hosts, including the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Presented by Shell, the Annual French Quarter Festival, the Cajun/Zydeco Music Festival, ESSENCE Music Festival and Satchmo SummerFest, a celebration of the life of New Orleans’ great musician Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. And what would be a festival without food? The French Quarter Festival boasts “The World’s Largest Jazz Brunch,” while the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience gathers more than 70 of the city’s finest chefs and world’s premier vintners. Other celebrations, including Tales of the Cocktail, explore New Orleans’ historical link to the cocktail while commemorating famous beverages such as the Sazerac and the Mint Julep.

 

With world-class restaurants with unique New Orleans cuisine, award-winning chefs cook up savory creations to appease any palate. There are more than 1,000 restaurants open city-wide, so even the pickiest eater is bound to find something delicious. From five-star, elegant dining rooms to quaint, open-air cafés, when it comes to the ultimate restaurant experience, New Orleans can’t be beat.

 

New Orleans is proud to tout its reputation as a family-fun destination. Museums such as the WWII Museum, the Audubon Insectarium and Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, provide children the opportunity to have fun and parents the satisfaction of knowing their child is learning. Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, where Mardi Gras is made, has moved to a 300,000 square foot complex displaying the art of Mardi Gras float-building and the history of Carnival. Guests to the WWII Museum are greeted by airplanes suspended from the ceiling and genuine “Higgins boats,” designed by New Orleans’ own Andrew Higgins.

 

The Audubon Nature Institute offers hours of fun with the Insectarium, Aquarium, Zoo and IMAX Theatre. The Audubon Aquarium and Zoo are consistently ranked among the top zoos and aquariums in the nation and you won’t want to miss a visit to the Insectarium, a museum of 900,000+ insects and their relatives. So whether you hope for a history lesson, are amazed by the art of Mardi Gras or interested in discovering the creepy-crawly, New Orleans is the perfect place to learn and explore.

 

New Orleans is also an ideal place for the outdoor enthusiast. A semitropical climate and thousands of acres of public parks allow for year-round jogging, bicycling, golfing and tennis. Surrounded by lakes, rivers and bayous, the city is outstanding for fishing and water sports. City Park is 1,300 acres of land situated in heart of New Orleans. Surrounded by oak trees and filled with ponds, City Park is home to the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Besthoff sculpture garden, a perfect place to peruse art and enjoy the great outdoors.

 

Whether you're a fan of history, shopping, art, music, architecture, food or sports, the city of New Orleans invites you to participate in its rich traditions. With its blend of old world charm and cosmopolitan style, New Orleans is the ultimate vacation for whatever type of getaway you are looking for.