Discover the USA, the online guide dedicated to your journey in the United States of America

New Orleans

It is, in the middle of the second largest port of the country, one of the most astonishing cities of the United States. Jazz was born here. The New Orleans Jazz Museum recalls its history.

The tourist center of the city is consisted of the Vieux Carré, French composed word meaning Old Square, delimited by the streets of Canal, North Rampart and Esplanade.

Built since 1718 by the French Creoles, it is still called Quartier Français or French Quarter. Remarkably preserved, this district is considered today as a historical district.

Walking around the place by foot, in horse-drawn coaches, or on board of the oldest American tram still on duty, you will find these streets made of charming pastel-toned creole buildings, with their wrought-iron balconies, their fragrant summer wisteria growing on the windowsills, and gardens of exotic plants built in their patios.

Go to Bourbon Street, the heart of American jazz, which witnessed Louis Armstrong or Jelly Roll Morton passing by, the street who gave life to the Basin Street Blues. Bourbon Street remains the sanctuary of jazz and blues amateurs. During the period of Mardi Gras, it is there that the processions are held.

It became a tradition for the tourists to finish the evening in front of a coffee and sugar fritters in one of the old establishments of the district. Jackson Square is to the French District as Montmartre is to Paris. The artists expose their works along its iron grid, near the Cathedral Saint Louis.

Many writers chose to reside within the boundaries of New Orleans: Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, Anne Rice (Interview with a Vampire, which took the background in the middle of the old Louisiana and New Orleans),…

Some of these writers's residences now welcome tourists for guided tours. For example, the Beauregard-Keyes House in 1113 Chartres Street, in the French District, owes its name to its prestigious occupants, a certain General Beauregard and Frances Parkinson-Keyes, the author of the best-seller Dinner At Antoine's.

Do not forget the palace. Your palace. In New-Orleans, the restaurants have excellent quality, with a strong preponderance of the fragrant and spicy Creole Cuisine, resulting from a mixture of many cultures.

The jambalaya is an exotic mixture of ham cut in cubes, of chorizo, shrimps, vegetables and spices, served with rice. Also to try : shrimps à la Creole and the chicken gombo with okra.

Country of the plantations

In the North of New Orleans, around the Baton-Rouge, the state's capital, you can visit the restored plantations along the borders of Mississippi River. This area bears the name of Country Plantation. In the north of the city lies the Rosedown plantation.

Saint Francisville is a splendid manor, surrounded by a garden designed based on the model of the Versailles Gardens.

South Louisiana

Land of the French pioneers of the 17th century, established there after having been expulsed from Canada by the British.

They established themselves around Lafayette, which is considered by the Cajun capital by their descendants, still using the French Creole to speak until now.

Here lies the Bayou, a dense network of waterways, where Acadian ships sailed on swamps inhabited by a rich kingdom of marine flora and fauna.

Favorite regional dish : shrimps make the object of an annual gigantic Shrimp Festival in May, at the Breaux Bridge.

New Orleans's version of Mardi Gras is the most celebrated feast throughout America. Before the fasting period, the celebrations heat up with a series of private receptions, then explode in the middle of the streets with parades, dances, and masquerade balls. If you intent to attend this joyful carnival, you should make your hotel reservation several months in advance.

Exuberant and convivial, the population of Louisiana, however, does not wait until the Mardi Gras to party. There are here about 400 fairs along the year, more of one third of them are devoted to music and food. Here, everything is a pretext to enjoy music and good food : from sudden barbeques up to "fais do do", Cajun music festivals. Let the good time roll!

Summer Festivals in Louisiana

In summer, Louisiana becomes the Mecca of festivals with a diabolic rhythm, honoring music above all.

First of all, The International Arts Festivals, in June, launches the beginning of the festivities in New Orleans. It is a place of expression for all world cultures with the “House of the International Cultures”. Concerts of music of all origins (Latin America, Haiti, the Caribbean, Belize, and Africa) are organized.

Then, from July 1 to July 3, the Essence Music Festival leaves the throne to the African-American music and culture.

Natural Creole Trail

The Natural Creole Trail is located in the Southeast of Louisiana. This long touristic road of 290 km length starts in Lake Charles, curves the beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, then goes up inside the grounds, until Sulphur.

This journey in the car is the occasion to discover Lake Charles, a the typical-architectured city, which offers you great white sand beaches; Cameron, a charming fishing port where fishermen, trappers and nature observers live; and finally Holly Beach, a beach of white sand nicknamed The Cajun Riviera, ideal for birds observation.

Photos : Louisiana Office Of Tourism

Douglas Mason