Activities and Attractions

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1 NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR EDUCATIONAL ACCESS 10TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE NEW ORLEANS-AREA ACTIVITIES Be sure to take advantage of downtime from the conference to explore New Orleans and find out why so many love the culture. Here are a few suggestions to help you in planning some fun outings and favorite local activities! Activities and Attractions French Quarter Explore the oldest neighborhood in the city and experience the vast international and cultural influences. Some of the most popular areas are Royal Street, Bourbon Street, and a trip to the French Market for souvenirs. If you are looking for less hustle and bustle, take in the stunning architecture throughout the neighborhood with historic homes; look up at the beautiful balconies and courtyards filled with fountains and flowers. Make sure to stop by Cafe du Monde for some Beignets! Tremé Tremé is one of the oldest neighborhoods in New Orleans and one of the oldest predominantly African American communities in the United States. Highlights include Congo Square (the location of many nineteenth-century outdoor brass concerts in the style that would come to be known as jazz ), St. Augustine Church (the oldest African American Catholic parish in the United States), and the New Orleans African American Museum. The acclaimed HBO series Treme dramatizes the neighborhood and its residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 1

2 Jackson Square Jackson Square is a landmark and timeless attraction located in the French Quarter. Historic buildings including the St. Louis Cathedral and the oldest apartment building in the United States, the Lower and Upper Pontalba Apartments surround it. Discover local artists and shops. The Marigny The Marigny neighborhood boasts a unique, colorful architecture rooted in a combination of colonial French and Spanish and Caribbean styles and is the home of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Frenchmen Street, located here, is a premier destination for live music and restaurants. Aquarium Located on the Mississippi River adjacent to the French Quarter Audubon Aquarium immerses you in an underwater world. Touch a stingray, feed a parakeet, and marvel at the gigantic sharks. The Aquarium hours are Mon-Sun 10am-5pm. Cost: $29.95 per adult. Zoo The New Orleans Audubon Zoo, which is located Uptown New Orleans, offers an exotic mix of animals from around the globe with unique natural habitat exhibits. Don't miss the daily animal presentations and feeds. Audubon Zoo is often ranked among the country's best for innovation and entertainment value! Zoo hours are Mon-Fri 10am-5pm and Sat & Sun 10am-6pm. Cost: $22.95 per adult. Audubon Park Enjoy the ever-beautiful oak trees, lagoons, and expansive green space located within the park. For the millions who use the park for picnics, relaxing, walking, running, cycling and special events there is no better place in New Orleans for recreational fun and relaxation. If you are in need of a treat, try and track down the Roman Candy man riding in his wagon escorted by a mule. 2

3 City Park City Park is the place to go if you are looking for an outdoor oasis. The park is home to ancient oak trees, modern art, paddleboats, and botanical garden. Magazine Street For shopping, dining or just a casual stroll, no place in New Orleans is quite like Magazine Street. This six-mile-long stretch from the Garden District to Uptown features some of the best antique stores, art galleries, craft shops and boutiques to be found anywhere in the city. Food Tour of the French Quarter Tours Explore and eat your way through the famous restaurants of the French Quarter guided by a knowledgeable and passionate foodie expert. Tours last approximately three hours and depart from the French Quarter. Cost: $55 per adult. French Quarter Tours If you want to experience New Orleans properly, it's best to begin with a tour of the French Quarter. Tours last approximately 2 hours. Cost: $25 per adult. Tickets can be purchased at Bourbon Cafe Beignet. Garden District Tours Take a peek at some of the city's most beautiful homes. Like its name suggests, this historic residential neighborhood is covered with trees, ivy, and gardens. If you need a break from city crowds the peaceful atmosphere and well-preserved properties offer a meaningful escape from the hustle and bustle of city culture. Times: 11:00 AM and 1:45 PM daily. Tours depart from 2727 Prytania Street, The Garden District Book Shop. Tours last approximately 2 hours. Cost: $25 per adult. 3

4 Museums The National WWII Museum (945 Magazine Street, New Orleans) Just a 5-minute taxi ride or a 15-minute walk from the hotel, the National WWII Museum features immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, and an expansive collection of artifacts and first-person oral histories. Visitors are able to delve inside the story of the war that changed the world. Cost per adult: $27. Open daily from 9am 5pm. New Orleans Modern Museum of Modern Art (One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park New Orleans) A 20-minute taxi ride from the hotel, the New Orleans Modern Museum of Modern Art is committed to preserving, presenting, and enriching its collections and renowned sculpture garden; offering innovative experiences for learning and interpretation; and uniting, inspiring, and engaging diverse communities and cultures. Cost per adult: $12. Museum hours are closed on Mon, Tues-Thurs 10am 6pm, Fri 10am 9pm, Sat 10am 5pm, and Sun 11am 5pm. French Quarter Festival Music and Festivals The French Quarter Festival begins on April If you are looking for a uniquely New Orleans event where some of the city's finest food, music and fun definitely explore the French Quarter after a day at the conference. There will be more than 60 food/beverage booths scattered throughout the French Quarter and all dishes are priced in the $3-$5 range. Tipitina s (501 Napoleon Avenue) Tipitina s is the only famous venue of its kind, located Uptown New Orleans. To Call: (504) Mid City Rock N Bowl (3016 South Carrollton) 4

5 You can bowl at Rock n Bowl, but the real draw is the venue s diverse live music schedule that includes great local blues and roots music. To Call: (504) Sweet Lorraine s Jazz Club (1931 St. Claude) Sweet Lorraine s is a classy establishment. Leave your t-shirts and sandals at home and get jazzed up proper if you re headed here to check out the music or the club s Creole menu. At Sweet Lorraine s, New Orleans musicians dig deep into jazz, both smooth and modern, and the more up-to-date styles of rhythm and blues. To Call: (504) B.J. s Lounge (4301 Burgundy) When the music starts, B.J. s becomes that ideal, local New Orleans scene and is the essence of what is so great about New Orleans music. To Call: (504) ) Dragon s Den (435 Esplanade Ave) The Den features some great hip-hop and DJ nights in its weekly lineup, along with live local music. To Call: ( ) format~json/ Preservation Hall (726 St. Peter Street) The one type of music that New Orleans indisputably does better than any other place is traditional jazz. The best place to hear it in New Orleans the club where jazz is turned into an art form is Preservation Hall. To Call: (504)