New Orleans by Streetcar: Exploring Culture with Caroline March 20 23, 2018 Join Caroline Cope and Explore Up Close for spring in the Crescent City as New Orleans celebrates its tricentennial year! We ll enjoy a festive atmosphere and unique cultural events around the city as we take in the rich history, architecture, and cuisine. The annual Tennessee Williams Literary Festival will be happening during our stay, providing ample opportunity to experience New Orleans dramatic and literary legacy up close. Our NOLA sojourn will include excursions and touring throughout the French Quarter, Garden District, and Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. Other trip features will be the historic Hermann-Grima House, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, a carriage ride
through colorful Creole neighborhoods, and a special visit to Le Petit Theatre to see New Orleans signature play, A Streetcar Named Desire. Our accommodations for three nights will be the historic Pontchartrain Hotel -- located directly on the St. Charles Street trolley line in the Garden District. This charming and restful "home base" will be a highlight in itself. Trip price: $1750 / person (double occupancy; single supplement, $315); price includes 3 nights high-standard accommodation at the Pontchartrain Hotel in the historic Garden District, 2 dinners, 1 lunch, 1 brunch, all group tours / entrances throughout the trip, shuttle from New Orleans Airport to the hotel (and return), trolley and taxi in New Orleans. Price does not include airfare to New Orleans, alcohol, other meals, or optional trip insurance. Itinerary: Tuesday, March 20th We ll fly from Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (airfare is not included, but can be arranged for all of our travelers) to New Orleans. Our planned flight will depart GSP in the morning and touch down at noon in New Orleans. We ll deposit our luggage at our hotel, the Pontchartrain, and enjoy lunch on our first day in the lovely Garden District. We ll then have a guided walking tour of the Garden District to introduce us to our neighborhood and learn about the layers of history surrounding the antebellum mansions and lovely shaded streets. We ll also delve into Lafayette Cemetery, which offers a rich look into the city s past. After exploring this charming part of the city, we ll return to the hotel to check in and relax before dinner. This evening, we ll travel by streetcar and on foot to the French Quarter for dinner with a side of live jazz a warm welcome to the Crescent City! For those looking for a nightcap with a view, the Hot Tin Rooftop Bar at our hotel is a perfect spot to end the day.
Wednesday, March 21: Enjoy breakfast on your own at our hotel s charming The Silver Whistle Café, or choose from a variety of options around the hotel. Today s first stop will be the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in the Warehouse District, which offers a diverse collection of Southern art and special exhibitions in honor of the city s Tricentennial. We ll then take the streetcar to the French Quarter for a walking tour that will fully immerse us in the history, architecture, and folklore of the area. Highlights will include the St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, and the 1850 House. After our tour, enjoy lunch in the French Quarter and soak in the local ambiance. We ll then visit the New Orleans Jazz Museum, located in the Old U.S. Mint in the French Quarter. The museum celebrates the history and legacy of jazz music in New Orleans through performances, artifacts, and historical records. Afterwards, enjoy browsing the old French Market and views of the Mississippi River. We ll then return to the hotel to relax before dining together at the Commander s Palace in the Garden District a true culinary highlight of the trip.
Thursday, March 22: Begin your morning with a light breakfast on your own around the hotel. Today we ll visit Mardi Gras World, where we ll take an insider s look at the making of New Orleans vibrant celebration. We ll then enjoy a brunch together to refuel before our visit to the historic and remarkably well-preserved Hermann-Grima House. This lovely French Quarter residence dates from the 19 th century and offers a glimpse into daily life for both the wealthy Creole owners and their enslaved workers. After our tour, we ll enjoy a carriage ride through the Faubourg Marigny district to soak in the colorful Creole neighborhoods and their lively culture. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax and browse the streets around the French Quarter, which might mean walking down Bourbon Street, enjoying a beignet at Louis Armstrong Park, antiquing on Royal Street or all the above. This evening, dinner is on your own. Whether you d like to dine in the French Quarter with a friend, or you prefer to dine with Caroline near the hotel, Caroline will be happy to help you make arrangements. Our group will make a plan to reconnect at 7:30 pm for a special showing of Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire at the Petite Theatre, in the heart of the French Quarter. Friday, March 23rd: For our last morning in New Orleans, we ll leave our luggage at the hotel s front desk before venturing together for one last outing. We ll have a guided visit this morning at Le Musée de F.P.C. the Museum of the Free People of Color. This historic house museum is one of the
country s few attractions dedicated exclusively to preserving the culture and telling the story of the free people of African descent in Louisiana. Located on scenic Esplanade Avenue, the museum is neighbored by elegant Creole homes, including the Degas House. We ll enjoy a lunch in this area, before we shuttle to the airport for an afternoon departure.