Orleans: Culture, History and Nature around New Orleans

Orleans appeals to travelers who want to combine a city trip with history, vibrant culture and unique nature experiences. At the center is New Orleans with museums, historic sites, markets, gardens and wildlife. When a travel group has different interests, the stay can be varied: A museum visit can be followed by a walk, historical insights by a market visit, or an encounter with Louisiana’s landscape.

History and Culture in New Orleans

The Cabildo conveys Louisiana’s history, culture and global connections. The building also has particular historical significance: In 1803, it was the site of the ceremonies marking the transfer of the Louisiana Purchase. The French Quarter, known as Vieux Carré, is another defining historical reference point in the city. It was founded in 1718. Two-hour walking tours of the district are led by city-licensed guides and focus on the history, architecture and folklore of New Orleans’s oldest neighborhood.

The New Orleans Jazz Museum and the Presbytère provide further cultural highlights. The Jazz Museum is housed in the historic Old U.S. Mint and explores the music that made New Orleans famous, including through interactive exhibits. Live music and theater performances are presented at the Performance Center of the New Orleans Jazz Museum. The Presbytère features a Mardi Gras exhibition with parade floats, costumes and historic throws. Another exhibition documents a defining event, its consequences and the ongoing recovery in southeastern Louisiana.

Markets, Squares and African American History

The historic French Market has existed since 1791. The French Market District includes the Craft Bazaar as well as farmers’ and flea markets. The farmers’ market includes food-service establishments and café-style seating. In addition to its historical associations, this area therefore offers points of interest for travelers who want to incorporate a local market atmosphere and culinary impressions into their day’s plans.

Congo Square is an open public space on Rampart Street, across from the French Quarter. The site is associated with the Sunday dances held there by enslaved people and has local significance for the African American history of New Orleans. The Louisiana Civil Rights Museum complements this focus with personal stories, oral accounts from eyewitnesses, interactive presentations and videos. Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral are located in the French Quarter.

Parks, Waterways and Wildlife

There are also various ways to experience the character of the city away from the museums. New Orleans City Park offers paths for walking and running. More than 2,000 plant species from around the world grow in the Botanical Garden. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden combines sculptures with a mature landscape of pines, magnolias and live oaks surrounding two lagoons; it now contains more than 90 sculptures.

New Orleans is essentially an island between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain and is shaped by its waterways. Visitors can jog along the Mississippi River in the Bywater neighborhood. The Audubon Aquarium is located on the Mississippi River in central New Orleans and presents marine habitats. At Audubon Zoo, you can see exotic and endangered animals from around the world; the Louisiana Swamp habitat also includes white alligators. The Historic New Orleans Train Garden displays replicas of streetcars and trains. When choosing your vacation rental, you can therefore consider whether cultural attractions, parks, river scenery or wildlife should be the focus of your trip.

More destinations for planning your trip

For further destination searches, you can also view Evangeline Parish, Iberia Parish, Red River Parish, Pointe Coupee Parish, Allen, St Charles and Richland.

For the higher-level travel overview: Louisiana.