From the modest shotgun houses of the Bywater to the mansions of the Garden District, New Orleans' neighborhoods reflect the diversity of this cross-cultural city. Though its French roots run deep, New Orleans retains a mixture of Spanish, Irish, Italian, German Caribbean, and African influences one can appriciate only through exploration.

Algiers
Located directly across the river from the French Quarter and accessible via a short, free (for pedestrians; for cars $1.00) ferry ride, this architecturally rich neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Immaculately preserved Greek revival, Italianate, and Victorian homes impart the feel of a 19th-century small town. A highlight is Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, where the city's Carnival floats are built and stored, located just a few blocks from the ferry landing.

Bucktown/West End
A new marina under construction in Bucktown is changing this sleepy lakefront neighborhood, but these adjacent districts on Lake Pontchartrain are still boating and recreational areas, with piers, docks, and grassy levees for walking, biking, and fishing. Bucktown and West End are also home to some casual seafood restaurants popular with locals, along with a few upscale eateries, including Wolfe's of New Orleans.

Bywater
A mix of Creole cottages and Victorian shotgun homes marks this traditionally working-class neighborhood, now undergoing a gradual gentrification. The combination of old warehouses and cheap rents has drawn artists, galleries, and urban homesteaders, as well as the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, to the area. The Bywater Art Market, held on the third weekend of every month at Mickey Markey Park, offers an array of work feom local artists at reasonbale prices.

Central Business District (CBD)
The center of commerce in the Crescent City, the CBD is defined by its main artery, Poydras street, which stretches from the Louisiana Superdome to the Mississippi River and includes the behemot Ernest N. Morial COnvention Center and Harrah's Casino. In recent years, the CBD has seen explosion of luxury hotels, as well as a continuing restaurant renaissance with hot spots like Cuvee, Restaurant August, and Rene Bistrot. Newer additions to this bustling downtown district are the highly acclaimed Cafe Adelaide and La Cote Brasserie, housed respectively in the luxurious new Loews and Renaissance Arts hotels.

French Quarter
The French Quarter, or Vieux Carre, founded in 1718 as a walled military outpost, once comprised the entire city of New Orleans. Today, the district is on the National Registry of Historic Places, and its quaint, narrow streets and shuttered Creole townhouses continue to charm.

Garden District
Perhaps the grandest of New Orleans' neighborhoods, the Garden District is famous for its stately homes surrounded by expansive lawns and gardens. Tours of the area are available. The historic above-ground cemetery, Lafayette No. 1, is at Washington Avenue and Prytania Street, just a cross from te famed Commander's Palace restaurant.

Kenner
This sprawling suburban city is home to the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, as well as  a variety of museums in the district known as Rivertown. The Malls along Veterans Boulvard draw shoppers from all over the area, as does the Treausre Chest Caino.

Lakeview
Ranch-style homes, one-story bungalows, and other modern styles are the hallmark of this pleasant suburban area. A popular residential shopping and dining strip runs along Harrison Avenue, while Robert E. Lee Boulvard provides a range of retail outlets.

Lower Garden District
A decideley funky vibe permeates the neighborhood between downtown and the Garden District proper. The streets around Coliseum Square are lined with grand Greek Revival mansions in various stages of fix up. Magazine street is a mix of upscale and offbeat art galleries, clothing boutiques and cafes.

Marigny (Faubourg Marigny)
Named one of America's four hippest neighborhoods by Trave + Leisure, this district adjacent to the French Quarter has a bohemian mix of residents, from the well-heeled to the down-at-heel. Frenchmen Street, with its music clubs and restaurants, is the city's hottest nightlife destination.

Metairie
Metairie is a vast sweep of suburbs and bustling commercial districts, with Lake Pontchartrain forming a serene border to the north. "Old Metairie" is a wooded enclave of shops and homes. Shoping malls and retail outlets line Veterans Boulvard, and the26 mile Causeway bridge leads to the Northsore and St. Tammany Parish.

Mid-City
Lush avenues, shotgun homes, and the banks of Bayou St. John are all included in Mid-City's beautiful neighborhoods. The New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, a diverse selecion of restaurants, and the mansions along Esplanade Avenue are popular attractions. The Fair Grounds race course is the site of the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

New Orleans East
A result of the city's expansion, New Orleans East is a mix of residential neighborhoods, industry, warehouse stores, malls, and pristine wetlands. Her you'll find the state's largest theme park, Six Flags New Orleans, a large Vietnamese community, and the Audubon Luisiana Nature Canter, located in Joe Brown Memorial Park.

Northsore/St. Tammany Parish
The St. Tammany Parish municipalities of Mandaville, Covington, Madisonville, and Abita Springs are booming with new development, both residential and commercial. The Tammany Trace bike path and Global Wildlife Center animal sanctuary are worth a visit for families. Nearby Ponchatoula is an antique collector's have, while downtown Covington has a thriving artists' colony. Notable restaurants include La Provence, Artesia, Trey Yuen, and Etoile.

Riverbend
Originally incorporated in 1845 as Carrollton, a city in its own right, this area was annexed by New Orleans in 1874. Today, the neighborhood is a casual shopping and dining district accessible by streetcar. Oak and Maple streets are chockablock with boutiques, bookstores, restaurants, coffeehouses, clubs and college students.

St. Bernard
Just across the industrial Canal from New Orleans, St. Bernard Parish is rich with history. It contains Chalmette National Historic Park, site of the Battle of New Orleans, and the Islenos Cultural Center and Museum, which tells the story of early settlers from the Canary Islands.

Treme (Faubourg Treme)
America's oldest African-American neighborhood is located just north of the French Quarter. The Treme is home to Armstrong Park, named for native son Louis Armstrong.

Uptown
Uptown is filled with Greek Revival, Gothic, and Queen Ann-style mansions. The uptown area is concentrated around St. Charles Avenue, which follows the curve of the Mississippi River. The city's historic streetcar line runs the length of this oak-canopied boulvard, an ideal way to view its antabellum masterpieces. Magazine Street is a shopaholic's dream with interesting mix of antiques stores and clothing boutiques, while St. Mary's Assumption Church features the shrine of Father Francis Xavier Seelos, who was known as "the cheerful ascetic".

Warehouse District
This "Southern Soho" adjacent to the Central Business District was given a facelift for the 1984 World's Fair. It is now a bustling arts district, known for its fashionable galleries and loft condominiums. Highlights include the rt galleries on Julia street, the COntemporary Arts Center, the National D-Day Museum, the Louisiana Children's Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the soon-to-open Louisiana ArtWorks.

Westbank
A drive across the Crescent City Connection bridge takes visitors to the other side of the Mississippi River. The Westbank is a collection of suburban residential and business communities, with towns such as Gretna, Harvey, and Westwego. A large Vietnamese population accounts for the many fine ethnic restaurants and markets, English Turn Golf Club draws top golf tounaments, and the town of Jean Lafitte is home to Jean Lafitte National Park.