New
Orleans should come with a warning label.
See,
there's a growing group of residents
whom locals call
the "never lefts." They
are the people who came to New Orleans
as tourists: came for Mardi Gras, came
for Jazz Fest, or just came. And the
city worked its magic on them. They listened
to street musicians around Jackson Square.
They danced to brass bands in clubs at
night. They gazed at lush tropical courtyards
hidden behind unassuming building fronts.
They strolled down streets time seemed
to have forgotten. They kissed beneath
flickering gas lamps. They ate incredible
meals and topped them off with beignets
at 3am at the Café du Monde while
watching the passing human parade. They
found themselves perusing newspaper ads
for houses and apartments, because as
their trip's scheduled end date came
and went, they were still in New Orleans.
They came for Mardi Gras, came for Jazz
Fest, just came -- and never left.
New Orleans does that to people.
This
is one of the few cities in America
(if not the only
one) where you do not
feel as if you are in America. It may
sound cliché to call New Orleans
magical and seductive, but it happens
to be the truth. Every one of your senses
will be engaged from the moment you arrive
here. The city is a visual delight, from
the lacy ironwork wrapped around the
buildings of the French Quarter to the
stately, graceful old homes of the Garden
District to the giant oaks that stretch
across Esplanade Avenue or drip with
ghostly Spanish moss in City Park. But
to just call New Orleans picturesque
is not doing it justice. Music flows
from every doorway or is played right
in the street. Jazz, Cajun, blues, whatever
-- you'll find yourself moving to a rhythm
and wondering if the streets really are
dancing along with you. There are delicious
smells in the moist, honeyed air, which
seems to carry a whiff of the Caribbean
while caressing your skin, almost as
if it were alive.
And then there's the food. Don't get
us started on the food.
This
is a city that is fully, totally alive.
It's sensual
and joyous, decadent
but not exploitative. Indulgences are
many but for the right reason -- they
are fun. This is a city where every business
entirely closes for Mardi Gras; after
all, carnival roughly means "farewell
to flesh." No one's going to say
good-bye to such things (as if they ever
really do) without a big party.
We tell people that all we do when we
go to New Orleans is eat, drink, listen
to music, dance, and walk. That's it.
In New Orleans, you can do just that
for days without getting bored. That's
the kind of town it is. In fact, that
may be the simplest way to sum up its
appeal -- which is not an easy task.
For years, countless authors have tried
to explain its gestalt. You could fill
entire bookcases with New Orleans-based
or -inspired literature, some written
by natives, even more by authors who
came for a visit and never left.
We won't kid you, though. There is a
downside to all this fun. New Orleans
has always been the city of permissive
attitudes -- it was the first U.S. city
where prostitution was sort of legal.
Today, loose liquor laws mean not only
a party atmosphere but also obnoxious
drunks and disgusting displays in the
streets. Crime has been high; at one
time -- 1995 and 1996, in particular
-- this was the most dangerous city in
America, although concerted efforts to
fix that have paid off with lower crime
rates of late.
But those who love New Orleans remain
amused by its flaws -- they're part of
what makes the town real. And it is real
-- it only looks like a movie set because
of remarkable historic preservation;
the city continues to largely resist
efforts to turn itself into an amusement
park. For every tacky souvenir store
and theme restaurant, there are 10 places
that defy commercialization. This town
refuses to be turned into something shiny
and clean. That wouldn't be the natural
order of things, anyway: Thanks to the
climate, the city began to decay the
moment it was built. Buildings may be
worn and shabby, but every brick has
a story. You want tidy and sterile? Go
elsewhere. You want history and character?
Come here.
The best way to get inside New Orleans
is to plunge right in. Don't just go
for the obvious. Sure, we've met people
who never left Bourbon Street and had
a terrific time, but the city has so
much more to offer. We've also met people
who went for recognizable names and quick
and easy decisions and then were disappointed
that their experiences were no more than
adequate.
Look over the advice that follows, and
you should be able to sidestep the inevitable
tourist traps. We want you to go home
having passed a real good time, as the
locals say. We won't promise that you
won't get your hands dirty -- but if
the dirt comes from the powdered sugar
on a beignet, then you did your trip
right.
That is, assuming you do go home. Remember:
We warned you, so don't blame us if you
come to New Orleans and one day discover
that you never left.
 Family
Fun - New Orleans is known
as America's favorite adult amusement
park
- but now we are home to the most exciting
amusement park for kids of all ages -
Six Flags New Orleans Theme Park. With
over 31 rides and attractions, it is
the largest park of its kind to open
in the South. Additionally, the whole
family will love our top-rated zoo and
aquarium. You can host an event at either
of these locations for a unique setting.
The top-rated Louisiana Children's Museum
toys with the minds of children as well
as adults. In the Mid-City area, thousand
of Oak trees bow to the beauty of City
Park, which is larger than Central Park!
Here you'll find the Botanical Gardens,
a playground, tennis, golf and boating.
For a closer look, ride a streetcar along
beautiful St. Charles Avenue for a fun
tour. Click
Here for Tour and Attractions Information »
Gaming - It's only fitting that casino
gaming return to the city where it
originated. After all, this is the
birthplace of craps and America's first
grand casino was opened here in the
19th century. Today, there are gambling
riverboats on the Mississippi as well
as Harrah's, which is the world's largest
land-based casino. Big-time gaming
has returned to this city of luck.
 Mardi
Gras - . When you go to New
Orleans, you gotta go see the Mardi
Gras!. This
line from a popular song played throughout
the Carnival season says it all. The
party, noted the Greatest Free Show
on Earth, brings thousands of visitors
to the city. Beginning January 6 each
year, locals celebrate right through
until Fat Tuesday, the day before lent
begins. Everywhere else in the world,
it's another Tuesday but in New Orleans,
revelry rules as people flock to the
streets for parades and masquerades.
Since the 1700's, this has been New
Orleans most celebrated holiday and
one that you. ve gotta see once in
a lifetime--at least! Click Here for
New Orleans Festivals
Louisiana Superdome - You know it as
the home of (7) Super Bowls, the 1998
Republican National Convention Site,
and the world's largest fixed-roof
stadium, but it is also a great venue
for events, concerts, and general sessions.
It can accommodate up to 58,000 people
and anything you can imagine. Some
of the world's leading software companies
have also used it as a party venue
beyond compare!
 Morial Convention Center - In case you
need a 1.1 million square foot room
- we have it! The Morial Convention
Center offers size, ease, and flexibility.
Under on roof, you will find a state-of-the-art
4000 seat conference auditorium, a
contiguous floor plan, fiber-optic
capability that would make NASA envious,
and 140 meeting rooms located directly
above the exhibit space. Tell us what
you need and we will have something
to offer.
Shopping - Some of the oldest treasures
of New Orleans are discovered in the
French Quarter. From Royal Street to
Magazine Street and from the Riverwalk
to New Orleans Centre, retail, retro,
ribald, and regal - shopping abounds
here. You'll also find unique art galleries,
accent shops and three shopping centers
downtown, steps away from the hotels.
 Cuisine - If you're
coming to New Orleans for a convention,
plan to arrive with
an empty stomach. There are more great
restaurants in this city than there
are hours of the day to eat. That's
why meal time is the favorite time
of the day. Start with Beignets and
Café au Lait, grab a po-boy,
then top it off with Crawfish Etouffeé prepared
by a world-famous chef. You'll love
every bite. Two favorites are Cajun
and Creole cooking. The hot-peppery
flavors of Cajun food spice up gumbos,
crawfish bisque and andouille sausage.
Savory sauces make Creole dishes like
red beans -n- rice or Oysters Rockefeller.
One can always find dozens of raw oysters
on the half-shell at local joints.
The chefs love to toss all their favorite
ingredients into a pot which makes
eating an experience beyond compare
in New Orleans. Click here for the
list of New Orleans Restaurants
 Culture - When it
comes to culture, New Orleans is a
world all of its own.
This cosmopolitan community is a blend
of French, Spanish, Indian, Anglo and
African heritages. Their influences
are seen in architecture throughout
the city or can be explored at one
of the many museums. The Cabildo Museum
is the national historic landmark where
the Louisiana Purchase was signed and
it houses many exhibitions depicting
the history of the life during the
Civil War era. At the Old US Mint Jazz
Museum, you can see Louis Armstrong's
first horn. Jumping ahead in time,
the Contemporary Arts Center shows
off new works at the 19th century ice
cream factory in the Warehouse District.
You can explore the ages through visual
and performing arts. It's also a hot
place to host a private party! The
New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park
is the pride of the South since its
major expansion. You can view the impressive
permanent collection, as well as traveling
exhibits. Click Here for New Orleans
Museums
 French Quarter - Where is the only
place in the world where you can
find people
dancing in the middle of the streets,
in middle of the day, in the middle
of the week? Life here is a never
ending party. The highlight of
every visitor's
trip to New Orleans, the French Quarter
is a unique neighborhood of courtyard
homes, shops and restaurants, all
as special as the people who live
there.
Wandering cobblestone streets, looking
at wrought iron laced balconies is
a real treat on a Saturday afternoon.
But to feel the real beat of New
Orleans, head over to the heart
of the Quarter,
Jackson Square. Guests are entertained
daily by street performers and live
jazz bands, and may even join in
a spontaneous secondline. The French
Market is a secret of trinkets as
well
as Creole tomatoes and delicious
fruits. Walking
tours will take
you to the
historic sites in the Vieux Carré.
 Hotels
- Staying in New Orleans. finest hotels
can be as much fun as exploring the city.
What else would you expect from a city
that's host to over 8 million visitors
each year. Conventioneers find it comforting
that our major hotels can accommodate
groups as large as 5,000 people under
one roof. In addition, several more hotels
will soon open in the Central Business
District. Some visitors prefer the charm
of a French Quarter cottage to the amenities
of a major five-star hotel. There are
several guest houses in the Vieux Carré
as well as throughout the Garden District
and Uptown. We have hospitality down to
a science in New Orleans. Most hotels
are within walking distance of the convention
facilities and the French Quarter, or
you can always find a shuttle to take
you to the other side of town. Click
Here for Hotels
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