New Orleans, Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

New Orleans is a three hundred-year-old Louisiana city on the Mississippi River, near the Gulf of Mexico. Nicknamed the “Big Easy,” it’s known for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live-music scene and spicy, singular cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African, Spanish, and American cultures. Famous Creole eateries include Laura’s Pralines, Café du Monde, and Mother’s.

New Orleans technically has 130 festivals a year, but there is never a dull day in the Big Easy. Notable festivals include the Satchmo Festival, which celebrates NOLA native and jazz legend Louis Armstrong; the Essence Festival; and the Jazz and Heritage Festival. A famed time of year to visit is Mardi Gras Season, which starts during the Catholic Feast of Epiphany and concludes just before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. This particular day before Ash Wednesday is the day of Mardi Gras itself, as Mardi Gras literally translates to “Fat Tuesday.”

Be sure to visit the French Quarter, listen to a brass band, and join a second line!