The Big Easy’s Best Bets

First, beat the afternoon heat by catching up on some summer reading indoors. Grab your favorite novel, trade magazine, or audiobook, and allow yourself to become immersed in the story.

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, indulge in some of New Orleans’ finest food without leaving your room. A gourmet meal is just a phone call away. Opt for a decadent main course or make a meal of salads and sides—just don’t forget to add a drink and dessert.

After dinner, it’s time to get ready for bed. Slip into your PJs and find your favorite movie channel on TV. Slipping into a restful night’s sleep is just moments away—our heavenly premium bedding is what sweet dreams are made of.

As past French Quarter resident and writer William Faulkner once said, "The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past."

New Orleans is a city that still brims with evidence of its past. Go for a historically-minded stroll to see what you can spot: from the horse and buggy city tours that conjure up nostalgia for colonial times, to the elaborate wrought-iron balconies in the French Quarter that represent the ornate aesthetic of the Victorian era. 

History lessons explain how New Orleans was founded by the French, followed by a period of Spanish control, then was ruled once more by the French before being acquired by the United States through the Louisiana Purchase.

For evidence of the Spanish influence, head to St. Charles Avenue. The Baroque-looking government buildings on this street—such as the Cabildo and the Presbytere—drip with Spanish architectural details. Look out for arches and Arabesque ironwork.

From ancient oaks and cemetery crypts to entire buildings and streets, New Orleans history is not just visible—it's flaunted.

On Saturday, March 14, indulge in live music, beer, and delicious bites at Parasol’s Block Party (located at 3^rd and Constance, 10 A.M – 8 P.M.) or Tracy’s Block Party (2604 Magazine St, 11 A.M. till the last partier decides to leave). For parades, choose from the Irish Channel Parade, which steps off from Napoleon Ave and Tchoupitoulas at 1:30 P.M. or the Italian-American St. Joseph’s Parade, which steps off from Convention Center Blvd and Girod St at 6 P.M. The next day, Sunday, March 15, you can catch the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Metairie Road, which starts at noon in front of Rummel High School. Finally, on St. Patrick’s Day itself, Tuesday, March 17, head over to the Irish Channel Block Party at Annunciation Square starting at 1 P.M. for dance, drink, food, and live musical entertainment. Later, at 6 P.M. the annual Downtown Irish Club Parade kicks off at the corner of Burgundy and Piety, then winds its way over to Bourbon St in the famed French Quarter.

Endymion. Steps off on Saturday, February 22, at 4:15 P.M. from the corner of City Park Ave and Orleans Ave in Mid-City.

Named for a beautiful mortal beloved of Selene, goddess of the moon, Endymion has been a Carnival staple since 1967. Today, the Krewe of Endymion puts on the biggest Carnival parade, with 37 floats and 3100 riders. The parade doesn’t start till late afternoon, but due to its extraordinary popularity, many spectators will claim their places along the route early in the morning.

Bacchus. Steps off on Sunday, February 23, at 5:15 P.M. from the corner of Tchoupitoulas St and Napoleon Ave in Uptown.

The Roman god of wine, agriculture, and fertility, Bacchus could throw a really wild party. From its floats to its marching bands to its celebrity grand marshals, the Krewe of Bacchus parade lives up to its namesake in every way. The parade, which has been going strong since 1968, today boasts 31 fabulous floats and 1600 members.

Rex. Steps off on Tuesday, February 25, at 10 A.M. from the corner of Napoleon Avenue and S. Claiborne Ave.

The Krewe of Rex, meaning “king,” was established less than a decade after the Civil War in an attempt to boost tourism and encourage new businesses. Rex is responsible for a surprisingly large number of traditions, the most prominent of which are the official purple, green, and gold hues of Carnival. Today, the Krewe of Rex puts on a 600-man parade (and we do mean “man,” as all the riders are male) that steps off just after Zulu.

Though the Ogden houses the largest collection of Southern art anywhere in the world, the museum nevertheless maintains an intimate and welcoming atmosphere across its five floors, with exhibits that ground museum-goers firmly in time and place. During your visit, you’ll marvel at voodoo-inspired sculptures, paintings that blend the phantasmagoric landscapes of Hieronymous Bosch with the pathos of the African-American struggle, striking photography that ranges from straightforward realism to spectral surrealism, modern and contemporary abstract experimentation, and much more. Be sure to check out Ogden After Hours as well—the museum’s weekly happy hour where you can enjoy live music and a cash bar as you mingle with other art lovers and listen-in on live interviews with some of the South’s most dynamic musicians. 

Address: 925 Camp St, New Orleans, LA 70130