As one of the most historic and evocative cities in the whole of the USA, there is plenty to see and do in New Orleans, whether you are interested in the political, or social and musical history that the city is proud of.
The French Quarter is the most well known district of New Orleans, and it is here that most of the historic attractions of the city can be found. The area lends itself well to walking tours, and you can usually get oriented within it quite quickly and see many sights, particularly on the back streets. Some of the highlights around the French Quarter are the so called city of the dead - The New Orleans Cemetery No 1, where the ornate marble mausoleums of the city's historic dead fill a large cemetery, which has appeared in many films. Should you explore the graveyard, do it as part of a guided tour, as the large unpatrolled area does attract crime.
St Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square is one of the highlights of the city, and is a beautiful building dating from 1794.
Along Decatur and North Peter's streets, you can find the famous French Market, where you can buy pretty much anything, and the street performers and street cafes make the area a great place to relax in the afternoon.
Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World is the other side of the Mississippi from the French Quarter, and has an exhibition of carnival floats, costumes and memorabilia that covers the history of the carnival. It's a fascinating place to visit for half a day, if you're not lucky enough to be in town during the main event - when you get to see most of the biggest attractions filling the streets instead of filling the sheds.
