Taking a Walk versus Taking a Ride: the Art of Touring New Orleans
Every year, the Big Easy welcomes a spectrum of visitors. Every year, there are lines and groups of tours throughout the city. We live in a city that wishes to be seen, touched and heard—it’s only natural to seek adventure, to seek the stories of the past and the lives long gone from this world. Whether you’re a history buff, a party animal or the quiet observer, New Orleans offers the best experiences to you. But what are the best New Orleans Tours?
What Kind of Tour is for You?
This is the question: what kind of experience are you craving?
New Orleans Walking Tours vs. New Orleans Vehicle Tours
When you’re looking for a very specific New Orleans touring experience, it’s time to book a walking tour like our Garden District Tour or our Cemetery and French Quarter Tour. These tours are catered to show highlights of the Big Easy and are made for a small group of visitors. Taking a walking tour lets you enjoy New Orleans and feel a part of the action—New Orleans’ active present and the scandals of her past.
When you want your tour to have a more holistic feel, and you don’t have the time to see the Big Easy by foot, it’s time to book a vehicle tour. These tours like Livery Tour’s VIP City Tour offer the total package. This is a golden opportunity to see everything that New Orleans has to offer: all of the attractions in the city, a leisurely drive down Esplanade Avenue, a great sight of City Park as well as other notable and historic stops. These tours focus on grasping the whole idea of what it was and is like to live in New Orleans.
What places do you see with Livery Tours as your guide?
- Katrina Damaged Areas
- The “Brad Pitt Homes”
- New Orleans Cemeteries: Lafayette Cemetery and St.Louis Cemetery
- New Orleans Antebellum Mansions
- Harry Connick’s Musicians Village
- Landmarks on St.Charles Avenue
- The Arts District and the Garden District
Creating Your Own Tour of New Orleans
Do you like to fly solo? Is the idea of large groups of people trudging on, looking at buildings and scenery a bit too monochromatic for you? Your best friend will be Google and a good pair of walking shoes. It’s always good to break away from the organized tours and dive into the Big Easy head first, partaking in the free activities our city has to offer everyone year-round.
Here are 10 Activities that will give you a good tour of New Orleans culture:
- Walk around Jackson Square, taking in the sights and sounds of the French Quarter and resting in the shade
- Grab a friend and visit all of the galleries in the Arts District along Julia Street or make your way down Royal and Chartres to window shop arts and antiques
- Dance to the beat of a night on Frenchmen Street or along to the free concerts in Lafayette Square during the spring and fall months
- Watch the creation of delicate glass artwork at Rosetree Glass Studio, Studio Inferno, or Glassworks
- Sit under 100-year-old Oak trees in Audubon Park or City Park and watch time go by
- Take a picture with Fats Domino, Pete Fountain, or Al Hirt at Music Legends Park on Bourbon Street
- Wish for good fortunes in the fountain at Spanish Plaza in front of the Riverwalk
- Get in touch with your wild side while walking on the nature trail at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve’s Barataria Unit
- Watch the sailboats race on Lake Pontchartrain from the Lakefront Park, catching the sunset at just the right time
- See the Battle of New Orleans reenactment at the Chalmette Battlefield unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
