New Orleans, aka the Crescent City or the Big Easy, is a small city in the Deep South with a big reputation. European, Caribbean, and African influences have combined here over three centuries, creating an American city like no other. It's an ebullient, dynamic destination where the locals celebrate life daily through the music, food, and festivals that define the city's character, most notably Mardi Gras, perhaps the biggest free party on Earth.
The historic French Quarter, the tourist hub, boasts hundreds of years of tradition, apparent in its distinctive architecture. Walk around the Quarter or the equally historic African American neighborhood of Treme and feel 300 years of history bubbling up from the streets. Live music emanates from almost every street downtown, from the jazz clubs of Frenchmen Street to the lively rooms of Preservation Hall to the brass bands that set up in Jackson Square and play for passersby.
With parades for everything from weddings to funerals, everyday life has been raised to an art form. Irresistible Cajun and Creole dishes make New Orleans the country's most interesting foodie destination. The choice of restaurants, from high-end to hole-in-the-wall, is world class. Restaurants serve traditional and updated versions of classics such as gumbo and jambalaya, as well as some of the country's best fresh seafood and a host of home-grown cocktails.
There are cultural and music festivals year-round, with Jazz Fest in the spring, Voodoo Fest in the fall, and Satchmo Fest in the summer.
Parks and green spaces abound, from the lush sprawl of City Park to the breezy banks of the mighty Mississippi River, replete with steamboats and ferries.
New Orleans is a vital and proud city - a destination that offers a warm welcome to anyone with an open mind and a sense of adventure.