"The Big Easy" New Orleans by BLewJay

Visitors are often struck by the European flavor of New Orleans, and little wonder. They see it in the architecture, taste it in the food, hear it in the music and experience it in the hospitality and characteristic accent of the locals.

New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz, and rightfully so. Early jazz greats like Louis Armstrong, Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton and King Oliver got their starts in the nightclubs of Storyville, a red-light district that flourished between 1897 and 1917. The city's musical tradition remains strong with the Neville Brothers, the Marsalis family, Harry Connick, Jr., and many others. Events such as the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, the French Quarter Festival, Satchmo Summer Fest and others share these gifts with the world.

New Orleans has a well-deserved reputation for food. There are more than 3000 restaurants in the city, many of which have been owned and operated by the same families for generations. The predominant foods are Creole and Cajun, but there are many ethnic restaurants that feature foods from throughout the world. The city consistently is rated one of the top cities for food by national and international publications.

• Pros:The food, the music, the atmosphere
• Cons:The streets are a pain in the butt