"New Orleans - A Unique City" New Orleans by mikelisaanna

We have been to New Orleans multiple times - on business, for a wedding, for sporting events, and a roadtrip. It has always been a fun place to visit, with plenty of good restaurants, fun bars, good music, interesting historic neighborhoods, and fun people. The city has its downsides - high crime, unsafe areas, tawdry tourist traps, obnoxious drunk tourists, and neighborhoods that still are suffereing from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. However, if you have a sense of humor and are willing to look past the flaws, it is a great place to visit and spend a week.

The French Quarter is where most tourists spend their time. It is a neighborhood with interesting historic buildings that house numerous great restaurants, bars, and shops. Bourbon street is the party center, with tons of bars and clubs. If you are traveling with children, be careful, because Bourbon Street also has plenty of strip clubs, which are not discreet in their advertising. A block away, Royal Street is a complete contrast, with upscale shops, especially antique shops.

If you are visiting New Orleans for more than a few days, you need to get outside of the French Quarter and visit other parts of the city, such as the Garden District. You should also try to visit some of the nearby plantation houses that line the Mississippi River going north towards Baton Rouge.

• Pros:A fun city full of good food, drink, music, and history
• Cons:Some areas are not appropriate for children, crime
• In a nutshell:One of the most unique cities in the USA