50 Free Things to do in New Orleans

St Charles Streetcar heading back from Uptown towards the French Quarter

CLICK HERE for my New Orleans photos: http://cdeminski.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/new-orleans-photo-page-now-up/

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CLICK HERE for my guide to budget conscious dining in New Orleans, and a link to an online NoLa restaurant guide: http://cdeminski.wordpress.com/2011/12/26/a-word-about-what-ive-eaten-in-new-orleans/

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There is a great New Orleans site (www.neworleansonline.com) which has a ton of information about NoLa in terms of getting around, restaurants and FREE things to do while in the city.

I really enjoyed reading this list: 50 Free Things to do in New Orleans because I’ll have such a wealth of time on my hands while I’m in the city, so a little planning will go a long way.

For example, did you know there is a free ferry ride you can take to Algiers Point so you can get great photos of the NoLa skyline? The Canal Street Ferry is free for pedestrians, and it’s certainly now on my list of things to do when I’m there.

Another very important item on my list is the New Orleans Museum of Art  - and it’s free on Wednesdays! And what’s more wonderful is the museum is located in City Park, which also houses the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden and you guessed it – it’s also free.

Now, I’m sure I’ll be doing things in New Orleans that aren’t free too, but everything from taking in art galleries, to exploring the local parks, historical sites and neighborhoods are and it could take an interested traveler more than a few weeks to explore all these wonderful possibilities!

PLEASE share your favorite things to do in New Orleans below – especially things that are unusual and a bit more off the beaten path!

The Big Easy, Crescent City – NoLa here I come

I’ve been thinking about taking a writing break for a while, and I considered a few locations for my trip. I ultimately decided on New Orleans, LA (NoLa) as my destination. I’ll stay there for nearly three weeks – the longest writing break I’ve ever taken, which is very exciting.

New Orleans has been on my mind since 2005 and Hurricane Katrina. I’ve been looking for the chance to go back to the city (I’ve been there once before) and spend tourist dollars to support the local economy. This extended trip will allow me to do that.

I’ve been able to rent space in a furnished apartment – something I’ve never done before – which will put me in a nice neighborhood within walking distance of public transportation, all without killing my lodging budget. In fact, based on the number of days I’ll be away, my daily lodging costs will be less than $40 bucks a day. Add in big bonuses of having access to a kitchen to do cooking some of the time, a refrigerator to store food and drink, and wireless internet access so I can post here and check email, and it makes the acc0modations that much more enticing.

It was important to me for this trip to not have to worry about renting a car and New Orleans has plenty of public transport, including a streetcar line rolling through the Garden District. I’m sure I’ll be using it heavily. My ‘host’ mentioned the trip to the French Quarter is less than 15 minutes away which gives me tons of opportunities to explore all the nooks and crannies of the neighborhood.

New Orleans is such a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, music and art, it can’t help but be an inspiring place to soak up impressions for interesting stories. So much of a writer’s life is spent observing others, and smelling, tasting and experiencing the environment around us. I know from my past travels a change in scenery can start the creative fires burning so I’m hopeful NoLa will lend me her gracious southern hospitality to achieve my writing goals.

I won’t be leaving for a few more weeks, but my mind is more than halfway there…