New Orleans, LA Hotels

Lost in the tropical storm coverage however is the singular fact that as a cultural city, New Orleans is a crucial component in the fabric of the United States. The Big Easy has a musical and culinary heritage with influence the world over and from Cajun to Creole culture, Mardi Gras to fusion architecture, the city is peerless.

Attractions

The central hub of tourist interest in New Orleans is without a doubt, the French Quarter. The famous district is home to iconic Bourbon Street, the node of Mardi Gras revelry and notable party spot. With 18th century landmarks in close proximity to historic Jackson Square, a walk through the French Quarter is a virtual step back in time and conjures the prose of Tennessee Williams in A Streetcar Named Desire.

A streetcar ride on St. Charles Avenue offers superb looks at one of the most historic and exceptional areas in urban America. Home to the best collection of 19th century plantation estates in the country, the Garden District of New Orleans is a special place.

A must for Civil War buffs, the Confederate Museum dates back to 1891 and contains one of the most comprehensive collections of war memorabilia from the era.

A location in City Park provides the New Orleans Museum of Modern Art with cushy environs. The beautiful facility has a vast and eclectic collection of art from every corner of the globe.

The area familiar to many as the Arts in addition to Warehouse District is a vibrant, hip part of New Orleans where loft art studios and jazz clubs jostle for space with small bars and restaurants.

Events

The premier Mardi Gras celebration in North America is what New Orleans is famous for. A number of pre-Lent events that begin in January culminate with the massive party and parade on Mardi Gras, held in the French Quarter sometime between February or early March.

Held in February as part of Black History Month, the annual Black Heritage Festival celebrates the special African-American heritage of New Orleans with a slew of concerts, exhibits and other events.

In what may be the best jazz festival in the world, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival draws colossal crowds to the Fair Grounds Race Course every April and May. The site becomes a veritable village for the duration of the festival, with food stalls, crafts vendors and a line-up of musical acts that reads like a Hall of Fame of jazz and popular music legends.

Climate

New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate with brief, mild winters. With hurricane season the main concern for everyone, the late summer months of August and September is the time to avoid the city.

• Winter (December to February) 6-18°C
• Spring (March to May) 12-29°C
• Summer (June to September) 22-33°C
• Fall (October to November) 11-27°C