New Orleans in 10 Stops

It's no secret that New Orleans is one of my favorite places. From the history to the food to the people who welcome you as if you were a long-lost friend, there's a lot to love about the Crescent City. The list below is my version of a New Orleans starter guide: 10 places that I recommend for dipping your toe into the culture and history of the city.

1. St. Charles Streetcar Line

One of the iconic images of New Orleans, the St. Charles Streetcar Line has been ferrying travelers from Uptown to the Business District since 1835, making it the world's oldest continuously operating line. The route passes by two universities, Garden District mansions, and Audubon Park before reaching its turnaround point just steps away from the French Quarter, making this a perfect first-stop orientation to New Orleans.

2. French Quarter Highlights: Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, and the French Market

Arguably the most famous part of New Orleans, the French Quarter is also the oldest, with many of its buildings dating back to the 18th century. You'll find the heartbeat of the Quarter in Jackson Square, a gathering place where you can purchase local artwork, listen to live performances, embark on a carriage ride, and even have your fortune read. A few blocks from Jackson Square, the historic, open-air French Market boasts everything from the sentimental to the quirky, making it a great place to shop for unique souvenirs. If partying into the early hours is more your speed, you'll find New Orleans' most famous street — Bourbon Street — on the other side of Jackson Square.

3. Preservation Hall

New Orleans and jazz are one of history's great partnerships. Here, in the hometown of Louis Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton, the torch is carried by soloists serenading the crowds outside Cafe du Monde, by brass bands escorting second lines down St. Charles Avenue, and at Preservation Hall. Located in an unassuming building just off Bourbon Street, the hall hosts near-nightly performances from a consortium of 50+ musicians, all dedicated to sharing the evolution of "traditional New Orleans jazz."

4. Mulate's

As jazz was taking shape in New Orleans, another type of music was emanating from the rural parts of the state. Heavy on the accordion and washboard, zydeco combines blues, rock 'n' roll, soul, and traditional bayou music in an upbeat mix that can coax toe-tapping out of the stubbornest listener. At Mulate's, aka "the original Cajun restaurant," zydeco bands perform nightly and dancing is encouraged in between servings of classic

Louisiana dishes.

5. New Orleans School of Cooking

One meal is sometimes all it takes to make a visitor want to uproot their lives and settle permanently in New Orleans. With its combined African, European, and Native American influences, the city's cuisine has a flavor and variety that I've yet to find anywhere else. From gumbo and bananas foster to jambalaya and bread pudding, the New Orleans School of Cooking offers daily classes so those of us who can't uproot can at least bring some of the city back to our own kitchens. Classes range from small, hands-on experiences to budget-friendlier demos in classroom settings.

6. Historic New Orleans Collection

For a fuller look into the city's culture and history, head right around the block to the Historic New Orleans Collection. With exhibits housed in three historic buildings, the museum — which maintains an archive of nearly 400,000 pieces — tells the story of New Orleans from its founding to the Sugar Bowl.

7. Antique Shops

New Orleans does a phenomenal job of coaxing the present and the past to coexist: cobblestone streets are carefully kept, high-tech businesses occupy 19th-century warehouses, and family lore is lovingly passed down the generations. In a city such as this, jaw-dropping antiques are a given. Whether on Magazine Street in the Garden District or Chartres and Royal Streets in the French Quarter (make sure to ask about the secret door at M. S. Rau!), you're guaranteed to find at least one piece that perfectly encapsulates New Orleans' old-world charm.

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Travel Tip:

While not technically antique stores, two other businesses deserve recognition: Faulkner House Books, a bookstore housed in the building that William Faulkner called home, and Hove Parfumeur, New Orleans' oldest continually operating perfumery, which specializes in rare and classic fragrances.

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8. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

Few places feel closer to the past than cemeteries, and New Orleans is famous for them. Known for their above-ground crypts which make them feel like hallowed cities-within-a-city, the cemeteries are a near-guaranteed feature in any movie, show, or book about New Orleans. Before venturing into a cemetery, however, keep in mind that many of them are private and only accessible as part of an authorized group. One of the most well-known, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, offers walking tours throughout the day, including stops at the tombs of Marie Laveau, Homer Plessy, and a plethora of other characters who called New Orleans home.

9. Paddlewheel Cruise

I may be biased, but there's just something about seeing one of the most historic cities from a boat on one of the most historic rivers. Bonus points if that boat has a historic feel to it, like the Steamboat Natchez or the Creole Queen. For those looking for the more authentic experience, I would recommend the Natchez, believed to be the last steam-powered boat on the Mississippi, which offers narration, live jazz, and engine room viewing. If you enjoy learning about history while also stretching your legs, the Creole Queen provides twice-daily excursions to Chalmette Battlefield, site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans.

10. Arnaud's

A pillar of New Orleans' famed group of classic fine dining restaurants, Arnaud's has been serving Creole cuisine in the French Quarter for over a century. With 17 dining rooms spread across 11 buildings, each with its own theme, a trip to Arnaud's is a trip through history, to a time where velveted speakeasies defied prohibition and dinner parties were lit by candles. Before leaving the time and the restaurant, make sure to visit the onsite Mardi Gras Museum, which features dozens of kings' and queens' costumes dating back to the mid-20th century. Reservations required.