OK, Maison. Going to take you up on this...I will be there with my wife for 4 nights (1st through the 5th - can't make New Year's Eve as I will be at the Green Bay - vs - Bears game). Anyway, we will be staying a few blocks off of Bourbon. What are your recommendations for dining, nightlife (nothing overly wild) and possibly tours? Also, should we rent a car or simply cab it from the airport? Thanks for the help in advance.
Dining: There's so many great places. In the French Quarter, I like a restaurant called the Gumbo Shop as a place to start, if you're new to Creole food. Cafe du Monde for beignets and coffee. I also like Paul Prudhomme's restaurant, K-Paul's. And one more: Irene's Cuisine, also in the Quarter.... Actually, if you go to
this message board, you can find just about anything about eating in NO.
Nightlife: My favorite place to go out is called Frenchman Street. There are small bars, a couple of jazz clubs--it's a lot more civilized than Bourbon St.. I like clubs called the Spotted Cat and another called "dba". Frenchman is an easy walk from the Quarter, or a short cab ride.
Tours: I would plan on taking a tour of the Garden District. It's a short cab ride from the Quarter. It's one of the most remarkable parts of New Orleans. There are also fascinating cemetery tours--they bury them above ground here. P.S. I would not recommend the Swamp Tour--it's a lot of fun in the warmer month, but the alligators hibernate in the winter.
Rent a car: If it's just for getting to and from the airport, I'd look into a hotel shuttle or take a cab. If you want to go to Cajun Country or to River Road (plantations up near Baton Rouge), then you might want a rent a car. You can walk to the Superdome from Bourbon Street.
Anything else? Just ask...
