Step into this intimate, storied venue in the French Quarter for an unforgettable live jazz experience. The shows are short but powerful, and the atmosphere is pure New Orleans.

Note: Reservations fill up quickly, so book in advance through their website to guarantee your spot.

Go behind the scenes where the famous Mardi Gras floats are created. This colorful warehouse tour offers a fascinating look at the artistry and tradition behind Carnival, complete with king cake samples and photo ops with elaborate props.

Grab a drink at one of the oldest bars in America, housed in a dark, candlelit building that dates back to the 1700s. Order the famous purple drink (a Voodoo Daiquiri) and soak in the atmospheric, historic vibe.

The National WWII Museum is one of the top attractions in the country and reason alone to visit New Orleans. The museum spans a massive seven-acre campus in the Warehouse District, filled with immersive exhibits, historic aircraft, tanks, and a 4D theater experience. It has a special connection to New Orleans: the Higgins landing boats that were essential to the D-Day invasion were designed and built right here in the city. Plan to spend at least half a day, and buy your tickets in advance.

The Sazerac cocktail was born in New Orleans in the 1850s when a Creole pharmacist named Antoine Peychaud started mixing brandy with his secret bitters for friends at his Royal Street apothecary. It's now the official cocktail of the city, and the Sazerac House is a free, three-story museum and micro-distillery right at the corner of Canal and Magazine Street dedicated to that history. The museum walks you through it all with interactive exhibits, a working distillery, and complimentary tastings along the way. You can book a time slot online, and the whole experience takes about an hour.

Open since 1862, Café Du Monde is a New Orleans institution and your first mandatory stop in the French Quarter. The menu is beautifully simple: beignets (hot, pillowy squares of fried dough buried under powdered sugar) and café au lait (dark roast chicory coffee with steamed milk). There's almost always a line, it moves fast, and you will get powdered sugar on your clothes. It's worth it.

Jackson Square is the heart of the French Quarter, a lively open-air plaza anchored by the stunning St. Louis Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in the country. On any given day you'll find street musicians, tarot card readers, and local artists displaying their work along the iron fence. It's the perfect spot to grab a bench, people-watch, and soak in the atmosphere.

Tucked under a canopy of massive live oaks at the far end of St. Charles Avenue, Audubon Park is one of the most beautiful green spaces in the city. It's perfect for a morning walk or jog, and the Audubon Zoo next door is home to Louisiana alligators, a swamp exhibit, and a lazy river. Take the St. Charles streetcar to get there and enjoy the ride past the Garden District mansions along the way.

Tucked away on Chartres Street in the French Quarter, the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum is housed in the building that once belonged to America's first licensed pharmacist. The collection is equal parts fascinating and unsettling, with antique surgical tools, jars of leeches, and old patent medicines. It's a quick visit but a memorable one, and a fun connection to the Peychaud's bitters story you'll learn about at the Sazerac House.