Stroll through the French Quarter, sample the city's distinctive Creole cuisine, listen to the best live music, or take a post-Katrina drive to remember the victims –
Fodor's New Orleans 2008 offers all these experiences and more! Our local writers have traveled throughout the country to find the best hotels, restaurants, attractions and activities to prepare you for a journey of stunning variety. Before you leave for your trip be sure to pack your Fodor's guide to ensure you don't miss a thing.
The San Francisco Chronicle sums it up best –"Fodor's guides are saturated with information."
- We frequently update our New Orleans guide, and we make every effort to bring you the most accurate and thorough book. Plus we provide timely updates about the area at Fodors.com.
- Unlike other travel books, Fodor's guides rely heavily on local experts who know the territory best–so you know you're seeing the real New Orleans.
- We give you the planning tools you need to tailor your trip. We give options for all budgets. You make the choices.
Planning Your TripAbout This Book ............ 6
Chapter 1: Experience New Orleans ............ 7
New Orleans Today ............ 8
New Orleans Planner ............ 10
Whats Where ............ 12
Top New Orleans Attractions ............ 14
Local for a Day ............ 21
New Orleans with Kids ............ 22
Best Fests & Parades ............ 23
Free & Almost Free ............ 25
Offbeat New Orleans ............ 26
Get Outta Town ............ 27
Great Itineraries ............ 28
Chapter 2: Exploring New Orleans ............ 31
The French Quarter ............ 34
Faubourg Marigny & Bywater ............ 52
Tremé ............ 55
CBD & Warehouse District ............ 59
Garden District ............ 66
Uptown ............ 76
Bayou St. John & Mid-City ............ 83
Metairie & the Lakefront ............ 90
Algiers Point ............ 91
Chapter 3: Mardi Gras & Jazz Fest ............ 93
Mardi Gras ............ 94
Jazz & Heritage Festival ............ 103
Chapter 4: Where to Eat............ 113
Chapter 5: Where to Stay............ 145
Chapter 6: Nightlife & the Arts ............ 173
Nightlife ............ 176
The Arts ............ 192
Chapter 7: Shopping ............195
Chapter 8: Side Trips from New Orleans ............ 223
Plantation Country ............ 225
Cajun Country ............ 240
New Orleans Essentials ............ 263
Getting Started ............ 264
Booking Your Trip ............ 267
Transportation ............ 269
On The Ground ............ 273
Index ............ 278
About Our Writers ............ 288
New Orleans In Focus
Remembering Katrina ............ 15
Maps
The French Quarter & Faubourg Marigny ............ 3637
CBD & Warehouse District ............ 60
Garden District ............ 67
St Charles Avenue Uptown ............ 78
Lakefront & City Park ............ 84
Algiers Point ............ 91
Where to Eat in the French Quarter & Faubourg Marigny ............ 119
Where to Eat in CBD & the Warehouse District ............ 130
Where to Eat Outside the Downtown Area ............ 134
Where to Stay in Downtown New Orleans ............ 148-149
Where to Stay Outside the Downtown Area ............ 168
Downtown Nightlife ............ 180-181
French Quarter Shopping ............ 198-199
CBD & Warehouse District Shopping ............ 211
Magazine Street Shopping ............ 216-217
Maple Street/Riverbend Shopping ............ 221
Southern Louisiana ............ 226
Plantation Country ............ 228
Cajun Country ............ 241
Lafayette ............ 242