Welcome to The Big Easy, a city with a big personality only dwarfed by the sounds of the jazz & the size of the drinks. World-renowned for its rich music scene, Creole cuisine, unique dialect, and of course Bourbon Street, this city has a special energy. Whether it’s Fat Tuesday or any random Tuesday, you always feel ready to celebrate.

NOLA is a town of neighborhoods. Each neighborhood is eminently walkable, whether it’s Bourbon Street, Frenchmans, the Garden District, the Warehouse district, you name it, you can wander the gorgeous streets. You don’t need a car when visiting, there’s plenty of better choices. The streetcar & buses are available, but if you have a schedule to keep, you’re better off calling a Lyft or cab, your best bet for getting around town in a hurry.

Louis Armstrong International Airport (MSY) is located 8 miles from downtown. There is a myriad of ways to get in to town from here. You can take a bus, either the RTA Express route 202 or the Jefferson Transit bus E-2. Taxis have a flat fee of $36 to/from the airport & the hotels downtown (one person/one way). However, Lyft and the like is probably your best bet since cars are a no go when visiting. It takes about 25-30 minutes and will cost about $35.

Founded in 1718 by French colonists, NOLA was the capital of French Louisiana before being traded to the United States in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. By 1840, it was the 3rd most populous city in the USA. It would grow & shift throughout the ages, decreasing in size but having a strong staying power in spirit. NOLA left an indelible mark on America through its food, its music, its architecture, its tumultuous history, & its resilience in times of crisis. To this day, thousands of people flock to take part in what this city has to offer.

You’re in New Orleans to party and to fall in love, in no particular order. The historic heart of this city is the French Quarter, where the French & Spanish Creole architecture & vibrant nightlife has been described as the most unique in the U.S. For those who love food, history, nightlife, architecture, and did we mention food, this is the city for you. As the locals say Welcome to New Orleans and laissez les bon temps rouler!

New Orleans is considered humid subtropical with short mild winters dipping into the 40s & humid summers reaching the low 90s with lots of rain. Be prepared for the swampy humidity that comes with this part of the country, no matter the time of year. Don’t forget your sunscreen no matter when you visit!

The indigenous cuisine of this incredible city is distinctive & influential. A mixture of Cajun, Creole, French, Spanish, African, & Italian combine to make unique & delicious foods. Before you head back home, you’ve got to try beignets (pronounced “ben-yays”) with cafe au lait, po’ boys, étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, muffulettas & pralines, just to name a few!

If food stole your heart here, head to the French Market District for New Orleans-style hot sauce & salsa to take home or grab Cafe Du Monde's beignet mix & dark roast chickory coffee. Or head to the World Famous N’awlins Cafe & Spice Emporium for something with a kick or a pack of hurricane mix & a glass from the famous Pat O’Brien’s. And you can’t leave without a string or 12 of Mardi Gras beads!

New Orleans provides a perfect setting for linen & cotton. Sundresses or a flowing skirt are great choices for women while guys wear shorts by day & pants by night. A light jacket in the fall & a leather coat in the winter is all you need. And bring walking shoes!

The Big Easy hosts many festivals every year, including Jazz Fest in April, Oyster Fest in May & of course Mardi Gras in February so be prepared for big crowds! Also, feel free to stroll & sip in the streets, it’s open carry here!