New Orleans Tourist Information and Tourism

(New Orleans, Louisiana - LA, USA)

Much of New Orleans has been devastated following the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina and the city's tourism industry is now recovering after this natural disaster.

The seductive city of New Orleans lies in America's state of Louisiana (LA) and is located between the Mississippi River, which meanders around the area to the south, and Lake Pontchartrain, to the north. Many areas of New Orleans are known as either 'upriver' or 'downriver', depending upon their location in relation to the Mississippi River.

New Orleans is often referred to as simply the 'Big Easy', due to its laid back attitude, and this city has developed a strong tourist image of a party town, with major jazz venues and definite Creole influences. The French Quarter in New Orleans is a particularly historic district, consisting of 80 blocks around the lively Jackson Square, which is usually filled with artists, fortune tellers and street musicians.





A favourite city of many A-list Hollywood actors, many famous celebrities have purchased property in New Orleans, such as Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Nicholas Cage. Acclaimed talk-show host and comedienne Ellen DeGeneres also enjoys strong connections with this city. For official tourist information, a number of different outlets present themselves to travelers. These include the New Orleans Welcome Center on St. Ann Street, which lies in the heart of the vibrant French Quarter and enjoys views across Jackson Square. On Decatur Street, the Jean Lafitte National Historic Park Visitor Center is also of note.

New Orleans is home to many exceptional accommodation options, including some of the most impressive hotels in Louisiana. Hotels in New Orleans are generally reasonably priced and are particularly concentrated around the Marigny district, the French Quarter, the Central Business District (CBD) / Warehouse district, the Garden district, Uptown and close to the neighboring Louis Armstrong Airport (MSY). However, do bear in mind that during both the annual Jazz Fest and the Mardi Gras, accommodation is both scarce and pricey. More information about New Orleans Hotels.

The city of New Orleans has many world-class tourist attractions, including the Aquarium of the Americas - situated in Uptown right on the Mississippi River, containing a stunning array of aquatic wildlife; Audubon Zoo - consistently ranking as one of the best zoological gardens in the USA; Bourbon Street - the city's world-famous strip of lively bars and jazz clubs, forming the center of New Orleans' nightlife; the Entergy IMAX Theater - containing an enormous flat screen, with high definition 3D capabilities; the French Market - America's oldest continuously operated market and truly a shopper's paradise; and Jackson Square - forming the center of the lively French Quarter.

Other popular attractions in New Orleans include Audubon Park - a large park in the Uptown area, stretching from Tulane University to the Mississippi River; the Café Du Monde - dating back to 1862 and a true icon; City Park - the most loved park in New Orleans, featuring impressive landscaped gardens; Lafayette Cemetery - made famous by appearing Anne Rice's 'Interview with the Vampire'; the Old Ursuline Convent - Louisiana's oldest building, boasting a wealth of local history; and the Old US Mint - now housing the Newcomb College of Art and a popular jazz museum. More information about New Orleans Tourist Attractions and New Orleans Landmarks.

Tourist attractions located close to New Orleans include the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge - the largest park of its kind established in an urban area; the Cajun Country - with plenty of typical Cajun cooking and authentic music; Fontainebleau State Park - standing on the northern shores of Lake Pontchartrain, with a beach and picnic area; Fort Pike Historic State Park - an important historic fort, which once played a part in defending against British attack; the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve - situated on the grounds of what is now the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park; and the River Road - a scenic route along the banks of the Mississippi River, between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

New Orleans is also home to a number of excellent museums and these include the Confederate Museum - the oldest museum in Louisiana; the Historic New Orleans Collection - spread throughout four magnificent 18th- and 19th-century buildings; the Louisiana State Museum - incorporating five historic buildings in the French Quarter; the Musée Conti Wax Museum - containing many waxwork figures of all famous locals; the National D-Day Museum - an impressive museum with information documenting many D-Day missions; the Contemporary Arts Center - central to the city's thriving art scene; and the New Orleans Museum of Art - standing in the grounds of City Park. More information about New Orleans Museums and New Orleans Art Galleries.

More New Orleans Information / Fast Facts and Orientation

• Country: United States of America (USA)
• Location: Orleans Parish, Louisiana (LA)
• Status: city, parish seat
• Area: approximately 181 square miles / 469 square kilometers
• Population: approximately 484,000
• Language: American English
• Currency: US Dollar (USD)
• Time zone: GMT - 6 hours Central Standard Time (daylight saving time is observed)
• Country dialing code: +1
• Telephone area code: 504
• Religion: various religions
• Average daily January temperature: 16°C / 61°F
• Average daily July temperature: 33°C / 91°F