One of the more macabre tourist destinations in New Orleans are the above ground cemeteries. Often r

New Orleans has had a rocky time since the 2005 devastation brought on by Hurricane Katrina, until that time it was the largest city in the state and a major U.S. port city. New Orleans is trying to make a come back and once again lead the state in a variety of ways and you can help by boosting their economy through tourism dollars. If you re thinking about taking a vacation, why not visit New Orleans and check out their top landmarks.
New Orleans cheap one day cruise to bahamas s oldest and most famous neighborhood is an absolute must see for any tourist to the area, in fact it would be hard to miss this tourism cheap one day cruise to bahamas Mecca. Founded in 1718, the French Quarter or Vieux Carre is a noted National Historic Landmark, but within the Frech Quarter are several other landmarks and places of note. Part of the charm of the French Quarter is that the buildings have been protected since the 1920 s so the architectural integrity remains intact. Initially the French Quarter was very influenced by French style and architecture but two catastrophic fires in 1788 and 1794 destroyed many of the original buildings and the colony s new Spanish residents created what was then a more modern and Spanish style. The city has seen its share of ups and downs and financial highs and lows, currently it is not inhabited by many residents and serves more as a tourist stop.
In the heart of the French Quarter and serving as a focal point is Jackson Square. Originally known as Place D Arms, the city center was used as a public square, military parade grounds and marketplace. This place grew in popularity and importance until after the Battle of New Orleans in 1814 when Baroness Pontalba pushed forth a new design which incorporated statues (the most prominent replica is a bronze of Andrew Jackson and thus the name change to Jackson Square), formal gardens, walkways and benches, all surrounded by an iron fence. Today this area is full of artists and is a great place to find a one of a kind souvenir.
From Jackson Square, in the heart of the French Quarter is a building that is known the world over, St. Louis Cathedral is the oldest cheap one day cruise to bahamas Catholic cheap one day cruise to bahamas cathedral in continual use in the United States. Since 1718 people have worshipped on this spot, but the current cathedral wasn t built until the period cheap one day cruise to bahamas between 1789 and its completion in 1794. Through the years there have been hurricanes, a dynamite bomb and several additions to the building, but perhaps the most noted event was a visit by Pope John Paul II in September of 1987.
Café du Monde is not a tourist destination for an entire day of fun, but it s a great stop before you get started. Most noted for its café au lait and beignets, Café du Monde has been in business since 1862. But be wary of replicas, the original is located in the upper end of the French Market but they ve branched out since then and can even be found in Japan. So, if you re in New Orleans, make sure you visit the original.
If you re looking for music, especially jazz music, then Preservation Hall should be the first and last stop on your trip. Located in the French Quarter, Preservation Hall hosts nightly performances and most of them are traditional New Orleans style jazz. Initially the hall was more art gallery than anything else. Owner Larry Borenstein noted that not many people were coming to this gallery so he sought out local jazz musicians and invited cheap one day cruise to bahamas them to play for tips, hoping to draw a crowd to his gallery. In the 1960 s these jazz greats were largely forgotten and only minimally employed, Borenstein gave them a chance to earn a living and reach a greater crowd and the live jazz performances indeed drew a crowd, just not to the art gallery. Remarkably, Preservation Hall survived the two fires that ravaged cheap one day cruise to bahamas the area and Hurricane Katrina and is one of the oldest buildings in the French Quarter, the oldest having been built only five years before Preservation Hall. Make sure you come early as the line for performances can get quite long, the admission price is dirt cheap and standing room only is the norm.
Taking a ride of the Steamboat Natchez is a great way for tourists to take in the sights of the famed port region of New Orleans. This authentic steamboat is the ninth such incarnation and has been in operation since 1975 and features an actual steam calliope. Tours depart twice daily and the evening trip features dinner and jazz music. Both trips give you a nice relaxing view of the city from the Mississippi cheap one day cruise to bahamas River and little bits of local information that will give you something to talk about.
cheap one day cruise to bahamas One of the more macabre tourist destinations in New Orleans are the above ground cemeteries. Often referred to as cities of the dead, the tombs are above ground because the high water tables would force caskets up and out of the ground after a heavy rain. In fact, in the areas considered safe where caskets are buried underground there still is a casket or two that makes its way to the surface ever so often. Eventually the Spanish influence in the city spread to the graveyards and above ground tombs were the preferred method of internment. One thing that may shock visitors is the small family tombs with several people entombed. The rule is that once a body has been laid to rest for two or more years, it can be removed from the coffin, stored in a body bag in the back of the tomb and then a new casket can be inserted. If it hasn t quite been two years and there s already a body waiting, the cemetery will place that person s casket in a temporary holding vault. There are 42 cemeteries in the New Orleans area and each one comes with its own legends and ghost stories so go wild and visit all of them, or narrow it down to one or two and get a taste for the experience.
Rob Bruce has spent the past 15 years working in the travel cheap one day cruise to bahamas industry, and has extensive experience living cheap one day cruise to bahamas overseas, primarily in the South Pacific. Rob enjoys outdoor activities, his wife and kids, and soccer and tennis. Currently living in Dallas cheap one day cruise to bahamas Texas, he enjoys traveling cheap one day cruise to bahamas as often as he can.