Bourbon Street, voodoo, hurricanes in plastic goblets, beads, public drunkenness, po’ boys. New Orleans has it all. But besides just these fun city parade things, there’s so much to see in and around New Orleans that you should allow yourself several days – and maybe only dedicate one of them to the above-mentioned debauchery.

 

I highly suggest heading out to the swamps to check out the wildlife – Jean Lafitte swamps feature airboats from which you can see the backcountry alligators, wild hogs, and swamp water habitat. Not only is it beautiful, it has a feel that you’ll seldom experience elsewhere.

 

The Whitney Plantation is a slavery museum outside of New Orleans that will certainly leave you with much to ponder. Beautiful and haunting, this museum should be required viewing for all “woke” United States Americans.

 

And for a beautiful day in the city with a delicious roast beef po boy, stop by Parkway Bakery and Tavern, grab lunch and eat it in the City Park. With 1300 acres to explore, a bandstand, lakes, a sculpture garden, greenhouse, stadium, botanical garden, art museum, and a little amusement park, you’ll never run out of fun and you’ll almost forget you’re even in a city!

 

And finally, after all that, go spend a day at Shell Beach admiring the Gulf Outlet Canal.

 

If you absolutely must do the traditional New Orleans tourist thing, please keep the following in mind: don’t do drugs in public, drink water, write your address on a matchbook to keep in your pocket, talk to strangers but carefully and safely, be aware of your surroundings, and be cool – generally. And keep a damn lawyer at hand.