Soul of NOLA Private Tours of New Orleans — Local services in New Orleans

We have travelled to many different locations and taken different tours and Cassandra is hands down the best tour guide we have ever had. She is genuine, extremely knowledgeable, and adapts to each person’s personality and stamina. Our group consisted of two adults and two kids. Our son is extremely interested in history as well as current events (and likes to dominate the conversation) and Cassandra was able to make sure that everyone else in our group was able to get their questions and feedback in while allowing him to be himself. We were lucky enough to kick this tour off on our first full day in the City and that allowed our family to have great conversations throughout our week-long stay. Honestly, the tour made our visits to various places throughout NOLA so much more enhanced because we had a better understanding of their importance in history. We gained such a better understanding of the rich heritage, history, cultures, and how NOLA is truly a melting pot. One example included Congo Park. We took the opportunity to visit a festival going on there and were able to watch African dancers in one section and Jazz in another section and we felt as though we were on hallowed ground with the deep and rich history of the park. Additionally, we have a completely new understanding and respect for Mardi Gras and its importance in each neighborhood. Cassandra did an amazing job using visual aids to really bring home geography, history, and culture. Cassandra embodies everything we love about NOLA and we consider her a...

My sister, father and I convened in New Orleans for the weekend to explore the French Quarter where dad and mom had met and courted 60 years ago. We wanted to go beyond the tourist haunts and get a feel for how the city might have been back then. From the first email, Cassandra was welcoming, knowledgeable and attuned to our needs and questions. We booked her for a 4-hour, private tour: a slightly customized walk/drive version of her French Quarter, Marigny, City Park tour. Booking a private tour made it possible to ask a lot of questions and even swing by the building on St. Louis where our folks met. When dad persuaded a resident to let us into the courtyard, Cassandra rolled fluidly with the detour. Indeed, at every turn, Cassandra was a gracious and adaptable hostess with a palpable love and respect for the city. We had a pretty focused agenda and a need to proceed at a pace that worked for all generations. As a result, I sense we only scratched the surface of what Cassandra can provide. I'd love to return for a more eclectic, dig-down experience to explore the city's creative spirit and character. I'm confident she would provide a memorable experience....

Cassandra's tour of the French Quarter was very informative, revealing, and entertaining. In the past when I've visited the Quarter, I gave no thought to a lot of the architecture I saw other than to say "how quaint". We've since visited the Quarter twice on this same trip and it's like we are now seeing it in technicolor and Panavision!!! Dating myself there, sorry. It's just that the newly gained knowledge has enhanced my awareness and enjoyment of my surroundings. Cassandra's guided tour of the Garden District's unique homes was equally informative with tons of historical details about the older palacial homes that were part and parcel of the original cotton plantations that sprung up along the river after the Louisiana Purchase. No tour is complete without a visit to a New Orleans cemetery. Ours was no exception. On the edge of the Garden District is Lafayette Cemetery with many "ancient" grave sites many of which date back into the mid 1800's. Cassandra has a firm command of her historical recall of the events surrounding the founding of New Orleans and its subsequent development as a major...