New Orleans NOLA Travel Guide 🇺🇸🎷

TLDR: Must-see spots include the Netchez Steamboat (Jazz Cruise), a daytime walk through the French Quarter to Jackson Square (skip Bourbon Street), a Swamp Tour (Cajun Encounters is great, but you can’t hold an alligator 😔), the Sazerac House exhibition, and the WWII Museum. If you have extra time, check out: Magazine Street, Frenchmen Street, and the Louisiana State Museum (Cabildo & Presbytere). ▪️ Netchez Steamboat: The jazz music and vibes are a solid 10/10 🎶✨. Super chill, especially in the evening—the views are gorgeous! Perfect for couples 💑. Skip the meal ticket though—the food is pretty bad 🥴. They do sell alligator sausage on board, which tastes like regular sausage, but hey—now you can say you’ve tried gator! 🐊 ▪️ Jackson Square & French Quarter: Most buildings are actually Spanish architecture, and the city layout feels very European—a beautifully chaotic vibe 🏛️🌿. There’s not a ton to do, but it’s a great way to soak up the NOLA atmosphere. The Louisiana State Museum is nearby—worth a visit if you have time. It covers local history, Cajun culture, and Mardi Gras 🎭. Interesting, but not essential. ▪️ Swamp Tour: 12/10, HIGHLY RECOMMEND! 🙌 If you go with Cajun Encounters, choose the small boat option—it can navigate narrower areas, and with fewer people, you get more time and detailed explanations from the guide. Even in the brutal Louisiana heat ☀️🔥 (stay hydrated!), it was an unforgettable experience. Saw more alligators and bugs than ever in my life! There used to be raccoons 🦝, but apparently, wild hogs chased them off 😅. Fun fact: This area was once used by bootleggers during Prohibition! A perfect mix of nature and Cajun history. #nola #neworleans #usatravel