New Orleans NOLA Travel Guide (Attractions Part 1️⃣)

TLDR: Top picks — Natchez Steamboat (Jazz Cruise), French Quarter daytime walk to Jackson Square (avoid Bourbon St for this stroll), Swamp Tour (Cajun Encounters — no alligator holding, but still great!), Sazerac House exhibition, WWII Museum. Worth checking if you have time: Magazine Street, Frenchmen Street, Louisiana State Museum (Cabildo & Presbytère). ▪️ Natchez Steamboat: From a non-expert’s perspective, the jazz music and vibes are a solid 10/10 🎷✨. Super chill, and the views at dusk are lovely. Weekdays are less crowded — highly recommended for couples! 💑 Skip the meal ticket — the food is honestly not great 😅. They do sell alligator sausage on board — tastes like regular sausage, but hey, now you can say you’ve tried gator! 🐊🌭 ▪️ Jackson Square & French Quarter: Most buildings are actually Spanish architecture 🏛️, with European-style urban planning — a beautifully chaotic vibe. Not a ton to see per se, but it’s a great way to feel the pulse of NOLA. The Louisiana State Museum is nearby — good for learning about local history, Cajun culture, and Mardi Gras 🎭. Helpful for context, but skippable if short on time. ▪️ Swamp Tour: 12/10 — absolutely incredible! 🌿🐊 If booking with Cajun Encounters, go for the small boat — it navigates narrower waterways, offers a more intimate experience, and the captain gives detailed commentary. Even in the Louisiana summer heat ☀️🔥 (almost passed out, ngl), it was a fantastic adventure! Saw more alligators than ever before, plus tons of bugs 🐜. Missed the raccoon family 🦝 — apparently chased off by wild pigs — but still a memorable trip! Fun fact: This area was once used by Prohibition-era bootleggers 🥃 — adds a cool layer to the Cajun history! #NOLA #NewOrleans #USATravel 🇺🇸🎺🌿