Louisiana Travel Forum

We are two gray-haired ladies (59 and 60) volunteering in Thibodaux for a week. We plan to leave there the afternoon of Fri. 4/20 and would like to see some of the country-side on an overnight drive back to NOLA, probably to the airport. Can anyone suggest an interesting route? We would just like local resturants, dancing, scenery. We will be staying in New Orleans at Le Richelieu untill Tues. morning. We are thinking to drop our rented car at the airport and take the shuttle into town and use tours/public transport/taxis. Does that sound reasonable? Does anyone have any first-hand experience with the Hurrican Tour I've heard about? Will it go to Chalmette? I started school there and would really like to see how it is doing. We are also thinking of taking the ferry to the zoo, where I spent many Sundays with my parents when we lived in town (about a block from the Jewish Community Center on St. Charles). I guess that streetcar isn't running, but I understand we could take a bus to the Garden District and on to my old neighborhood. How would we get to the Art Gallery? We're very good at public transportation/walking, but I'm finding it hard to get good info and especially to know if it is up-to-date. We would be happy for any advice.

Hi

I will be in NOLA same dates as you arrive, I am helping by bringing back tourists. I work in the travel industry and have returned to Louisiana several times since Katrina and Rita. I suggest you leave your car at the airport and take a shuttle into town. Taxis are cheap and you can always try Grey Hound for certain tours. The concierge at the hotel will gladly help you make all arangements you will need for tours, find that gallery etc. Public transportation is availble into the Garden District and walking around the Quarter is safe and enjoyable.
As for your drive from Thibodaux into NO, again I suggest you ask the locals for suggestions on restaurants, B&Bs, special site seeing on your way to the airport. They know and probably will suggest something special. Cajuns are very hospitable and resourceful. I m a Northern Acadian and always feel at home down there. Enjoy

Thanks for your reasuring advice. I have seen a cab company called United mentioned serveral times. Are they especially good? Are there any we should avoid? I see that spending tourists $ is the best thing we can do to help the area and we will certainly do our best. I'm trying to interest our local paper (Albuquerque) in a story about our trip as interest and concern continues to be strong here. I learned that Replant New Orleans is holding an Earth Day "planting event" in Central City neighborhood on Sun. 4/22 and we are planning to go. It sounds like it will be fun and a great antidote to seeing my old neighborhood in Chalmette, which I can see from what everyone writes, is going to be painful.

Check out my VT homepage for some chalmette pictures of my destroyed house here. I grew up two streets over from Chalmette High School. You cant imaging how bad it was during Katrina.