New Orleans Travel Forum

What to eat? Where to stay? What to do??? I don't want a waste a minute here and I want to be sure, in particular, that we get good food. We'll be travelling with two mature kids (ages 10 and 12, but they've been around the block) and I was thinking of a swamp tour? What about that Haunted French Quarter tour? I think we want to stay in the French quarter so we can walk around during the day--but where is good to stay right now? And what about that one all-important dinner we get? I know all the food is good, but if you had just one dinner, where would you go?

Any and all advice appreciated so we can take full advantage of our time there.

Thanks!

Eve

The swamp tour might eat up a lot of your time, I would pass on it. The Haunted French Quarter tours can be really interesting. Your kids might like taking the boat down to the Audabon Zoo or checking out the Aquarium.
All of the hotels in the Quarter are up and running, I have no idea what your budget is, but I would prefer the Royal Sonesta to be right in the heart of it all. Breakfast at Cafe du Mond, (Cafe au lait, beignets and juice). I have two favorite restaurants in the city, Stella is my very very favorite, but pretty pricey. The chef trained with one of the Iron Chef's (the Japanese show, NOT the American one) Eleven79 is my other favorite, its Italian and much less expensive than Stella, but still excellent.

Eve, This is quite a trip you are undertaking. You might look at the web site for the Audubon Zoo. I believe they have now opened an exhibit that re-creates the swamp habitat. As the other poster has said, the swamp tours are pretty time intensive. The link for the New Orleans public transit is: www.norta.com. They have 1 & 2 day passes, but I'm not sure if they also include the streetcars. Where else do you intend to visit besides St. Louis, Memphis, and Gulf Shores ? Gary

This is the plan: Go from Iowa City to St. Louis for lunch, then get to Memphis by evening. In the morning, zip through Graceland, then go down to Gulf Shores to stay on the beach for about five days. Then, pop over to New Orleans for one day, then a long day's drive back to St. Louis to spend Easter with friends, then back home to Iowa City by Sunday night. So, trying to make the most out of all of that--although the Memphis stop will be brief. Possibly lunch there on the way back in addition to the hotel/Graceland experience on the way down.

The Audubon zoo sounds interesting. That might be better than the swamp tour. Although I know the boys would like to go on a boat in some capacity. And see animals with venom and/or sharp teeth.

I'm thinking of staying right on Bourbon street--just for the convenience. Kind of pricey but probably worth it, and easy to head out on foot for coffee/beignet in the morning that way.

Eve, May I make a suggestion ? You might look at doing both Memphis and New Orleans either before, or after Gulf Shores. If you choose to do them before, simply continue southward from St, Louis, to Memphis, then follow I-55 to the New Orleans area. You can take I-10, or US 90 over to the Gulf Shores area from New Orleans. From Mobile, you could head north on I-65 to Nashville, catch I-24 to I-57 to I-64 in to St. Louis. You also could look at travelling along the river on the Iowa City-St.louis portion of your trip. Hannibal and Louisiana, Missouri are interesting towns along that route. You might take a look at: www.greatriverroad.com, to see if there is enough along that route to interst you. Please accept my apologies if I'm over-suggesting. Gary

That's very helpful. We have a reserved place in Gulf Shores but we were planning to go home via New Orleans and then Memphis (and then St. Louis again). I'm trying to picture what you are saying backwards.

I know the usual way I get to St. Louis, I do go through Hannibal, but where would I pick up the Great River Road from Iowa City? It looks much nicer than doing the interstate the whole way.

Eve, It looks like you could do Hwy 1, to Highway 218 to Keokuk. You pick up Hwy 61, and travel southward. The Missouri portion of the Great River Road supposedly starts at Hannibal. If you've gone through Hannibal before on Hwy. 61,on the way to St. Louis, then you've probably already travelled this road before. There are a lot of things along that road that are easy to miss. At St. Louis, Hwy 40 & 61 merge for a bit. Right now, they're doing a lot of work on Hwy 40, so you might ask your friends, or I can ask relatives the best way to navigate through St.Louis, to get you to your restaurant. From your restaurant take I-44 to I-64. Follow I-64 east to I-57. Take I-57 south to I-24. I-24 travels through the Kentucky Lake area, then southeastward, to Nashville. From Nashville, take I-65 to Gulf Shores. I'm presuming you mean Gulf Shores, Alabama. When you're ready to go to New Orleans, you can use either I-10, or parts of US 90 westward. From New Orleans, pick up I-55 to St. Louis, and then home. I hope this made sense. At least this way, you see some countryside. You also avoid a long eastward trip from Iowa City to central Illinois, and another from Memphis, eastward, to Nashville. If weather issues arise in the Gulf, you can always take I-24 in to Chattanooga and Atlanta, and just re-trace your route back to St. Louis. Gary

I was just going to go straight south from Iowa City to St. Louis to Memphis on I-55, then down to Gulf Shores, it's only about 973 miles. Would your way be a lot longer? I thought it would be out of the way to go through Nashville. I'm having trouble visualizing the route.

Eve, I-55 runs through central Illinois from Chicago to St. Louis, and then southward. The Gulf Shores you are talking about is in Alabama, south of Mobile ? Gary

There is a mini-steamboat tour that takes you from the French Quarter to the zoo down the Mississppi. Its a real steamboat, its just kind of a short tour. The boys might like that?

Eve, You could do the 1, 218, 61 to St. Louis, the I-55 to Memphis, US 78 to Birmingham, (US 78 appears to be 4 lane most of the way), then I-65 to the Mobile area.

Eve, The Louisiana Swamp exhibit at the Zoo does have alligators and snakes. There is also an Aquarium. Gary

Yes, the Gulf Shores below Mobile in Alabama. Thanks, this is all really helpful. I am now surveying maps to plan the best route.

Eve, Sorry if I've been to confusing ! Gary

Eve, Before I forget, you will want to check the Audubon Zoo site. ALL their exhibits are closed on Mondays, I believe. Gary

Not confusing, very helpful! I want to consider all my options. We'll be in New Orleans on a Friday so the zoo will be open. We're staying a Le Pavilion, family package, includes deluxe room, free parking, free breakfast, and free zoo tickets! Just found that deal today. Should be a really fun way to transition from the beach to heading homeward. I still need to find the best ghost tour.

Thanks for all your great advice. I'll be sure to write about everything on my eccentric planet blog and rate everything on this site.

Eve

Le Pavilion, just FYI, is not in the Quarter, but in the Central Business District. Its not that far of a walk, maybe a half mile from there to the Quarter. They have a cool rooftop pool.

Oh! One thing I nearly forgot, there is a place in the Quarter, near the French Market where you can rent scooters to zoom around the city. Of course, your boys could not drive them, but could ride in the back of you or your husband. Its not very expensive to do and its a fun way to check out the city.

Scooters, that sounds fun! I know Le Pavilion isn't right in the Quarter, someone recommended the hotel and I really liked the looks of it, and we always like a nice walk. Thanks!

eve

Eve, With any luck (?), the Insectarium will be open at the Audubon Zoo by the time you visit :-). You can visit the butterfly garden, and take in the cooking show for bug delicacies. It would have to be more fun to interview that chef, than the one in San Francisco, lol. Gary