Jambalaya, Cajun hospitality and great music. Here’s what each group of students will receive when they arrive in New Orleans or N’awlins (as the locals affectionately refer to their city). Ranked #1 in ten categories in Travel & Leisure magazine’s 2009 “America’s Favorite Cities” poll, the people of New Orleans really do mean what they say… Les Bon Temps Rouler! (Let the good times pass!). Seamlessly blending French, African, Spanish, and American cultures, the result is a fun-filled city packed with educational museums, exciting attractions, Cajun/Creole food, incredible music, unique historical sites, and of course, Mardi Gras.
food
The food, no matter where you go within the city, is sure to awaken your taste buds. From mouth-watering Shrimp and Oyster Po-Boys, Jambalaya and Crab Chowder, to melt-in-your-mouth Cajun Pulled Pork, Muffuletta and Seafood Gumbo sandwiches, the Cajun/Creole flavors are sure to please your palate. Make sure you don’t forget dessert either! The delicious flavors of New Orleans desserts will satisfy and overcome your sugar cravings. Try a local favorite, Mississippi Mud Pie, a gooey chocolate filling on a crumbly chocolate crust served with vanilla ice cream; or try what’s famous in New Orleans, Bananas Foster, created at Brennan’s Restaurant. Bread pudding is another favorite and comes in many different flavors including white chocolate, dark chocolate, banana sauce, and rum to name a few.
Favorite restaurants include Cafe du Monde, a unique French cafe in New Orleans. Be sure to stop by the original location at 800 Decatur Street and watch the fresh beignets and French donuts being prepared. The only thing better than watching them do, though, is eating them! Another restaurant, touted as the “Total Cajun Experience” is Michau’s Cajun Restaurant, which offers delicious Cajun/Creole food and live Cajun music nightly. For a more formal setting, your group will enjoy Copeland’s of New Orleans, where you’ll experience Southern cuisine with an eclectic Cajun twist. Additionally, student group favorites include the Bubba Gump Shrimp, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Hard Rock Café, Steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise, and the Creole Queen Dinner Jazz Cruise.
Attractions/Museums
The most notable streets in the French Quarter, Bourbon and Royal, offer student groups a unique architectural view of 18th-century New Orleans. Stretching 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, Bourbon Street is primarily known for its party atmosphere and the site of the Mardi Gras Parade. With many unique shops, restaurants and clubs, Bourbon Street is a “can’t miss” part of your tour. On Royal Street, iron-corded balconies and open-air patios grace the street giving student groups a sense of 18th-century architectural design, where more shops and restaurants are found.
One of the most famous New Orleans landmarks in the French Quarter is Jackson Square. Called “Place d’Armes” until the early 19th century, it was renamed for the hero of the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson. Jackson Square is surrounded by historic buildings like the St. Louis Cathedral, many Louisiana State Museums, and the Upper Pontalba Apartments, the oldest apartment buildings in the country. Your group of students can take a photo in front of the bronze statue of Andrew Jackson and his horse. Or, for a great picture of the entire plaza, take your group to the Washington Artillery Park, which overlooks the entire plaza.
The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis the King of France (the Cathedral of Saint Louis) is the oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the country. The original structure, built in the early 18th century, was sadly destroyed in a fire in 1788. Rebuilt in 1794 and again in the 19th century, the church is now one of New Orleans’ most popular landmarks. Your student group can attend a mass, explore the church, or enjoy free classical music concerts that occur frequently in the cathedral.
A visit to New Orleans wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, where your group can peek behind the curtain and see Mardi Gras in progress. From concept to completion, Mardi Gras artists create and build the parade floats for the annual Mardi Gras celebration in both New Orleans and Universal Studios Florida®. This is truly a world of wonder, creativity, and pomp.
New Orleans offers more than 40 museums including history, art, Mardi Gras, family/children’s, nature and religious museums. Some of the most popular museums include:
Old US Mint Museum – Built in 1835, the Old US Mint is the only building in the United States to have served as both the United States and the Confederate Mint. President Andrew Jackson advocated the establishment of the Mint to help finance development of the nation’s western frontier.
Louisiana Civil War Museum – The Louisiana Civil War Museum is one of the largest repositories of Confederate-related artifacts and memorabilia in the United States, as well as being the oldest continuously operating museum in Louisiana.
The National WWII Museum – This museum is a must-see for history buffs and patriots. Designated by the US Congress as the country’s Official World War II Museum, the powerful images and extraordinary artifacts bring to life the American spirit of courage, teamwork, and sacrifice of the young men and women who won war and changed the world.
New Orleans Museum of Art: Neoclassical and Beaux Arts in style, the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) houses a $200 million collection spanning 4,000 years of art history in 46 galleries.
South Ogden Museum of Art – This museum houses the most comprehensive collection of southern art in the world. Showcasing art spanning 15 southern states and the District of Columbia, the museum celebrates the art, history, and culture of the American South. Named an Affiliate of The Smithsonian Institution in 2001, it was the first museum in Louisiana to receive this prestigious designation.
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas – Located along the Mississippi River, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is home to 15,000 marine creatures, representing nearly 600 species.
Audubon Insectarium – Whether it walks, crawls, or flies, your group will have a good chance of seeing it on display in the Audubon Insectarium.
Audubon Zoo – The Audubon Zoo is a living indoor and outdoor museum filled with some of nature’s rarest and most beautiful creatures. The Audubon Zoo has 58 acres of animals in their natural habitats. The zoo consistently ranks among the best in the country.
Known as a popular destination for ghost hunters, New Orleans is also famous for its ghost tours, where many above ground graves abound. Due to the area’s high water table, settlers were unable to bury the coffins of their loved ones, so most of the city’s graves are located above ground. There are many ghost tours that you and your group of students can go on. Explore one of 40 cemeteries, including the St. Louis Cemetery. Many famous New Orleanians reside in the St. Louis Cemetery, including sugar industry pioneer Etienne Bore, Homer Plessy (of the Plessy v. Ferguson civil rights case), and Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. A ghost tour of the St. Louis Cemetery will give your group a hauntingly good time.
Of note, a Cajun Pride swamp boat tour is always a highlight for student groups. Experiencing the famous Manchac swamp is a highlight of student groups’ itineraries. The tour takes your group back to the early days of Louisiana’s bayou and swamp explorations. Your group will see swamp creatures such as alligators, snakes, many types of birds, as well as the Cajun town of Frenier. This unique trip is one your student group will always remember.
Music
New Orleans is known to many as the birthplace of jazz and is an ideal destination to enrich student performance groups’ appreciation for jazz, as well as many other types of music. It seems that when you walk the streets of New Orleans you hear music constantly. There are many musicians performing throughout the French Quarter as well as other areas including parks etc. For example, the New Orleans Jazz Historical Park gives groups the opportunity to learn about New Orleans’ rich musical history of jazz. There are many free concerts and music workshops offered throughout the year that your performing ensembles can be a part of.
The Jazz and Heritage Foundation and French Quarter Festivals, Inc. host many free concerts and festivals throughout the year, including Satchmo SummerFest, which celebrates the life of New Orleans-born trumpeter Louis Armstrong, Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest, Congo Square Rhythms Festival, the French Quarter Festival, and the Treme Creole Gumbo Festival, among many others.
From April to June, Lafayette Square offers free concerts from 5:00 to 7:30 pm Many bands perform different types of music during the 12-week festival period.
Whether you’re a middle or high school band, orchestra, or choir, performance opportunities are numerous throughout New Orleans. Performance sites include Jackson Square, Riverwalk Marketplace, Creole Queen Dinner Jazz Cruise, Steamboat Natchez, and many local cathedrals. Workshops can also be pre-scheduled at Loyola University for band, choir, and orchestra ensembles.
On a more serious note…
Understanding what New Orleans has been through since the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina can be an important part of your student group trip. A visit to District 8 or 9 will reveal ongoing rebuilding efforts and give your students the opportunity to volunteer, thus embracing the theme of service. There are many opportunities for student groups to help in these efforts, including volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank, helping to rebuild schools or paint houses, and more.
In general, New Orleans is a fun city with an energy that is constantly buzzing. New Orleans should be at the top of the list when educators select destinations for their student group trip. With many exciting attractions, historical museums, delicious food, incredible musical opportunities, and renaissance projects, New Orleans will entertain your student group like no other city. The magic in New Orleans runs deep. When you leave, fun and excitement are with you.
