Schwam - AARP Frommers New Orleans, 2012

New Orleans

17th Edition

by Diana K. Schwam

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Book Year

Published by:

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

111 River St.

Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774

Copyright 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permitted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, 978/750-8400, fax 978/646-8600. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, 201/748-6011, fax 201/748-6008, or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

Wiley and the Wiley logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Frommers is a trademark or registered trademark of Arthur Frommer. Used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

ISBN 978-1-118-07406-0 (paper); ISBN 978-1-118-16151-7 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-16152-4 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-16154-8(ebk)

Editor: Cate Latting

Production Editor: M. Faunette Johnston

Cartographer: Guy Ruggiero

Photo Editor: Alden Gewirtz

Cover Photo Editor: Richard Fox

Design and Layout by Vertigo Design

Graphics and Prepress by Wiley Indianapolis Composition Services

Front cover photo: French Quarter, stage with drum kit Cosmo Condina/Alamy Images.

Back cover photo: left: Man performing on trumpet DreamPictures/Blend Images/Corbis; middle: French Quarter, detail of green shutters and glass windows Patrick Filet/hemis.fr/Alamy Images; right: Crawfish on plate Simon Reddy/Alamy Images.

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Manufactured in China

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Opening up the world and the wonders in your own backyard.

Maybe youre finally planning that big trip youve dreamt of for years. Maybe youre ready to hop in the car and go where the road takes you. Or maybe youre visiting far-flung family and friends.

Welcome to travel for grown-ups. Where do you turn for help?

Dedicated to helping you enjoy and enrich your life through travel, AARP has teamed up with Frommers to offer the best advice on must-see destinations, from daytrips to journeys around the world. Well guide you to the best food, accommodations, shopping, nightlife, sights, and activities that suit your lifestyle.

And true to AARPs commitment to help you stretch your dollars, well show you how to get the best value, whether youre traveling near or far. Want to splurge on a fancy hotel and eat cheap, or vice versa? We offer all price ranges. And give you the flexibility to tailor your trip to your budget. Whatever you choose, whatever your budget, well make sure you have memorable and wonder-filled experiences.

So hit the road and enjoy every minute. Well show you the way.

How to contact Us

In researching this book, we discovered many wonderful placeshotels, restaurants, shops, and more. Were sure youll find others. Please tell us about them, so we can share the information with your fellow travelers in upcoming editions. If you were disappointed with a recommendation, wed love to know that, too. Please write to:

Frommers New Orleans, 17th Edition

John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774

frommersfeedback@wiley.com

Advisory & Disclaimer

Travel information can change quickly and unexpectedly, and we strongly advise you to confirm important details locally before traveling, including information on visas, health and safety, traffic and transport, accommodations, shopping, and eating out. We also encourage you to stay alert while traveling and to remain aware of your surroundings. Avoid civil disturbances, and keep a close eye on cameras, purses, wallets, and other valuables.

While we have endeavored to ensure that the information contained within this guide is accurate and up-to-date at the time of publication, we make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this work and specifically disclaim all warranties, including without limitation warranties of fitness for a particular purpose. We accept no responsibility or liability for any inaccuracy or errors or omissions, or for any inconvenience, loss, damage, costs, or expenses of any nature whatsoever incurred or suffered by anyone as a result of any advice or information contained in this guide.

The inclusion of a company, organization, or website in this guide as a service provider and/or potential source of further information does not mean that we endorse them or the information they provide. Be aware that information provided through some websites may be unreliable and can change without notice. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any damages arising herefrom.

About the Author

Diana Schwam fell for New Orleans like a klutz. She traveled the state, scoured the city, and eventually set down roots in Mid-City, convenient to the Jazz Fest Fair Grounds and Angelo Brocatos ice-cream parlor. A strategic marketing consultant and writer, Diana contributes to several trade publications and blogs, splits her time between New Orleans and Southern California, and currently sports a silver Gulf oyster pendant.

Acknowledgments

For Milan. Let's all go to the Mardi Gras!

Thank you to the city and people of New Orleans for indelibly and continually intoxicating me with your charms (and may we now and forever retire the adjective "resilient"). Thanks to Cate Latting, Andrea Kahn, Alexis Lipsitz, and everyone at Wiley: the red Sharpie is dead, long live the red Sharpie. Thanks and love to the Fat Pack (Chuck, Fiona, John, Nettie, Robin, Steve, and Wesly) and the Plumpettes (Gary, Linda, Mark, and Paula) for frequent dessert bombing and fervent Midnight Disturbing. Thanks always to Harch, LaLisa, and Scot, and love ever to Dave and Mary. Thanks to the Hoseboat Gals (Apple, Chris, JoAnn, Lesley, and Mary)U (we) did it! I love the North Rendon All Stars, and I love our house, even the garage of the unknown hoarder. With love to the Schwams, Dileos, Beers, Zuckerbergs, and Moonpies.

Frommers Star Ratings, Icons & Abbreviations

Every hotel, restaurant, and attraction listing in this guide has been ranked for quality, value, service, amenities, and special features using a star-rating system. In country, state, and regional guides, we also rate towns and regions to help you narrow down your choices and budget your time accordingly. Hotels and restaurants are rated on a scale of zero (recommended) to three stars (exceptional). Attractions, shopping, nightlife, towns, and regions are rated according to the following scale: zero stars (recommended), one star (highly recommended), two stars (very highly recommended), and three stars (must-see).