Laura Martone - Moon New Orleans

District Maps

District Overview Map

Map 1: French Quarter
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Map 1: French Quarter Map Key

Map 2: Faubourg Marigny and Bywater
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Map 3: Central Business and Arts Districts Map Set
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Map 4: Garden District and Uptown Map Set
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Map 5: Trem and Mid-City Map Set
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Map 6: Greater New Orleans Map Set
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I grew up in New Orleans and spent much of my adulthood there, so I find it difficult to thank each and every person whos helped me, often unknowingly, to write this book. Naturally, there are several people to whom Im particularly grateful. First, I offer a special thanks to the tourism officialssuch as Jeff Anding and Jennifer Lotz in New Orleans, Kelly Gustafson in Houma, and Renee Kientz on the Northshorewho provided information as well as photographs for this edition. Thanks, too, to the ultra-patient editors at Avalon Travel who offered invaluable assistance during the rather lengthy preparation of Moon New Orleans; in particular, I definitely couldnt have finished this guide without the support of Sabrina Young, Darren Alessi, and Albert Angulo. Thanks also to Grace Fujimoto, who initially gave me the chance to write about my favorite U.S. city, and Andrew Collins, who wrote the first two editions of this book.

In addition, Id like to thank my friends and family, all of whom have supported me during each of my frenzied writing projects. Most of all, Im grateful to my beloved kitty, Ruby Azazel, who encouraged me to take breaks whenever possible, and to my husband, Daniel, who even provided many of the images in this guide.

Moreover, I thank the city of New Orleansfor despite tragic events like Hurricane Katrina and the much-publicized Gulf oil spill, this continues to be one of the most vibrant, resilient, and extraordinary cities Ive ever encountered. Lastly, I thank you, the reader. May your next trip to the Big Easy be thrilling, memorable, and, above all, safe!

Contents

With an engrossing history that involves pirates and prostitutes, soldiers and slave owners, voodoo queens and vampire lore, New Orleans has lured curious outsiders for decades. While fine restaurants and boisterous music clubs lure tourists, other attractions can be equally seductive. Families come for the kid-friendly Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, the fascinating Audubon Insectarium, Blaine Kerns Mardi Gras World, and the monkey-filled Audubon Zoo. Art lovers flock to the Degas House, the New Orleans Museum of Art, and the art-filled French Quarter. Gourmands will enjoy classes at the New Orleans School of Cooking, outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate oases like City Park, the New Orleans Botanical Garden, and Audubon Park. But its history buffs who will be particularly enamored with the Big Easy.

Besides engrossing exhibits at the National WWII Museum, the city boasts a wide array of historic homes, statues, and structuresmany of which can be found in the French Quarter. The citys original neighborhood was laid out in 1722 and suffered various fires and regime shifts before becoming the still-authentic heart of New Orleans that it is today. Most visitors venture to Jackson Square, the bustling, picturesque sanctuary on Decatur Street, bounded by classic wrought-iron fencing and surrounded by several noteworthy buildings: the remarkable St. Louis Cathedral, the adjacent Cabildo and Presbytre, and the gorgeous Pontalba Apartments. Beyond, the charming Hermann-Grima House awaits, as does the magnificent Old U.S. Mint, a particularly imposing courthouse, the assorted structures known as the Historic New Orleans Collection, and oodles of historical markers.