NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA

The Big Easy! The Crescent City! Birthplace of Jazz! The City that Care Forgot! New Orleans is known by any number of nicknames, but none can completely describe the city. Although home to a minor-league team, the city is world famous as a major-league party town, but there is a lot more to New Orleans than rowdy Bourbon Street.

Located at a bend in the Mississippi River in southeastern Louisiana, New Orleans is a city with several distinct neighborhoods. The most famous is the French Quarter - about 10 square blocks just north of the river. The buildings here were constructed over 200 years ago and all remain in reasonable condition. To walk through here is to walk through time - the streets are narrow and often damp, and with just a bit of imagination you can picture what life was like two centuries before. The French Market offers some eclectic shops, but Bourbon Street is where all the action is. However, as it really caters towards tourists and doesn't represent the city particularly well, you should spend the day walking down the other streets, checking out Jackson Square, or taking a French Quarter tour - you can leave Bourbon Street for the late nights. There is even a National Park in the quarter - the Jazz Historical Park, which is relocating to Louis Armstrong Park in a couple of years.

French Quarter

Another area is the Garden District, about 20 blocks west of the Quarter. Take the streetcar along St. Charles Street to reach this area in about 10 minutes. The homes here were constructed by Yankees who moved south after the civil war, and who were never accepted by the local population. Thus they began a separate neighborhood which thrived on its own. This area has more ornate homes that are reminiscent of the Victorian era. Quite a contrast, and well worth some time. Tours of the Garden District are also available.

Once night falls, though, you should head back to Bourbon Street - be prepared to pay a bit, as it can get pricey, but you should be able to find a bar that suits your taste easily enough. Again, this area is primarily for tourists, so people here are all having a good time and without care - join in the fun.

Jazz band

New Orleans spends a lot of time being wet - it rained both days we were there and from what the locals said, it is a common sight in the summer.

Overall, New Orleans is worth a visit, even without the baseball. As home to the NFL's Saints, the team has major league sports, but tickets to those games are a bit more expensive than the Zephyrs. If you are in the south, we highly recommend that you take a couple of days and see everything the city has to offer - and if you can, drive over to Zephyr Field to watch a game - the team is one of the best in AAA. Just remember your umbrella!