French Quarter hotels

Downtown - Warehouse-Arts District
New Orleans’ skyscrapers reside in the Central Business District, though its best-known landmark may be the Louisiana Superdome. Poydras and Canal streets lead to the Mississippi and bankside attractions the Morial Convention Center and the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Lee Circle marks the edge of the Warehouse-Arts District, which is home to the renowned National D-Day Museum.

French Quarter
With its mix of sacred and profane, the French Quarter defines laissez-faire. This 85-block area is home to Bourbon Street’s rowdy bars, as well as Royal Street’s upmarket antiques. The devil’s music—in the form of New Orleans jazz—thrives at Preservation Hall. Nearby, hymns accompany Mass at St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. A block away, French Market vendors hawk foods and souvenirs.

Garden District
Also known as Uptown, the Garden District exudes Southern charm and is best explored by foot or aboard the St. Charles Streetcar. Both shabby and chic, the area is a mix of grand mansions and shotgun shacks—local slang for modest row houses. The trolley skirts Loyola and Tulane universities, and the Audubon Park complex. Shoppers can find hidden gems in Uptown’s side streets, such as Magazine.

Kenner - Louis Armstrong International Airport
Best accessed by taxi or car, New Orleans’ airport is located in the city’s western suburbs, with Kenner at its side. Kenner’s history is center stage at Rivertown, a 16-square-block district along the Mississippi River. North of town, a moored riverboat on Lake Pontchartrain is home to the popular Treasure Chest Casino. Nearby, the Pontchartrain Center hosts conventions and trade shows.

LaPlace
The western suburb of LaPlace boasts ties to lucrative industries. The town is headquarters for the Port of South Louisiana, and major petrochemical plants are situated midway between here and New Orleans. LaPlace is a convenient base to explore the area’s riverfront plantations. The three bodies of water around LaPlace offer prime opportunities to see swampland flora and fauna.

Metairie
Although the well-kept homes suggest that all is prim and proper, affluent Metairie has a wild side. Along with its drive-through daiquiri stands, Metairie’s Fat City rivals Bourbon Street’s bars and clubs. One of its main attractions, however, offers solitude and peace. Just outside the city limits, the Metairie Cemetery’s graceful marble tombs and statues make it one of world’s great cemeteries.