A morning in the French Quarter, a streetcar out St. Charles Avenue, and an afternoon among the Garden District mansions.
Drinking water
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Segments
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Jackson Square & St. Louis CathedralDecatur Street → St. Louis Cathedral
City streets and paved square
Start in the square the French laid out as the Place d'Armes and the Spanish called the Plaza de Armas — now a National Historic Landmark with Andrew Jackson on horseback at its center. Behind it stands St. Louis Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and one of the oldest cathedrals in continuous use in the United States. A church has stood here since 1718; the present building was raised under Spanish rule in 1789, made a cathedral in 1793, and largely rebuilt in the 1850s. Allow about 45 minutes.
About this place
Jackson Square, formerly the Place d'Armes (French) or Plaza de Armas (Spanish), is a historic park in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960, for its central role in the city's history, and as the site where in 1803 Louisiana was made United States territory pursuant to the Louisiana Purchase. In 2012 the American Planning Association designated Jackson Square as one of the Great Public Spaces in the United States.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ · CC0 -
The French MarketJackson Square → French Market
City streets
Walk downriver along Decatur to the market, a run of commercial buildings spanning about six blocks and claiming descent from a Native American trading post that predates the city itself. Today it mixes a farmers' market, a flea market and food stalls. It is touristy and makes no secret of it — come for the produce, the pralines and a café au lait rather than for the souvenir tables. About 45 minutes.
About this place
The French Market is a market and series of commercial buildings spanning six blocks in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded as a Native American trading post predating European colonization, the market is the oldest of its kind in the United States. It began where Café du Monde currently stands and has been rebuilt and renovated a number of times.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: MusikAnimal · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Royal Street's galleriesFrench Market → Royal Street at St. Peter
City streets, uneven sidewalks
Cut inland one block to Royal, one of the city's original streets, dating from the early 18th century. This is the Quarter at its best: antique dealers, art galleries, iron balconies dripping with ferns, and — on the pedestrianized blocks in the afternoon — street musicians who are genuinely worth stopping for. Slow down here; it is the most rewarding hour of the walk. About 60 minutes.
About this place
Royal Street is a street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. It is one of the original streets of the city, dating from the early 18th century, and is known today for its antique shops, art galleries, and hotels.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: MusikAnimal · CC BY-SA 4.0 -
Bourbon StreetRoyal Street → Bourbon Street
City streets
One block over is the street everyone has heard of, running about twelve blocks from Canal to Esplanade. Be clear-eyed about what it is: a corridor of bars, daiquiri shops, strip clubs and neon, loud from mid-afternoon onward and frankly grubby by daylight. It is worth ten minutes to see it, and worth knowing that the New Orleans people love is on the streets either side of it. If you want live music rather than volume, keep walking to Frenchmen Street after dark instead. About 20 minutes.
About this place
Bourbon Street is a historic street in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans. Extending twelve blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, Bourbon Street hosts many bars, restaurants and strip clubs.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 4.0 -
The Garden District & Lafayette CemeteryWashington Avenue → Prytania Street
Residential streets, cracked pavement, live-oak roots
Ride the streetcar out to Washington Avenue and step into a different city. After the Louisiana Purchase, American newcomers who were unwelcome among the Creoles built here instead, each mansion set in its own garden — hence the name. Wander First, Second and Third Streets past Greek Revival and Italianate houses under enormous live oaks. At the center is Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, founded in 1833 and the city's first planned cemetery, laid out on a cruciform plan with above-ground family tombs — the high water table is the usual explanation for burying upward. Restoration work has closed it at times, so check before you go. About 90 minutes.
About this place
The Garden District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the New Orleans City Planning Commission are: St. Charles Avenue to the north, 1st Street to the east, Magazine Street to the south, and Toledano Street to the west. The National Historic Landmark district extends a little farther.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: (t/c/bio/en:WP:CHICAGO/en:WP:LOTM) · CC BY-SA 3.0 -
The St. Charles streetcarSt. Charles Avenue → Canal Street
Streetcar and city streets
Finish the day the right way: board an olive-green streetcar on St. Charles Avenue and ride it back downtown. The line has run since 1835 and is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world — the cars have wooden seats, windows that you open yourself, and no air conditioning. Sit on the left going in, watch the mansions and the oak tunnel slide past, and get off at Canal Street. About 40 minutes.
About this place
The St. Charles Streetcar Line is a historic streetcar line in New Orleans, Louisiana, US. Running since 1835, it is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world. It is operated by the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Officially the St. Charles Streetcar line is designated as Route 12, and it runs along its namesake, St. Charles Avenue. It is the busiest route in the RTA system as it is heavily used by local commuters and tourists. On most RTA maps and publications, it is denoted in green, which is also the color of the streetcars on this line.
Read more on Wikipedia Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0
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