General information about New Orleans
New Orleans is a Louisiana city on the Mississippi River, near the Gulf of Mexico. Nicknamed the "Big Easy," it's known for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live-music scene and spicy, singular cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African and American cultures. Embodying its festive spirit is Mardi Gras, the late-winter carnival famed for raucous costumed parades and public partying.
The home of jazz, intriguing New Orleans evokes images of Louis Armstrong, wrought-iron balconies and mouth-watering Cajun cuisine. Louisiana’s largest city, the Big Easy is the beating heart of the Deep South.
Dance down Bourbon Street, where jazz saxophones ring out of traditional bars mixed with more colorful nightlife and entertainment venues. There are several New Orleans hotels near Bourbon Street, spread around the French Quarter with its distinctive Creole architecture.
To the south is Jackson Square, dominated by St. Louis Cathedral. Horses and carts wait patiently by the square, and locals set up their stools and start playing catchy tunes. Just behind is the legendary Mississippi River whose waters are still plied by paddle steamers.
From the river you get great views of the CBD (downtown) skyscrapers and the Louisiana Superdome. Tripvizor.com has several hotels nearby, including some on Canal Street, where streetcars and the famous New Orleans Mardi Gras carnival pass down.
In the northern suburbs is New Orleans City Park, one of the oldest US parks and larger than NYC’s Central Park. Waterways lining it flow into large Lake Pontchartrain bordered by a bayou.
Airports in New Orleans
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is an international airport in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is owned by the city of New Orleans and is 11 miles west of downtown New Orleans.
popular in 2015