--- title: "Category: Louisiana" url: "https://viatravelers.com/blog/category/louisiana/" type: "archive" --- # Category: Louisiana > Louisiana travel guides covering New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, the River Road plantations, and Cajun Country — French Quarter and Garden District logistics, Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest timing, swamp-tour operator vetting, and the gumbo, jambalaya, beignet, and crawfish-boil traditions that make Louisiana America’s most distinct food state. - [Weekend in New Orleans: A First-Timer’s 3-Day Itinerary](https://viatravelers.com/weekend-in-new-orleans-itinerary/) — This first-timer-friendly 3-day New Orleans itinerary groups the French Quarter, Garden District, Warehouse District, and Frenchmen Street into a workable weekend, with current transit, museum, dining, hotel, and pacing tips. - [Hotel Monteleone](https://viatravelers.com/places/hotel-monteleone/) — Step into a world where history whispers from every corner and ghosts roam the halls. This grande dame of hotels boasts a rotating bar that'll make your head spin—literally. - [Louis Armstrong Park](https://viatravelers.com/places/louis-armstrong-park/) — A 31-acre park dedicated to Louis Armstrong that is home to historic Congo Square, Mahalia Jackson Performing Arts Center that plays hosts to concerts, films, and other events. - [Jackson Square](https://viatravelers.com/places/jackson-square/) — A park established in 1721, surrounded by historic buildings, serves as a venue for artists and performers to practice their crafts. - [Napoleon House](https://viatravelers.com/places/napoleon-house/) — Step into a living history book at Napoleon House, where centuries-old walls whisper tales of emperors and ghosts. While you're here, try authentic Creole flavors amidst Napoleon-themed decor. - [Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar](https://viatravelers.com/places/lafittes-blacksmith-shop-bar/) — Experience the haunting charm of Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop Bar, a historic New Orleans gem. Enjoy drinks in a cozy, candlelit atmosphere rich with pirate lore. - [Cafe Du Monde](https://viatravelers.com/places/cafe-du-monde/) — Cafe Du Monde has served the same three things since 1862. The beignets hit your shirt before they hit your mouth — order anyway. - [St Louis Cathedral](https://viatravelers.com/places/st-louis-cathedral/) — St. Louis Cathedral has stood over Jackson Square since 1794 — the Louisiana Purchase was signed in its shadow. - [Bourbon St](https://viatravelers.com/places/bourbon-st/) — Bourbon Street is louder and more touristy than locals admit — but Pat O'Brien's at midnight still delivers something you won't find anywhere else. - [New Orleans Pharmacy Museum](https://viatravelers.com/places/new-orleans-pharmacy-museum/) — Leech jars, voodoo potions, and a preserved apothecary counter — this 1823 Creole townhouse is the strangest 45 minutes in New Orleans. - [The National WWII Museum](https://viatravelers.com/places/the-national-wwii-museum/) — Seven pavilions, one city that built the Higgins boat. The Liberation Pavilion and AI veteran interviews alone justify a full day here. - [Frenchmen St](https://viatravelers.com/places/frenchmen-st/) — Frenchmen Street is where locals actually go. The Spotted Cat alone — no cover, world-class jazz — makes it worth leaving the French Quarter behind. - [Is New Orleans Safe? Here’s What You Need to Know](https://viatravelers.com/is-new-orleans-safe/) — Make informed travel decisions before visiting the Crescent City by reviewing essential safety protocols and current crime statistics for New Orleans. - [15 Most Haunted Places in New Orleans](https://viatravelers.com/most-haunted-places-in-new-orleans/) — Experience the chilling paranormal history of the Crescent City by taking a ghost tour through the fifteen most notoriously haunted locations across New Orleans. - [The 13 Most Haunted Hotels In New Orleans](https://viatravelers.com/haunted-hotels-in-new-orleans/) — Add a thrilling layer of paranormal intrigue to your Louisiana vacation by booking a room at one of the thirteen most notoriously haunted hotels in New Orleans. - [Ritz Carlton New Orleans](https://viatravelers.com/hotels/ritz-carlton-new-orleans/) — A $3M art collection, 25,000 sq ft of spa, and live jazz in a 1908 Beaux Arts building — the Ritz New Orleans earns its rate. - [Where To Stay In New Orleans: 8 Best Areas & Neighborhoods](https://viatravelers.com/where-to-stay-in-new-orleans/) — Base your Big Easy vacation near the incredible nightlife of the French Quarter or the historic architecture of the Garden District by exploring eight distinct New Orleans neighborhoods. - [12 Best Tours in New Orleans, Louisiana](https://viatravelers.com/tours-in-new-orleans/) — Venture far beyond the incredibly famous Bourbon Street bars by discovering spectacular haunted histories and massive scenic swamps through the twelve absolute best guided excursions across New Orleans. - [A Local’s Guide to Mardi Gras in New Orleans](https://viatravelers.com/mardi-gras-in-new-orleans/) — Navigate incredibly massive carnival crowds and spectacularly extravagant parade routes with total confidence by utilizing our essential, deeply authentic local strategies for surviving and thriving during New Orleans' Mardi Gras. - [16 Best Restaurants In New Orleans French Quarter](https://viatravelers.com/best-restaurants-in-new-orleans-french-quarter/) — Savor incredibly authentic, spectacular Creole masterpieces and deeply historic, massive seafood platters by booking a table at the sixteen absolute finest dining establishments scattered across the vibrant French Quarter. - [Do You Need A Rental Car in New Orleans?](https://viatravelers.com/do-you-need-a-rental-car-in-new-orleans/) — You don't need a rental car in New Orleans — until you do. Here's exactly when renting makes sense and when it's just a headache.