New Orleans is one of the most fascinating and soleful cities in the United States. Walking down the streets of New Orleans fills your senses with such ecstasy achieved from the sites around you of lush green pastures, old heritage buildings, beautiful magnolia blossoms and the mighty Mississippi. Everything in this ‘Birthplace of jazz’ amazes you whether it’s the delicious Creole food, the relaxing live music on the streets or the elegant French Quarters but what amazes you the most are the carefree and easy going residents of New Orleans that make you fall in love with the crescent city right away.. There are a lot of things to do in New Orleans but here are10 things you have to do to enjoy New Orleans the way it’s meant to be experienced:

Ride the St. Charles Street cars

The ideal way to take a self guided tour of the ‘Garden District’ is by riding the St. Charles Streetcars. The165 year old Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world. It carries passengers from the well known ‘French Quarter’ to the resort town of Carrollton and a VisiTour pass will present you with unlimited rides on the Streetcars. This extraordinary metal box on wheels travels for thirteen miles introducing tourists to breathtaking sites and places like the immaculate ‘Garden district’ lined up with momentous mansions, the lush green and honourable universities of Loyola and Tulane, the Riverbend for shopaholics and the Audubon Park and Zoo. The Streetcars take you through the nucleus of the city and New Orleans straight to your heart.

Bowl away at ‘Rock n’ bowl’
If you truly want to feel the spirit of the ‘city that care forgot’ then ‘Rock n’ Bowl’ is a mandatory stopover. Located at South Carrolton avenue, it is a unique venue that combines a bowling alley and a live music club in one place. A large wooden dance floor, a semi circle bar, bowling lanes and live jazz and soul music welcomes you to this bowlers paradise. So let your hair down and experience in full the way of life in New Orleans.

Take a ride across the mighty Mississippi
Take a ride across the Mississippi on board the ‘Canal Street ferry’ and find out why New Orleans is called the ‘Crescent City’. The ferry has been in continuous operation since 1827 and leaves the Canal Street docks every half hour 6 A.M onwards. It heads to Algiers known best for its annual festival of Mardi Gras and the ‘Jazz walk of fame’. The 45 minute round trip is free for pedestrians and the best time to take the ferry is at twilight, returning to see the New Orleans skyline twinkling under the Southern skies.

Party at Bourbon street

The ‘French quarter’ is to New Orleans what ‘Times Square’ is to New York and a trip to New Orleans is incomplete without a late night out at its most famous ‘Bourbon Street’. It is arguably the most happening and lively street in the United States with happy hours that literally run 24/7. The ‘Bourbon Street’ knows just three words: Drink, Sing and Dance and pubs like Rick’s Cabaret, Temptations, Johnny White’s and The Famous Door attract both locals and tourists to mingle and have a good time. The Jazz Preservation Hall is a must see before walking down the street and enjoying some Karaoke at The Cat’s Meow. The Quarter is the capital of glitz and glamour with theme nights and pure elegance that captures the heart of any individual who takes pleasure from late nights.

Take a walk at Jackson Square
Jackson Square also known as Place d’Armes is a historic park in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Known for live music and concerts this landmark has decorated carriages and equally adorned donkeys ready to take you on a tour of the French quarter. At one side of the square lies the significant ‘St. Louis Cathedral. Every 15 minutes the St. Louis Cathedral with its pointed masts piercing the skies calls upon the people around to visit its premises. The Square always has it’s a share of street performers ranging from musicians to dancers to tarot card readers ever ready to entertain tourists and locals alike.

Breakfast at Café du monde
Café du monde, the most celebrated café in the New Orleans is open 24/7 except for Christmas day. Situated in the French Quarter, this famous café warmly greets its customers with fresh squares of deep fried dough smothered with powdered sugar called beignets which melt in your mouth bringing to your heart the same joy you had when you were a child. The chicory and coffee combine to tentilate your taste buds and make sure that customers leave with a broad smile on their faces.

Visit the Garden district
Take a St. Charles Streetcar to the Garden District and your mind will immediately go back in time This neighborhood is the centre of St. Charles Avenue, 1st Street, Magazine Street and Toledano Street. The entire district is naturally beautiful with its plantation homes and lush green gardens magnificent in magnolia, palms and live oak. Magazine Street around the corner is fun for antique shopping while a good stop for lunch is the revered Commander’s Palace.

Friday lunch at Galatoires
Friday lunch at Galatoires is not just another meal on any day. Every Friday people line up for hours before the doors open at 11.30 A.M. Galatoires is a old fashioned restaurant with sumptuous Creole food .The restaurant has a dress code and a jacket is compulsorily worn while shorts are prohibited. Since every Creole dish on the menu is delicious, ‘lunch hours’ usually turns into a ‘lunch afternoon’. Sazeracs on the rocks is their specialty along with soufflé potatoes and fried eggplant which is always recommended. Shrimp Rémoulade, Sautéed Poisson with Crabmeat Yvonne and Crabmeat Sardou are Galatoires’ specialties.

Stay at the elegant Hotel Maison de ville
The ever so graceful Hotel Maison de ville hotel has the most amazing architecture and the finest hospitality you can find in New Orleans. Located in the French Quarter, It is especially known for its   attractive old-fashioned Audubon Cottages over a lovely pool and courtyard. It’s a home away from home with its signature Sunday brunch and breakfast in bed, like other meals is a delicious. A stay at the Hotel Maison de Ville offers guests the chance to enjoy the New Orleans’ French Quarter the way it was meant to be experienced.

Enjoy The Festive city
New Orleans is very festive all year round but they do also have significant festivals like The New Orleans Film Festival in October, The Jazz and Heritage festival and the French Quarter festival in April. Christmas is also quite vibrant in this celebratory city. The months of February and March take turns every year to host one of the most famous carnival celebrations in the world: Mardi Gras. Booze, music, parades and freedom is what the Mardi Gras is known for. Painted faces, costumes and happy, care free people with a lust for life and abundance of bliss is what Mardi Gras is all about, this is what New Orleans is all about…a city you can never want to leave.