I like to write about Southern culture. Move from state to state, even county to county, and you’ll find differences in the language, the customs, the cooking, all the things that define a culture. There is also, however, a great deal of similarity. After all, the South is the South.
Not so in New Orleans. I’m not a historian or an anthropologist, but it seems to me that New Orleans exists in a different plane from the rest of the South. The French influence is clearly present in the architecture, the food, the customs, and even the names of the streets. But it’s more than that. It’s a lot more than that.
New Orleans is nestled into the big bend of the Mississippi River, hence the nickname “Crescent City.” The river dominates much of the life of New Orleans, or at least it did in the early days. Still, the port area just south of the French Quarter remains a busy place. There are vessels of all descriptions constantly coming and going, and I could (have, in fact) sit for hours just watching them. In an afternoon, you’re likely to see all types of ships and such, from phony-looking riverboats to nasty barges to huge—I mean HUGE—cruise ships.
When I go to New Orleans, the place I head for is the Riverwalk. It’s at the end of Canal Street and features an aquarium with an IMAX theater, a shopping complex located directly on the river, and quite a bit of other great stuff. Add several excellent hotels and the French Quarter a short walk away, and it’s a great place to start your weekend trip.
The absolute must-sees and must-dos are so many it will be tough to get to them all, but I’ll hit the highlights for you. One caution: get a map before you head into the Quarter. It’s laid out well, and once you learn a few of the streets, it’s easy to navigate. At first, though, I’d recommend a little help.
We almost always stay on Canal Street just out of the Quarter. I’m a real chicken, and some areas can get a little scary at night. There are great hotels, some of them affordable, both in and out of the Quarter. Whatever strikes your fancy and fits your budget. I think my favorite here is the Sheraton. It adjoins the Riverwalk and was damaged a few years back when a barge failed to make the turn in the river. If you’re interested, there is a large book full of newspaper accounts of the incident in the shopping complex near where the worst damage was.
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