Southern Comfort in New Orleans

New Orleans is one of my most favourite cities worldwide. I’ve visited four times in the last six years; the first was two years after Hurricane Katrina swept through town.

The buildings in the famous French Quarter were hardly affected and within the month businesses were open again, but many of the buskers left town. Their homes had been destroyed as many of them lived in the Lower Ninth.

Today, some eight years on, they’re back. It seems odd to even mention Katrina now – if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t know. However, the Hurricane is the elephant in the room. Now that’s out of the way, here are my picks for a few great things to do in New Orleans.

Make a list and check it twice, because even after four visits I haven’t seen all the things I’d like to see.

My advice would be to stay right in the heart of the French Quarter so you can browse the shops and galleries, wander the narrow streets lined by double story houses with wrought iron balconies and wooden window shutters, and still have the freedom to head back to your hotel for a dip in the pool (it gets hot in the south!).

I stayed at the Dauphine Orleans Hotel, just a block away from Bourbon Street. The Dauphine’s breakfast room was the studio of great American painter John James Audubon, who painted his famous Birds of America series from 1821-22 here. Hipsters should check out Hotel le Marais and those who love sumptuous and traditional will like Bourbon Orleans Hotel.

Bourbon Street is pedestrianised in the evenings. It’s busy and full of tourists, souvenir shops, bars and restaurants. It also has a few girly clubs so you may not want to march the kids up here.