Hi. Born and raised in the Garden District of N.O. LOVE my city, and glad to see that so many others do, too.
"Must sees"....of course, the French Quarter. Mike is well-informed, and sounds like he'd be a good guide. LOL Jackson Square is the center of the Quarter, with artists all over the place, as well as tarot card readers, palm readers. St. Louis Cathedral is lovely, and the oldest cathedral in the country - stop in for a quick visit. (It's where I attend Mass.)
The street that runs parallel to the river is Decatur, and runs by Jackson Square. Jax Brewery Bldg. is good for shopping, as well as Riverwalk - further up river. And yes, by all means don't miss going to Cafe duMonde for cafe au lait and beignets. It's something we locals do all the time, as well as visitors. On down Decatur from Cafe duMonde is some wonderful shopping, on both sides of the street. Then, if you go down even further, you'll run into the French Market and you'll be amazed at the variety of unusual things you'll find.
Right between Cafe duMonde and the Jax Bldg., go up the steps! Wonderful view of the river and bridges, with park benches. You can see the steamboat Natchez (another fun tour you could do). Also - if time permits, there is a combo deal - Aquarium of the Americas, then a boat cruise to Audubon Zoo and back. I take visitors on that little tour quite often, and they love it, as do I.
SO many wonderful restaurants, it would be very hard to recommend just one, or even ten! My very favorite place for lunch is Gumbo Shop, but a great po-boy can be found at Pontalba Cafe. Both are located just to the left of the cathedral, on St. Peters. Pontalba Cafe is catty-corner from the cathedral, and Gumbo Shop is down 1/2 block. Pontalba is a great place for lunch and people-watching in Jackson Square. If you want a quick snack, don't hesitate to try a "Lucky Dog" from a street vendor. This is a time-honored tradition in N.O., and we locals eat them all the time!
The carriage rides are another good idea. The drivers are very well informed about the Quarter and are fun to listen to. Of course, you'll want to walk down Bourbon St. It really isn't as bad as it's depicted on TV...during the day, it's quite calm.
A word of caution.......We're just like any other big city as far as crime. BUT, as long as you stay on the lighted streets and where the crowds are, you should have no concern for your safety. Common sense will dictate that you don't go down any of the small dark alleyways.
ENJOY OUR CITY! "Like this place, no other."
