The Ultimate Summer Destination - New Orleans

5/26/2021 1:38:00 PM Link 0 comments | Add comment

There’re endless reasons to book a trip to New Orleans in the summer. There are things to do for every type of traveler - the solo traveler, the festival lover, the foodie, the family. Summer is the unofficial season of deals & discounts in the Crescent City - from hotel bargains to month-long restaurant specials, it’s possible to do an extravagant summer vacay in NOLA on a budget.

EAT LIKE ROYALTY FOR A BARGAIN

There’s no better time to try out some of NOLA’s most legendary restaurants than during the summer. Kick off summer with Restaurant Week New Orleans from June 21-27, where diners can enjoy a two-course lunch for $25 or less or a three-course brunch or dinner for $45 or less. So, you can eat at a historic, elegant French Quarter restaurants like Arnaud's or Garden District culinary landmarks like Commander’s Palace for a steal. Later in the summer, COOLinary will launch, which follows a similar model. Restaurant Week and COOLinary are both a must if you enjoy fancy food without fancy prices.

ATTEND A SUMMER FESTIVAL

Hogs for the Cause, June 4-5. Enjoy the best of barbecue while raising funds for families of children with pediatric brain cancer the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, NOWFE, from June 8-13. During the week, participate in wine dinners, labs, tastings and other one-of-a-kind experiences unique to the festival. Go from sampling sweet indulgent dessert wines or participating in an oyster workshop to checking out the French Quarter’s most impressive wine cellars.
Satchmo SummerFest, the French Quarter festival dedicated to music legend Louis Armstrong, is scheduled for July 30-August 1.
Other festivals typically held in the summer, such as Essence Fest, will remain virtual this year.

ESSENCE Festival 2021

Traditionally held over Fourth of July weekend every summer in New Orleans, we look forward to Essence Fest all year for its one-of-a-kind celebration of Black culture. This year, the festival has gone virtual with two back-to-back weekends of music, entertainment and empowerment from June 25-27 and July 2-4. Performances, webinars and guest speakers will be a part of the fun. The best part – it’s all FREE! Just be sure to register on the festival website in advance

EXPLORE NOLA’S GREAT INDOORS

Anyone who wants a behind-the-scenes glimpse into making Mardi Gras happen should head to Mardi Gras World, too. JAMNOLA is one of New Orleans’ newest attractions that offer a glimpse into the music, art and culture of New Orleans through various interactive and highly-Instagrammable exhibits.

HAVE FAMILY FUN

Coming with kiddos? To many visitors’ surprise, it’s easy to make a NOLA vacation fun for grown-ups and kids. Spend a day at Audubon Zoo (and cool down at Cool Zoo), the Audubon Aquarium or the Louisiana Children’s Museum, located conveniently in New Orleans' City Park. City Park is home to Storyland, gondola rides, City Putt mini golf, and lots of green space & other family attractions. Be sure to treat the fam to sno-balls at Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, too.

New Orleans summers provide tons of opportunities to snag great rates wherever you go. Receive free admission to various museums and attractions depending on the day of the week, like the New Orleans Museum of Art on Wednesdays. Check out New Orleans 35 Free Things to Do this Summer. Additionally, be on the lookout for temperature drinks, a program that many restaurants follow: when the temperature spikes past a certain point, ice cold cocktails dip in price.

Plan the ultimate getaway to New Orleans with tours, museums, family activities and more right at your fingertips. Visit world-class attractions like the Audubon Zoo and National World War II Museum, take a historic tour on foot, bike, or Segway. Come see why New Orleans was recently called the #1 destination in the world to visit by the New York Times. For more information visit https://bit.ly/3ixZZRQ.