Visiting New Orleans
Whether you're coming to New Orleans from across the country or from across the river, you'll want to use this weekend to take in the culture, food, music, and ambiance of The Big Easy! Use these helpful resources to make the most of your visit. And if you have any questions about visiting New Orleans, just email us.
Food
New Orleans is home to some of the best restaurants in the world. Many of them are a streetcar's ride away from the meet site. Most gymnasts need a little fattening up, and New Orleans is the place to do it. Check out the following links for advice on where to eat!
New Orleans Online Restaurant Guide
http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/
Getting Around
New Orleans is a confusing place to navigate, even for locals! Don't ask for north, south, east, or west...whereever you go, you'll be heading uptown, downtown, toward the lake, or toward the river. Lots of one-way streets, U-turns, and wide neutral grounds (medians) can be tricky. Lucky for us all, taxis are plentiful, and streetcars are a fun means of public transportation.The following links will help you get around.
http://www.regionaltransit.org/
Attractions and Family Fun
Yes, of course there are plenty of family attractions and good clean fun in New Orleans. Take the kids to the French Quarter in the daytime to eat beignets at Cafe Du Monde, visit the museums and St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square, shop at designer stores and souvenir shops, and see historic homes. A night on Bourbon Street is best left to the grownups. Magazine Street offers funky shops, antique stores, and more. Tour the Garden District to see beautiful historic mansions. Here are some links for local attractions and other helpful tourism information.
General Tourism sites
http://www.experienceneworleans.com/
http://www.neworleans.com/
http://www.neworleansonline.com/
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx
http://www.neworleanscvb.com/
The Audubon Zoo, The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, The Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, and the Entergy Imax Theater
Nightlife
The bars, clubs, and restaurants of New Orleans are world-famous. There's something for everyone. Where else could you slurp down a dozen raw oysters and wash them down with a drink from a Drive-Thru Daquiri shop? Links coming soon!
Disclaimer....these recommendations are for coaches, judges, parents, and anyone else who is 21 or older!
http://www.cooterbrowns.com/ Lots of beer; raw oysters, HDTV
http://www.thecolumns.com/ Beautiful outdoor patio on St. Charles
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop French Quarter favorite