Thinking of a Spring trip to New Orleans soon? Then you are in luck because we are about to tell you all the top events in the Big Easy as we enter the sunny Spring season. Lively jazz bands, funky festivals, Creole cuisine, and bayou boogies all await you in the beautiful big easy. So let us take you on a journey down the Mississippi River and show you the best way to enjoy the magic of the Crescent City, with the best insider scoop on all the hot happenings in New Orleans. Read on to learn about what to see and do in New Orleans during the spring.
Make a Plan
When planning a trip to New Orleans, it is easy to get overwhelmed by all the things going on (seriously, we have more parades than days of the year) but do not worry, we will take care of you and help you find the perfect plan for your visit. Are you looking for some party action on Bourbon Street? Are you looking for a live jazz band on Frenchmen Street? Are you looking for some delicious chicken gumbo? Maybe even all three? Well, we’ve got you covered with a detailed list of a bunch of activities you can do in New Orleans.
Fun in the French Quarter
Let’s start off with the New Orleans classic: The French Quarter. The French Quarter is a great place to dip your toe in what New Orleans is all about. A mixture of music, parties, food, and culture, The French Quarter has got it all and it is waiting for you. Have a drink on New Orleans’ infamous Bourbon Street and watch the foot traffic from a balcony bar overlooking the street. Make sure to check out Lafitte’s Blacksmith Bar: One of the oldest bars in New Orleans and even America. Then you have your pick of a variety of different foods, whether you want a bowl of gumbo from The Gumbo Shoppe, a tray of oysters from Antoine’s, or even a classic steak dinner from Galatoire’s, you can find it in the French Quarter. Finally, walk off that delicious lunch with a spectacular view of the Mississippi River and make your way to Frenchmen Street where you are bound to find more than one electric jazz band playing. The French Quarter is the place to be!
Jazz it up!
There are a bunch of amazing things to do and see during the spring season in New Orleans. The famous Jazz Fest happens in late spring. As someone who knows what Jazz Fest is like, you should definitely put it on your bucket list. Amazing performances, cultural experiences, and local food vendors from all over Louisiana are here to give you an unforgettable experience. Enjoy the best of what New Orleans has to offer: music, culture, and food, all conveniently thrown together for you in one festival.
Festival Season
French Quarter Festival is another great festival that happens in late Spring. It is a huge celebration that highlights the great food and culture of the fabulous French Quarter. Make sure to get your dancing shoes on because French Quarter Fest employs more than 1,700 local musicians during this very special weekend. The festival also hosts over 60 local restaurants and vendors and stretches across the Quarter with the central point being the famous St. Louis Cathedral.
Boogie in the Bayou
Next is Bayou Boogaloo, another amazingly unique festival that takes place in Mid-City, more specifically around Bayou St. John. Like the others, this festival hosts great music, yummy food, and another unique perspective into New Orleans culture. What makes Bayou Boogaloo specifically interesting is water sports! You will see tons of ‘boogiers’ on canoes, paddle boards and colorful floaties, beating the heat and enjoying the bayou. This festival, like the others, happens in late spring, so if you have enough time (and stamina) you could hit all three during your vacation to the Big Easy.
Get Swampside
Now, if you want to tap into your more adventurous side, a swamp tour is the perfect activity to get out of the city’s hustle and bustle and live like a true Louisianian. You can go around the bayou on an exciting airboat tour of the great big swamp. At Airboat Adventures, we offer you a variety of different activities, so you and the swamp really get to know each other. Explore the Louisiana countryside (more like swampside) and get a personal experience of the flora and fauna that can be found in Louisiana’s unique swamp ecosystem. You are sure to spot some furry friends like raccoons and even Nutrias (swamp rats) and definitely lots and lots of alligators, or swamp puppies, as we like to call them down here. Airboat Adventures is only a 45-minute drive from the city so it’s not too out of the way if you are itching for a more scenic take of Louisiana and all its swampy goodness. And we at Airboat Adventures have the best swamp tours in New Orleans.
The Nitty Gritty
Now that we’ve covered all the big festivals going on in Spring and some out of the city activities, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of things to do in New Orleans and Louisiana in general.
Take Flight
Catch a bird’s eye view of the famous Crescent City and take a guided tour of New Orleans in a helicopter! Helicopter tours are one of the newer tourist trends that we’ve seen happening in New Orleans and for good reason. The helicopter tour allows you to experience New Orleans from a totally different perspective. Seeing the city sparkle underneath you in the breezy New Orleans night sky will be a truly unforgettable experience. The tour takes you over the famous French Quarter, the Mississippi River, and downtown New Orleans. Going on a helicopter tour ensures that you experience the city from every angle (literally).
Cruise Down the River in Style
The Mississippi River is also a famous part of New Orleans. Serving as a means for facilitating trade up and down the river for generations, the Mississippi is one of the most important cultural aspects of New Orleans and its history. Make sure to check it out by embarking on a steamboat jazz cruise! Cruise down the great Mississippi River in style while jazz bands serenade you while you get to explore a classic historical steamboat. Historical fantasy and delicious refreshments and food await you on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Haunted Attractions
New Orleans is one of the oldest cities in America, which means it is bound to have a deep and rich history. Originally occupied by the French and bought by the United States in the Louisiana Purchase, New Orleans has been a popular place for everyone in history due to its access to the Mississippi River, thus facilitating trade up and down the entirety of the great river. However, due to its old nature, New Orleans has gained a reputation for being haunted. Take a jaunt around the haunted French Quarter and other spooky areas of the city by going on a haunted walking tour! Thrills and chills surround you as you explore the French Quarter with a knowledgeable guide who explains the dark history of the ghosts that walk the streets of the French Quarter. Who knows you may even catch a glimpse of a ghost in the windows of the beautiful French Quarter homes.
Brush Up on American History
Louisiana is one of the oldest states in America and thus has a rich history that aligns with how America has developed as a nation. Because of this, the outskirts of the city are peppered with old plantations. Explore the outskirts of the city and visit one of the grandest plantations in Louisiana: The Whitney Plantation. The Whitney Plantation is a former plantation site that emphasizes the history of slavery and the lives of the slaves and slave owners in Antebellum Louisiana. Both humbling and educational, this experience guarantees that you leave with a newfound sense of empathy and understanding of how far we have come as a nation and how we got here.
There is Nothing Like Spring in the Swamp
Spring is such a beautiful time to come to New Orleans. And with all that is going on you’d be dumb to miss it. Enjoy the lively festivities (literally festivals), experience once-in-a-lifetime food, dance and hit those sweet moves while enjoying funky jazz bands and their tunes, get out to the swamp and learn about the Louisiana environment, and immerse yourself in the rich history that New Orleans has to offer. This Spring, do yourself a favor and come on down to the Big Easy, we will show you a good time.