I travel to NOLA three times each year on business. This year, my hubby and I celebrated our 20th anniversary there.

While we have heard reports of crime issues, we have NEVER encountered a problem. I always feel comfortable there. Lee Circle is far, but it's on the St. Charles trolley line. In September, the trolley was not running due to repairs to the tracks being performed in the Garden District. You might want to check on the trolley. It may be running by now. Also - pedicabs are a great way to see the city and the drivers are terrific tour guides!

But - we have often taken the trolley back and forth. Cabs are cheap also. It's quite a hike to the French Quarter, so I'd probably take a cab just due to the distance. From Lee Circle, you can walk straight up St. Charles, which turns into Royal Street when you cross Canal. There, you'll find some antique dealers and jewelers. We always enjoy their shops for an afternoon. A few shops have museum quality pieces on display.

One night out - If you like jazz at all - you should go on Friday night to Snug Harbor to see/hear Ellis Marsalis perform. Yes, that's Wynton's dad. He had a few surprises for us including trumpet player/performer Kenny Terry that night! Call Snug Harbor that day for a reservation and get there a bit early to grab a table on the main floor. Take a cab there to Frenchmen Street and take a cab back.

And - if you can, watch a bit of Treme before you go. It may be available on Netflix, but it gives you a great taste of NOLA before you go!

Let me know if you need restaurant recommendations! But no matter what - don't miss Drago's Roasted Oysters - In the downstairs of the Hilton is their "second" location, but the food is nearly as good. Get a half dozen - Yes. You will be able to eat them all!

some thoughts:
I, too, have never been there but I lucked out when a friend told me about Celebration Tours. It is an intensive 3-hour tour of the city starting with Bourbon Street, Jackson Square and the French quarter in a small van so personal attention is paid to the guests. We ventured out to see the damage Katrina did in the lower 9th ward, Brad Pitt's solar "Make It Right" homes, Metaire Cemetary to name just a few. Leslie, a tells the story of New Orleans in an informative, really funny and comprehensive manner; she loves her adopted city and is a one gal band representating New Orleans. You'd be wise to book her tours. email: toursbyoz@aol.com. Or call 888-587-7115.

Other places I visited:
www.MardiGrasWorld.com shows a short movie and then has a eye-boggling tour of all the masks and other accoutrements indigenous to the famous festival and one finishes with a tasty slice of King Cake.

http://www.cafedumonde.com for their inexpensive plate of 3 beignets & cafe au lait. Outside, sometimes you will hear a musician playing a kora, the 17-string African Bass Harp. Or, http://www.brennansneworleans.com/ for the Bananas Foster. Or, http://www.muriels.com/, a French Quarter restaurant which has a resident ghost and a seance room. http://www.centralgrocery.com/ has gigantic muffalettas. A 1/2 sandwich w/the olive tapenade was even too large for one sitting. Except for Brennan's these three are all on either side of Jackson Square.

And if you have any money left, you can drop it off at Harrah's Casino which also offers a full buffet.

Hope this helps.

Hi,

While male, I walked a number of times by myself & with a friend from the Lower Garden District past Lee Circle and Downtown into the French Quarter and the Faubourg Marigny. I felt as comfortable as anywhere walking that route during the day. For what it's worth, I even walked that route at night and am still here to tell the tale.

Best wishes, Daniel

Ride the St. Charles streetcar east all the way to Canal St.
Canal Street is the west edge of the French Quarter.Carry lots of quarters for the fare-cash only- was less than $2 when I was there.

It seems from NORTA website that part of St. Charles streetcar is still not running.

Lee Circle to French Quarter, Museum District and Business District should be fine to walk around. Look confident and don't flash valuables around and you should be ok. I'm going to NOLA next week and staying on St. Charles, just off Canal. I've stayed in the Quarter and on Magazine Street and I've always felt comfortable. Do not go to the cemeteries by yourself-always go in a group. If you are going to the jazz clubs in the Marigny, walk on Decatur Street because it has stores lit up all night. I've been going to New Orleans since 1950-I still remember the Morning Call when it was in the French Quarter and that cartons of chocolate milk were five cents.

Thank you all for the suggestions.
Mardi Gras World is on my list.
I was going to Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 by myself, but will now book with a tour group for that.

I think you will enjoy the cemetery more with the tour anyway. I walked all over the French Quarter alone during the day while tagging along on a convention with my husband and never had a problem. Heck, if you go out early in the morning, there is hardly anybody up! I got the impression that people in New Orleans really don't fully wake up until around noon-- haha.

Looks like you will have to use the #13 St. Charles St. bus shuttle from the end of the streetcar line. The transfer should be free. http://www.norta.com/Maps_Schedules/SystemMap/index.html
Canal St. streetcar line will get you to the cemetaries .

Thank you for the bus shuttle information.
I will arrive in New Orleans on early Saturday afternoon and leave Tuesday late morning, so I will only have two full days there. It is unlikely I will visit again soon and I'm wondering if I should try to squeeze a half day guided tour of Oak Alley Plantation? I am also planning a Charleston/Savannah trip for later this year and will plantations on my itinerary there.

Just curious why you'd be back in your hotel by 4 pm before it gets dark because the best of New Orleans happens when the sun goes down. If you are out and about with the other adults, take a cab from here to there. Safe streets quickly turn into sketchy neighborhoods in New Orleans.

<<the best of New Orleans happens when the sun goes down.>>

DITTO!!!

Schedule a few walking tours in the evening. You'd be with a group, so why not?

I just got back from my trip. Arrived there earlier than I had planned on Saturday, so I did a self-guided walking tour of the Garden District. At first I was hesitant of going into Lafayette Cemetery alone, but there were a lot of people there, at least three large tour groups, so I went in and walked around by myself. Sunday I walked around French Quarter (not many people before 10 AM) and then Mardi Gras World later in the afternoon. Monday I took a plantation tour (Laura and Oak Alley) with New Orleans Tours by Isabelle.
The St. Charles streetcar was not operating on Saturday, so I took the bus to Garden District. However it started running on Sunday, so I took it to French Quarter.
I was still a bit wary of walking around by myself after dark, so I got back to the hotel around 4:30 each afternoon.

Thanks for letting us know how things worked out. Since I'm going this Friday, could you let me know the answer to a few questions?

How much was the St. Charles streetcar?

What did you think of Mardi Gras World?

What is the reason for going to the Lafayette Cemetery (I love cemeteries, but was wondering what was special about this one).

Thanks!

Streetcar is $1.25 per ride (no change given) or $3 day pass.
My sister used to work on the Rose Parade floats, so I thought the ones at Mardi Gras World were interesting.
I couldn't tell the difference between the two cemeteries I went to; so maybe a guided tour would've helped.

Definitely take the guided tour and do NOT stay in your hotel room after 4:30 pm out of some misguided fear. That's just ridiculous.