tweety13

My husband and I are planning a 4 day trip to NOLA in May and I have a few questions. 1) My husband is a big WWII buff and would like to go to the DDay musuem. I would like to go to the musuem also, but is there anything nearby that I could do if I get bored? 2) Also is the Steamboat Natchez Riverboat cruise worth it? How is the food on the cruise? 3) Is Mardi Gras World worth going to? We are planning to take a Garden District and Plantation tour. Thanks for the help!

Jon_Eric

If I'm remembering quickly the DDay museum is either on Magazine St or near it and if thats the case you'll have plenty of antique shops to visit there.
The Natchez cruise is interesting, but the food is not memorable from what I recall. Mardi Gras world is in Algiers so youll need a car theres also some interesting homes in Algiers point too.
By all means see the Garden District, its my back yard My plantation suggestions are Nottoway, Oak Alley, and Madewood, but I dont think any of the tour operators go as far as Madewood. Grayline, Charlies tours, and Tours by Isabelle all have plantation tours that include these I've mentioned and also Houmas House and Destrehan.

J_Correa

Laura Plantation is also an interesting place. We went to Laura and Oak Alley on a tour with Spinato tours. Another tour that sounds interesting is to 1 plantation - I believe it's San Francisco - combined with a riverboat tour back to the quarter.

I have heard that the food on the river boat tours is nothing special and with so much good food in NO, I think it would be a shame to waste a meal eating unspecial food.

JeanH

The D-Day museum is right downtown. If you're staying in the Quarter or CBD, it isn't a long walk. You can always leave when you get bored and meet your husband later.

I've not been on the riverboat cruise, have heard the food isn't great. But, I think there are cruises during the day that aren't dinner cruises. One of those would be fun.

There is a fairy from the foot of Canal Street to Algiers. I think it's free. I don't think it's too far from the ferry site to the Mardi Gras museum.

JohnNewOrleans

Another popular tour company is Haunted History. They offer ghost, vampire, cemetary, etc. tours.

SusanCS

The New Orleans Ghost Tour has gotten some really terrible reviews. Lots of people complain about the amount of time they spend hawking drinks at the bar where they originate (the Morgue). Others complain about the extent to which they engage in theatrics rather than history. If I were you, I'd avoid this tour and try one or more of the others available. For a really good list of options, you might check out Fodors 2002 guide for New Orleans.

Dutch

Right next to the DDay museum is the Civil War museum that you could visit while your husband is at the DDay museum - but I doubt you'll get bored. The film they show in the DDay museum is a must see. The Streetcar makes a stop right by the museum so it would be easy to get to/from.

The ferry over to Algiers is free and fun and an easy way to see Mardi Gras World. If you're into that thing, the Museums that are right off Jackson Square are very intersting. (I can't remember the names, they are run by LSU)

The river boat cruises are touristy and the food is pretty mediocre, but fun nonetheless.

tweety13

Thanks to all for all your suggestions!

highbay

I noticed that several people posted that you could check out the shops on Magazine Street if you get bored with the D-Day Museum. I will agree with them that you most likely will not get bored, but I will disagree that you can go shopping in that area. The "shops" are quite a walk from the museum. I personally am not a fan of war museums, but did find this very interesting.

Dan

Magazine's shops aren't anywhere near the D-Day Museum, at least not for someone on foot. My favorite parts of Magazine are more towards Jefferson and/or Washington.

Leona

We were there last month & my husband went to the D Day Museum. There is also a Confederate Museum right nearby. And if you get bored, you can take the streetcar (or walk) back to Harrahs, about a mile away, or continue on to the French Quarter.

KenCT

Straying somewhat from the original topic, I've found that although Magazine Street Shops are heavily promoted in tourist information, they are widely scattered on long street running from Canal to the zoo. Not at all walkable.

You can, however, buy a Visitour pass for $5.00 for unlimited trips on New Orleans streetcars and buses, getting off and on as many times as you wish. For example, you can take the St Charles Streetcar from Canal to the zoo, then take the shuttle which runs from the streetcar stop to the zoo. Love those white alligators! Then take the #11 Magazine Street bus back to Canal Street. You would need the better part of a morning or afternoon to do this, however, since the streetcars/busses run only every half hour or so.