Top Louisiana Holidays - page 5

Capture the spirit of New Orleans and the city’s voodoo culture on this 1.5-hour walking tour. Learn about the African-based spiritual folkways as you make your way to through New Orleans. Visit real voodoo altars, and hear stories about the voodoo practices that started over 100 years ago. Enter a mysterious world of spells and rituals, and gain a better understanding for the people who practiced them.

Instead of simply hearing ghost stories, experience them for yourself on one of the only interactive ghost tours in New Orleans. Join a paranormal guide at what are reputed to be some of the most haunted locations in the French Quarter. With just your small group for company, set off in the evening, and have the chance to use real ghost-hunting tools to try and pick up on paranormal activity.

Explore New Orleans’ historic cemeteries and uncover the unique burial traditions that set this city apart. On this off-the-beaten-path tour, visit St. Patrick Cemetery No. 1, St. Patrick Cemetery No. 2, and the Katrina Memorial at Charity Hospital Cemetery, where you’ll honor lives lost to Hurricane Katrina, yellow fever, and other tragedies. Along the way, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of New Orleans’ fascinating history, far from the typical tourist crowds.

Swap the hustle and bustle of New Orleans for the natural beauty of the Louisiana bayou—and leave the crowds behind—on this small-group airboat tour through the swamps near Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Explore the lush landscape from the water, look out for native wildlife including alligators and turtles, and learn about the region’s unique ecosystem. Along the way, hear stories and insights from a local guide.

Learn more about a side of Louisiana’s history that should never be forgotten. Tour plantations with a guide who can share more about what life was like for enslaved people in the South. Admission to Oak Alley Plantation is included, and you can feel free to pick your guide’s brain about the things you see on the tour.

Leave the French Quarter behind and discover other tasty corners of New Orleans during this semi-private food tour of the Garden District. Surrounded by historic mansions and chic shops, the Garden District is your buffet. Your guide will take you to local-favorite restaurants where you’ll sample both classic New Orleans dishes and some modern gastronomy.

Set off on a self-guided adventure full of creative clues that will bring you to landmarks around the French Quarter in New Orleans. This stolen-art-themed mystery will have you solving puzzles around the city at your own pace, visiting famous attractions like Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, and Café du Monde along the way. You can be flexible as you explore the city having fun along the way.

Step into the captivating realm of illusions, where reality is never exactly as it appears. Museum of Illusions is a one-of-a-kind, visual, sensory, and educational experience designed to engage your sense of wonder and challenge perceptions through the science behind optical illusions. We offer over 50 immersive, hands-on exhibits to explore. Our illusion rooms, installations and holograms let you defy gravity, grow and shrink your body, walk into a life-size kaleidoscope, and play tricks on your senses at every turn. It’s a mind-bending journey that deceives the senses and reveals how the brain interprets reality.

See more of New Orleans without the hassle of renting a car on this half-day bike tour that takes you around the famous French Quarter and beyond to explore neighborhoods many tourists never go. Learn about the city’s fascinating history directly from the owner of the tour company as you make stops at Jackson Square, the Garden District, historic cemeteries, Royal Street, the downtown area, and more.

The bike tour is the ideal way to save time and see the highlights of the Garden District in a short space of time. Cycle under towering oak trees and learn about the history of the area from your guide. Highlights include a ride through the Irish Channel neighborhood to see its diverse architectural styles and a visit to St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

Take a trip to either Oak Alley or Laura Plantation on this half-day tour from New Orleans that takes care of the logistics. In addition to a guided tour, you will have free time to explore the grounds on your own at your own pace. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for your convenience.

Experience the highlights of New Orleans in one comprehensive half-day tour. This itinerary combines a guided walk through the historic French Quarter, time to grab lunch at the famous French Market, a 75-minute cruise along the Mississippi River aboard the Riverboat City of New Orleans, and a narrated bus tour showcasing the city’s top sights. Along the bus tour, you’ll pass by some of New Orleans’ most well-known landmarks, including the National WWII Museum, the charming Garden District, New Orleans City Park, Mardi Gras World, and the Audubon Aquarium. Beginning at Café Beignet, this well-balanced experience is designed to be easy and enjoyable, blending guided exploration with free time. It’s a great option for first-time visitors or anyone looking to see a wide range of the city’s highlights in a single outing.

Get an insider’s view of New Orleans on this small-group introduction to the city. Hop aboard a bus with a small group of fellow travelers and visit historic neighborhoods, including the French Quarter and the Garden District. Check out one of the Big Easy's famous cemeteries while learning about the city’s history, architecture, and vibrant culture.

Step beyond the French Quarter and discover the hidden side of New Orleans on this private city tour. From colorful Bywater to historic Bayou St. John, your guide takes you off the tourist trail and into neighborhoods full of culture, history, and character. Along the way, gain insider tips to make the most of your trip and experience the Crescent City like a true local.

New Orleans’ Garden District fascinates with historic mansions, impressive architecture, and colorful history, all framed by ancient live oak trees. On this tour, you’ll walk through the neighborhood learning the history and culture of the area from a local guide. The experience is complete with a stop at Lafayette Cemetery to learn about the city’s famous above-ground “Cities of the Dead.”

Discover the haunted side of New Orleans on a lively pub crawl through the French Quarter. Join your local guide and step inside some of the city’s most haunted bars, where chilling tales of ghosts, brothels, and restless spirits come to life between rounds of drinks. As you sip and stroll, uncover the dark legends and eerie history woven into the Quarter’s streets. Along the way, stop at iconic spots like Pirate’s Alley, Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, and other famous landmarks that blend nightlife, storytelling, and New Orleans’ supernatural charm.

Experience the rich history and vibrant culture of New Orleans from two perspectives on a city tour and steamboat cruise that lets you escape the land-based crowds. Enjoy a narrated coach tour of historic landmarks, including the French Quarter, Jackson Square, and the Garden District. Then, step aboard Steamboat NATCHEZ (or its sister vessel) for a journey along the mighty Mississippi River, complete with live jazz and optional Creole dining.

Immerse yourself in the best of the French Quarter, and maximize your sightseeing time, on this small-group historical walking tour. Follow your guide along the mighty Mississippi River to Jackson Square, learning about New Orleans' cultural history along the way. See notable literary and cinematic landmarks, bustling scenes of local life, and architectural gems including some of the nation’s oldest buildings.

View legendary homes and enjoy exclusive inside access to the Women's Opera Guild House during this 2-hour walking tour of New Orleans' Garden District. This stunning neighborhood was the former stomping ground of authors, movie stars, and sports figures such as Anne Rice, John Goodman, and Archie Manning. Hear anecdotes from your guide while you stroll under southern live oaks, crepe myrtles, and magnolia trees.

Take part in a one-of-a-kind New Orleans experience—and walk away with new skills, and new scents—on this small-group perfume-making class. Choose a start time that’s best for you, grab a lab coat, and learn all about the tips and tricks of making your own signature scent. You’ll have the chance to explore and create three different scents; at the end of class, bottle your favorite and take it with you as a unique souvenir.

Skip the self-drive hassles and travel with a guide who knows the routes and heritage on this eerie tour of New Orleans’ most storied graveyards—after dark. Visit St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, established in 1854, the Holt Cemetery, which floods with each heavy rain, the Hurricane Katrina Memorial, the Masonic Temple Cemetery, and so much more. Bring your camera: you may spot eerie orbs in your photos that can only be described as paranormal.

Get ready to experience a walk through the streets of New Orleans unlike any other during this private half-day second-line tour. The second line is the group that follows behind a big brass band as it parades down the street. This musical movement allows you to see, feel, and hear the unique culture of this 19th-century tradition.

New Orleans is famous for its cuisine, but with so much to try, knowing where to go or what to pick can be overwhelming. This tour demystifies local culinary traditions, with the help of a guide to lead the way. Visit several classic restaurants and sample local Creole, Cajun, and French-inspired specialties such as gumbo, jambalaya, pralines, and more.

The Whitney Plantation Museum is known for being the site where one of the biggest slave rebellions in the United States occurred. Find out about the history of slavery and the stories of those who lived on the plantation by going on this self-guided tour. To help you save time traveling on public transport and get to the museum with ease, pickup is included from New Orleans.