Hidden Gems in New Orleans: How To Get off the Beaten Path

You don’t have to venture far from the French Quarter to find an alternative New Orleans experience. Just pop by the historic Hotel Monteleone on Royal Street for a drink at the Carousel Bar. Opened in 1949, this revolving merry-go-round-inspired cocktail bar under an illuminated canopy swaps bar stools for horses, which makes it feel more sophisticated than gimmicky. The setup also moves much more slowly than a normal carousel, taking about 15 minutes to make one full rotation. It’s one of the best local spots in New Orleans.

While many visitors to the Big Easy stick to the French Quarter and the Garden District, there are plenty of other great New Orleans neighborhoods to explore. One such area is the Lower Ninth Ward, which many city tours pass through. Highlights include the Fats Domino house, where the legendary musician lived up until the hurricane struck, and the Lower 9th Ward Living Museum, an oral history museum that tells the story of the neighborhood through the voices of those who lived there.

Related: 8 Must-See New Orleans Neighborhoods and How To Visit

For an authentic New Orleans cultural experience, bypass partying masses on Bourbon Street and instead head to the nearby Faubourg Marigny, a neighborhood that's celebrated for its jazz-fueled nightlife scene. It's only a 10-minute walk from the French Quarter but feels worlds apart, and while visitors definitely do come here, so do New Orleans residents. The bulk of the best venues are on Frenchman Street, including hot spots such as The Spotted Cat Music Club and Blue Nile.

While you’ll find plenty of unique souvenirs in the French Quarter’s many voodoo stores, it’s worth heading to We Bite Rare & Unusual Plants on the edge of the Marigny neighborhood if you're looking for a truly extraordinary find. This little shop specializes in bug-eating plants from around the world, and it's a great place to browse even if you don't intend to adopt.

Insider tip: For serious gardeners, We Bite also offers workshops on topics ranging from terrarium making to crafting bog gardens.

If you’re hoping to get off the beaten path in New Orleans, your best bet is to venture a bit out of town—or even out to the bayou. There are plenty of water tours that will whisk you away from the city and out to the swamplands, where you’re likely to see all sorts of interesting wildlife, from water birds to alligators. While there are a few nearby swamps to choose from, fans of the supernatural should opt for Honey Island Swamp: According to local legend, this marsh is home to its very own swamp monster, sometimes called “Cajun Bigfoot.”

If you’re looking for a unique thing to do in New Orleans, Music Box Village will likely fit the bill. This one-of-a-kind outdoor event space features 16 interactive miniature “houses,” each of which can be played thanks to built-in drums, gongs, bells, and other sonic elements. The village also hosts all sorts of concerts and events, as well as welding workshops for those who want to learn how to craft larger-than-life music boxes themselves.

Getting to try local dishes is among the greatest joys of travel, and New Orleans certainly has plenty of great dishes that food-driven visitors will want to learn how to make back home. The New Orleans School of Cooking offers a mix of hands-on cooking lessons and demonstration classes (where you watch dishes being prepared, but don’t do any of the cooking yourself). The New Orleans School of Cooking focuses on local flavors, so you'll leave knowing how to make quintessential New Orleans dishes such as gumbo and pralines.

Related: 9 Quintessentially New Orleans Dishes and Where To Eat Them in the Big Easy

Housed in a former funeral home in the Tremé neighborhood, a residential area that borders the northwest side of the French Quarter, the Backstreet Cultural Museum showcases an exceptional collection related to Mardi Gras and other processionary traditions, including second-line parades and jazz funerals. Highlights include ornate costumes and elaborate suits crafted by members of Indigenous tribes in the area. There’s also a large collection of photographs taken by the museum's founder, Sylvester Francis.

In the Lakewood neighborhood, away from the bustle of the French Quarter, is one of the best secret places in New Orleans: the Longue Vue House and Gardens. The house was built in 1921, making it one of the newer historic homes in the city, but it still feels like a blast from the past, with lovely period furniture and intricate interior architecture. The sprawling gardens are equally special, with big oak trees, pretty flowers, and meandering pathways to get lost in.