Located on a bend in the Mississippi River, the Crescent City is vibrant, one of the liveliest cities in the United States. The French Quarter is the touristiest section, but also the location of many New Orleans institutions like Antoine’s Restaurant, historic sites, and museums.

The tourism industry has come back in full force since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city in 2005 and much of the city looks as if nothing ever happened. However, in some of the worst hit places like the Lower Ninth Ward gutted houses still sit abandoned with broken windows and spray painted markings noting whether anyone was inside. Vans do take groups to tour the area and learn about what happened and the status of the restoration.

The city is not defined by Katrina, but is still affected. Travelers will find a safe, fun city ready to introduce you to the best it has to offer.

New Orleans cuisine blends a variety of food cultures to create its own flavor. Seafood is fresh from the river, the ocean, and the swamps of Louisiana. It’s served simply with the taste the ocean still clinging to it on platters of raw oysters and peppered with spices in dishes like shrimp etouffee. Gumbo is another dish unique to New Orleans and it is usually made with seafood; there are many types and most Louisianan’s have a favorite recipe.

Crawfish are a Louisiana favorite. When they’re in season it’s worth searching out a crawfish boil and learn how to snap them, scoop out the meat, and such the fat from the heads with a glass of local Abita beer.

European influences are present in much of Louisiana cuisine. The Muffaletta sandwich at Central Grocery is a New Orleans sandwich with Italian influence. It’s a huge sandwich (it could easily be split among two or four people) on a round of Italian bread with salami, provolone, and a spicy olive spread. French influence on Louisiana cuisine is nowhere more evident than at Café du Monde over café au lait and beignets (coffee with steamed milk and pillowy donuts covered in powdered sugar).

It’s all about jazz, day or night, in New Orleans. You can hear street musicians playing all day long in Jackson Square, but the city really livens up as the sun goes down.

Preservation Hall, home of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, is a New Orleans institution. The hall opened in 1961 to preserve the unique sound of New Orleans Jazz music. There’s a concert there every night at eight. The venue is small and sparse, but the concerts are fun and interactive. One of the band members might even pull you on stage to dance!

There are performances all over the city on any given night. It’s best to ask around and check local listings. There’s plenty of jazz music at venues like The Spotted Cat and Snug Harbor in the French Quarter and beyond. You’ll also find performances of other music from Louisiana. The Rock ‘N’ Bowl is a fun venue for bowling, drinks, and dancing. The Thursday zydeco nights are popular with locals, some of whom are willing to teach newbies to dance zydeco.

The liquor laws here are lax. You can drink outdoors and there are many stands that sell drinks to go. For those that have come to party, Pat O’Brien’s is a must-visit, home of the legendary Hurricane: rum and a mysterious fruit punch-like flavoring mix.

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