New Orleans Thanksgiving

By Sarah Harris

Thanksgiving in New Orleans is a magical experience. From holiday lights and special traditions to festivals and historic landmarks, there is always something to see. For those who are thinking about making the trip, we decided to put together a list of the best things to do during November in the city. So, pack your puffer coat and prepare to rock your winter wardrobe. Thanksgiving is on its way and it’s time to get planning! With Go City, you can see more, for less.

Explore the City

New Orleans Thanksgiving

Explore the City

With the cooler weather, November is a great time to stay indoors and visit some museums. Located in the historic Tremé neighborhood, the Backstreet Cultural Museum showcases the city’s African American parading traditions. Exhibiting an expansive collection of artefacts and elaborate suits worn by Mardi Gras Indians in previous years, the museum provides a fun and educational experience.

New Orleans is well-documented as the birthplace of jazz. For those who are interested in learning more about the city's significant contributions to American music, the New Orleans Jazz Museum seeks to provide a fun and educational experience. Through the institute’s interactive exhibitions, research facilities and vibrant live performances, visitors can fully explore one of the country’s most innovative art forms.

Since New Orleans is renowned for its captivating architecture, it’s no surprise that the Presbytère is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Facing Jackson Square and neighboring the equally beautiful St. Louis Cathedral, the Presbytère is easily one of the city’s most historic and recognizable buildings. Today, the landmark serves as a showcase for a fascinating array of Mardi Gras artefacts. Displaying memorabilia dating way back to the 19th century, this exhibit gives an in-depth look into the traditional Christian festival as it is celebrated today.

Architectural delights

New Orleans Thanksgiving

Architectural delights

A must-see on most tourists’ itineraries, St. Louis Cathedral presents a phenomenal fusion of Spanish colonial and French Neogothic architecture. Situated in the heart of the city, this venerable building is the oldest continuously active basilica in North America. Visitors can take self-guided tours to see the beautiful stained-glass windows and learn more about the history of the building.

New Orleans is widely known for its thriving arts scene, so it's no surprise that the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is a popular tourist attraction. Standing out among the other world-class museums in the city, the establishment is comprised of two main buildings holding the largest and most expansive collection of Southern art in the world. With over 4,000 original pieces, there’s more than enough to see.

Get Festive

New Orleans Thanksgiving

Get Festive

Some of the city’s best festivals celebrate film and the arts. Attracting as many as 500 filmmakers and 30,000 attendees each year, the New Orleans Film Festival is one of the biggest events of its kind in the South. At the event, you can catch unique screenings from around the globe and talk with some of the filmmakers. For those who are especially interested in learning more about cinema, the festival runs special events, masterclasses and seminars.

Attention all foodies: this festival needs to rank at the very top of your itinerary. Held annually in the French Quarter, the Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival seeks to celebrate the city’s rich culinary history. In addition to traditional gumbo, festivalgoers should be able to try other regional delicacies, as well as vegan alternatives. To top it all off, brass artists who hail from the historic Tremé neighborhood play at the festival every year. With past performances from the Grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band and Tremé Brass Band, this event makes the perfect day trip.

New Orleans is regularly hailed as the gastronomic mecca of the South. Each November, Fête des Fromages brings the city together in celebration of... well, all things cheese! With over 100 gourmet cheeses and a wide range of wines, beers and ciders to choose from, the experience is nothing but luxurious. In addition, there are live performances and informational cheese and wine seminars for those who want to know more.

Experience Thanksgiving in New Orleans

New Orleans Thanksgiving

Experience Thanksgiving in New Orleans

Another one of our favorite things to do on Thanksgiving in New Orleans is heading down to the races. A favorite holiday pastime for locals, the Thanksgiving Derby is an engaging and unconventional way to spend the day. Whether you’re going to bet, or just to watch the excitement go down, this one is not to be missed. If you’re planning on joining in on all the fun, we strongly recommend turning up with an empty stomach, since the racetrack’s Clubhouse offers a traditional holiday dinner as well as a buffet to choose from!

For those who are travelling with kids, we recommend checking out Celebration in the Oaks. Stretching from Thanksgiving right through to Christmas time, this spectacular light festival in City Park is fun for all the family. With an enchanting display of over a million lights, this display is most definitely a sight to behold. In addition, there’s an amusement park offering 18 rides as well as a festive outdoor bar where visitors can enjoy seasonal treats under the twinkling lights.

If you’re looking to go down the less traditional route this Thanksgiving, we’ve got you covered. Each November, the Audubon Butterfly and Insectarium serves unconventional buggy twists on classic holiday family recipes. At the institute, visitors can try insect-infused dishes including turkey with cricket gravy, cricket pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce with waxworms. Those who are a little less adventurous will be relieved to find out that the establishment also offers all the good food without the waxworms—so everybody wins!

New Orleans has everything you’d expect from a big city: elite museums, beautiful architecture, and exceptional food, just to name a few. Thanksgiving is a great time to visit since the weather is not too hot and there’s still plenty to see. With Go City, you grab a New Orleans attraction pass and make the most of your Thanksgiving in the city!. For more details, make sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. 

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Best Museums in New Orleans

Best Museums in NO An undoubtedly unique city with a heck of a lot of history, New Orleans is a total dream for those who are looking to incorporate a little education into their travel experience. Whether you’re looking for a bustling institution offering a comprehensive survey of the history of the city, or a small specialty spot devoted to Mardi Gras, The Big Easy has you covered. Each one has its own distinctive personality, focus and atmosphere, though all are as fascinating as one another. If you’re a first time visitor, you might feel a little overwhelmed by all the possibilities – but don’t worry, that’s where we come in! If you’re making your way over to New Orleans and aren’t quite sure about where to spend your time, have a read through our list of the best museums in the city. However you choose to explore the Big Easy, we’re sure it’ll be wonderful. LEARN SOMETHING NEW If you only go to one museum in New Orleans, make it the Historic New Orleans Collection. Perfect for those who are looking to learn more about the history of the region, this place is truly passionate about educating its visitors. Its impressive and expansive collection consists of 35,000 library items and approximately 350,000 photographs, prints, drawings, paintings and other artefacts. Needless to say, you’ll need to set aside a good amount of time in order to see everything. Exhibitions have been presented on a wide variety of topics, ranging from the Battle of New Orleans and the development of local cuisine to more modern subjects like the Sugar Bowl and life after Hurricane Katrina. The institute often has special talks, events, and concerts, so be sure to check online before you head out. We love this spot because it's impossible to leave without having learned something new. GET CULTURED If you’re looking for something a little more niche, New Orleans has plenty of cool specialty museums to fit that very brief. Standing out as one of our favorites on the list, Backstreet Cultural Museum works to present, preserve and interpret the history of New Orleans. Located in Tremé, the oldest African American neighborhood in the United States, the institute works to educate visitors about the social development of the city and particularly shed light on the relationship between Black and Native American culture. The museum is best known for holding the city’s largest collection of beautiful and intricate Mardi Gras Indian costumes. Still, that’s not all there is to see here. Aside from these wonderful artistic treasures, visitors can also enjoy an amazing assortment of memorabilia pertaining to Mardi Gras, jazz funerals and other traditions which derive from New Orleans. Both fascinating and fun, this place works to provide a fantastic cultural experience for those of all ages. For creative types visiting New Orleans, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art is the perfect stop. A Smithsonian affiliate, the museum is recognized for housing the largest and most comprehensive collection of Southern art. The institution prides itself on diversity, working to highlight some of the best female and POC artists of the south. Its impressive permanent collection holds over 4,000 pieces from 15 southern states, with works dating way back to 1733. The exhibits feature everything from paintings and drawings to photographs and sculpture, so there’s a little something for everybody here. Though it might be one of the smaller art galleries in the city, this place packs a lot of punch, presenting some of the rarer and lesser-known pieces from the city’s creative history. It remains one of the south’s finest art collections, so don’t miss it! TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT Of course, nowhere is known for fun and festivities quite like New Orleans. Even if you’re not visiting during Mardi Gras, you can still get a taste of the real thing at Mardi Gras World. Breaking away from the typical museum experience, this place offers an inside look into the nation’s biggest party. The massive 400,000 square-foot complex, just upriver from the New Orleans Morial Convention is actually a working warehouse where the megafloats, characters and costumes for Mardi Gras are made. Walking through this unique space, you’ll be able to learn more about all of the work and detail which goes into making these spectacular pieces, as well as how technology plays into the creative process. Along the way, your tour guide will also talk you through the history and beautiful traditions of this exceptional holiday. Don’t forget to check out the gift shop, which sells masks, beads and Mardi Gras posters to take home for your loved ones. A total Instammer’s dream, this spot is not to be missed! If you’re a seasoned visitor to New Orleans, you might be looking for a new museum to check out. Well, don’t worry – you've come to the right place! The city is jammed-packed with great cultural amenities, though we especially love the Pharmacy Museum for bringing something new to the table. Located at the site of the first licensed apothecary shop in the United States, this unique attraction is great for those visitors of a curious mind. The institute is still set up today the way it was back in the 1800s, and works to showcase the history and development of medicine since that time. From hand-blown apothecary bottles and potions once used by Voodoo practitioners to surgical instruments and old wheelchairs, there’s most certainly a lot to see here. In true New Orleans style, this place is rumored to be haunted by a doctor who used to work here – but don’t let that stop you from checking this place out! A wonderful speciality museum to remember, it would be easy to get lost in this space for the whole day! Some of the best vacations include a day or two spend deep inside the halls of a museum. Thankfully, New Orleans presents a myriad of options to choose from, no matter where your interests may lie. Explore the city to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.
Sarah Harris
Drone shot of the New Orleans, Louisiana skyline at sunrise
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Getting around New Orleans   

Well, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide of how to see the sites whilst soaking up all that the area has to offer.
Sarah Harris
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Things to do in Uptown New Orleans

New Orleans is a fantastic cultural hub drawing in millions of visitors each year. Whilst the city is well-known for its big personality, there’s a quieter side to New Orleans that’s well worth exploring. Located upstream of the Mississippi River, Uptown is a delightful grouping of 19th-century neighborhoods. Whilst each neighborhood varies, the area is mostly popular for its beautiful architecture and laid-back atmosphere. Still, if you’re thinking that you’ll be bored there, you couldn’t be more wrong. With some of the city’s best cultural attractions, hidden gems and authentic dining spots, there’s always something to see and do in Uptown – all that’s left to do it decide what it is! Still daunted by the idea of exploring a new place? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. If you’re planning to discover this charming area of New Orleans, have a read through our comprehensive list of interesting things to do in the area. We promise you won’t regret it! Explore the Area A visit to New Orleans just wouldn’t be complete without taking a look at some of the incredible architecture in the area. Uptown is generally well-recognized for its beautiful structures, though the Wedding Cake House tops the list as one of the area's most exquisite visitor attractions. Built way back in 1825, the house was designed in colonial-revival style, true to the nature of the neighborhood. Today, this stunning Victorian mansion draws in visitors from near and far for its uncanny resemblance to – yup, you guessed it – a fondant wedding cake! With its grandly decorated balconies and columns, this spot paints a true picture of antebellum style. This is a private residence and not available for tours, though its incredible exterior alone makes this spot well worth the visit. We recommend touring the surrounding area, since there are plenty more architectural beauties to be enjoyed. Whether you’re a history and architecture buff or just looking for that perfect Instagram shot, this place is a total must-see. If strolling through aisles of locally sourced produce and fun pantry ingredients takes your fancy, you just might enjoy the next item on our list. Operating weekly year-round uptown, the Crescent City Farmers’ Market is a great place to spend time with friends and family. With over 60 small farmers, fishers and food producers, this spot is one of the top food markets to visit in the city, ranking high up next to the French Market. Still, this attraction’s main draw has got to be its fresh food vendors, serving up a wide array of culinary delights. Try artisanal foie gras with freshly baked bread. Enjoy hand-rolled hot tamales. Or, cool down from the southern weather with some decadent gelato. In addition, you can shop everything from crafts and souvenirs to one-of-a-kind vintage items and collectibles here. We couldn’t think of a better way to soak up the culture and atmosphere of the area. Get Cultured If you’re looking to up the ante from streaming movies on your iPad whilst on vacation, we’ve got a way better alternative. For a great viewing experience that offers something a little different, we suggest heading over to the Prytania Theatre in the heart of the Garden District. A remnant of the Roaring Twenties, the theater dates back to 1927, offering a great taste of the old south. In fact, this place is recognized as the oldest single-screen movie house still operating in Louisiana. It draws in the crowd because of its timeless beauty and can seat up to 750 people. The theater is known for its outstanding programming, with a great mix of modern blockbusters and old classics to be enjoyed. In addition, the spot has traditional movie concessions, with fresh hot popcorn, nachos, candy and also a bar. Since this spot is a single-screen theater, we strongly recommend checking online for what’s showing before heading over. We love this spot because it’s the perfect place to appreciate movies in a unique and atmospheric space. New Orleans isn’t just a great place to catch a jazz show – in fact, the city is packed with fantastic cultural institutions ranging through all types of disciplines. If it’s art that takes your fancy, we know just the place – the Newcomb Art Museum. A constituent of Tulane University, this spot works well to educate and inspire those who’d like to learn more about modern art. The institute is perhaps best known for its significant collection of Newcomb pottery, for which it is named, though there’s a lot more to see here. Walking through the museum, visitors can also enjoy drawings, paintings, sculptures, and prints from some of the world’s most prolific modern artists. In addition, the institute is home to several one-of-a-kind stained-glass windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The museum is small and free of charge, making it perfect for those who are trying to travel on a budget. Since this place is continuously switching up their exhibits, you can visit again and again and you’ll always be seeing something new. A total favorite for locals and visitors alike, this stop works to provide a fantastic cultural experience for those of all ages. Have a Blast! Those looking for great family day trips won’t have look much further than Uptown. Whilst the area is bursting with fantastic things to do, one of our all-time favorite stops has got to be Audubon Zoo. First opened to the public way back in 1884, this place has been delighting visitors from near and far for a very long time. We especially love this spot because it works to cultivate interest in the natural world whilst promoting the idea of conservation. Today, visitors can enjoy engaging and educational exhibits featuring over 2,000 animals across a wide array of species. Expect to see everything from giraffes and zebras to snakes and cougars. If you’re the type who likes to get up close with the animals, don’t forget to check the website before heading out to ensure that you don’t miss live feedings and meetings. This place has several cafés and shopping destinations to enhance the experience. We recommend taking plenty of sunscreen and water, since a lot of the exhibits are outdoors. A total crowd-pleaser, we love this spot for rekindling our sense of childlike wonder. No doubt uptown New Orleans is full of fun attractions and fascinating hidden gems. And now, you don’t have to miss out! Explore the area to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.
Sarah Harris

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