Located on the Mississippi River, New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana.

New Orleans

The city is renowned for its music (it is the birthplace of jazz), celebrations and festivals (Mardi Gras) and its cuisine.

Things to Do and Places to Visit

Music and Dining
There are many clubs and eateries here in New Orleans where you can relax and listen to some Jazz, enjoy some authentic dining and even try your hand at a spot of Cajun dancing. The following are just a few of the many establishments worth visiting Tipitinas (live performances), Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (live music and regional cusine), Club 300 Jazz Bistro (jazz and gourmet cusine), Melange (jazz and fine dining), House of Blues (live music and gospel brunch on Sundays), Michaul’s Live Cajun Music Restaurant (Cajun and Zydeco music, Cajun food and dancing), The Funky Pirate 727 Bourbon (Blues Club).

Visit The French Quarter
Here you will find many restaurants serving traditional New Orleans dishes. You will also find the St Louis Cathedral, art galleries, magnificent architecture, street artists, antique shops and boutiques, and a vibrant nightlife. The most relaxing way to tour the area is by a horse-drawn carriage.

Mardi Gras

Blain Kern’s Mardi Gras World
Here you can see how the floats for the world’s largest carnival are made by the artists and sculptors.

The Presbytere State Museum
The museum displays the history of Mardi Gras, from its origins up to the present, including everything that happens behind the scenes.

You can also visiting the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium and Insectarium, take in a basketball match at the New Orleans Arena, ride the St Charles Avenue Street Car for fantastic views of the city, take a relaxing riverboat ride on the Mississippi, take a ride through the swamps. There is so much to do and see in this vibrant city, far too many to mention!

Mississippi river boat

Climate

New Orleans has a humid subtropical climate, with hot humid summers and mild winters. In January daytime temperatures average 17C and in July they average 33C.
Rain is common in New Orleans, with a monthly average of 5 inches.

To enjoy the rich culture of New Orleans why not book one of the many holiday packages to America that are always available on the internet.

Look out for, and take advantage of the great late deals that are always on offer.

When planning your vacation to America, why not take in some of the natural wonders of this fascinating country. The following are a few that i have visited but there are still plenty more that i need to visit!

Niagara Falls – between New York and Ontario,Canada

For pure romance a visit to Niagara Falls is a must. Consisting of three waterfalls (one in Canada) you will be astounded by the power and sound of the water as it falls. Six million cubic feet of water flows over these falls every minute during high flow!

Ruby Falls – Chattanooga, Tennessee

Ruby Falls was the first American attraction to gain the Green Globe/Green Certification. It is Americas deepest commercial cave and has the largest underground waterfall that is open to the public. The 145ft waterfall is found 1,120ft beneath the surface of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga.

Yosemite National Park – California

This national park covers 3,081 sq kms with an elevation range from 2,000ft to 13,114ft. Full of rivers, waterfalls, valleys and animals this is a very beautiful park.

Yellowstone National Park – Wyoming

Americas first national park, established in 1872, covering 3,468 sq miles. Yellowstone has more than 10,000 hot springs and geysers. Here you can swim in hot pools, watch bison roaming in their natural habitat and even watch bears frollicking amongst the trees (from a safe distance!). By far my favourite national park.

Everglades National Park – South Florida

The Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in America, covering 6,100 sq kms of marshland, and is home to more than 40 species of mammals, 50 species of reptiles, 300 species of fish and 350 species of birds.

Redwood National Park – Northern California

The Redwood Nation Park covers 535sq kms along 37 miles of coastline. The redwood trees here are over 1,000 years old. These trees can live up to 2,000 years and grow to over 340ft.

So don’t forget, when you visit America for your holidays try to visit some of these amazing places, you won’t be disappointed.

There are plenty of inexpensive family holidays to America available throughout the internet.

For more information on America and to view my latest articles please visit my America Blog.

Statue of Liberty

Take a ride to the observation platform at the top of the 151ft high Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour. See the Wall of Honor on Ellis Island, commemorating over 600,000 immigrants to the United States.

Take the lift up to the observatory on the 86th floor of the 102-storey Empire State Building where you can see for about 50 miles.

Visit Times Square, with the renovated Biltmore Theatre and the world’s largest toy store, with a 60ft Ferris wheel and life-size Barbie house.

Take the Staten Island Ferry from Battery Park for a view of the classic New York skyline, and cruise past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Niagara Falls

Sail on the Maid of the Mist to view the awesome Niagara Falls.

Tour the five enormous locks of the Erie Canal on the  Lockport Cave Tour, which travels through a tunnel blasted out of rock in the 19th century, and ends in an underground boat ride.

Visit the International Museum of Photography and George Eastman’s house in Rochester. George Eastman invented the Kodak camera and roll film in 1892.

Woodstock

Relive the days of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the most famous rock concert in history, now commemorated at the Bethel Woodstock Museum at Kauneonga Lake. Here you will find many art and craft galleries and shops.

Take a tour of Albany’s New York State Museum, the country’s oldest and largest state museum, which portrays the urbanisation of New York City and has lifelike dioramas on Native Americans, gems and birds.

Discover the wonderful Catskill Mountains, from the lush greenery in the south to the unspoiled peaks of the north.

National Baseball Hall of Fame

Visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, on the shore of Otesgo Lake. Here you will find the Doubleday Field and numerous trading card and memorabilia shops.

Take a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Here Egyptian, Roman and Greek Art, along with Oriental paintings, modern art and ancient glass, feature in some of the museum’s many collections.