Tag Archive for: New Orleans Incentive Travel

New Orleans, known for its jazz roots and unique energy, the “Big Easy” resides as Louisiana’s biggest metropolitan area. It is a popular tourist destination with attractions like Bourbon Street and Creole cuisine. The city’s name was derived from a location on the Loire River in France. A multi-cultural heritage makes the destination a memorable place to visit for any individual. The area is most associated with local cuisine, music, and the Mardi Gras festival; however, this North American destination offers much more than the well-known good time.

Early History

New Orleans / The Big Easy, located next the Mississippi River, was first founded in May of 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville who worked for the French Mississippi Company. It was taken over by the Spanish in 1763 and remained as part of their territories until 1801. New Orleans was obtained by the United States when Napoleon sold it as part of the Louisiana Purchase a couple of years later. People of various heritages began making the region their home after this transition took place. Several wars throughout the years caused the city to be attacked and led to a reconstruction period in the late 1800’s after remittance to the Union. The twentieth century consisted mostly of a civil rights struggle as African Americans were granted freedom. New Orleans has remained strong, recovered from major natural disasters, and still resides as a top vacation destination in North America.

New Orleans Today

The region has a humid subtropical climate, which makes it a sticky yet fun place to experience during the warmer months. Average summer temperatures range from eighty-five to ninety-five degrees with precipitation each month remaining around five to six inches. Winter offers a mild atmosphere to travelers with average temperatures remaining around the sixties. The Big Easy contains many famous streets where travelers are able to experience local culture. Downtown neighborhoods are located below Canal Street whereas uptown districts lie above it. Visitors can peruse prominent neighborhoods on both sides of this dividing line including the French Quarter, Central Business District, Treme, and the Lower Garden District. The metropolis is now a bustling location that provides a variety of tourist attractions and cultural events where individuals can truly let go.

Local Attractions

Structures have architectural designs based on the regions immense cultural and historical background. It contains twenty nationally registered historical districts along with fourteen locally recognized neighborhoods. Architectural styles throughout the region include shotgun, bungalow, Creole, antebellum, Victorian, and Italian style homes. Travelers also have options such as Magazine Street, which contains quite a few shopping boutiques. The region is popular for having a good time, historical architecture, cafes, fine cuisine, vintage shops, and live musical performances. Travelers have countless attractions to choose from when visiting this destination. Marigny supplies authentic music with a Bohemian style while the uptown district houses beautiful architectural creations. An abundance of galleries, tantalizing restaurants, antique shops, and the area zoo reside in the uptown portion of the city. New Orleans offers something different around every corner and this versatility is what has made the city a top ranking place to visit.