Take your beautiful wife on a carriage ride. It is a great way to learn some of the history of the place. There are a lot of special events going on this year, the 300 anniversary of New Orleans' founding. My wife and I enjoy being there but have not been in a while. It is cliche', but for romance do dinner at Antoine's and Breakfast at Brennan's. Of course, Cafe du Monde for beignets and Cafe' au Lait. Walk around Jackson Square, go to Central Grocery for Muffalettas. There is a cigar shop ( or was) on Pirate's Alley with a great selection of expensive to inexpensive cigars. This is great when you are wandering around the Vue Carrie after a fine dinner at some place such as NOLA or Commander's Palace. .
There used to be a hole in the wall restaurant named The Secret Garden , but it may not be there any longer. It was one of my favorite places for a good dinner. NOLA has great desserts, go there after dinner order two and share. Most people do not get out of the Quarter, but The Garden District is worth a streetcar ride. There is a great Italian restaurant, Figaro's. Also there are a lot of good seafood places on Lake Pontchartrain.
There are a lot of walking tours in various areas that are fun. Susan took a plantation tour one time when I was tied up in meetings and really enjoyed it If the weather is hot, a champion cocktail at the Montaleon is very refreshing. Most of the places you want to see are well in walking distance of anywhere else in the Quarter. and the original Acme Oyster house is fum and also Felix's oyster house which is across the street if Acme's is too crowded.
I have been to New Orleans many times, and never had a problem in the tourist areas. If you ask, you can find out what areas to stay out of.

Have a great trip
Judge

Go for the food. Everything else is secondary.

June is not convention season so it'll be cheaper (hotels) but it will be nasty hot.

I saw the recommendation for the International House up above. Its a nice little, quiet place. Stayed there many times on business. Might want to upgrade to the Roosevelt or something like that given that its a special occasion.

If you like Jazz, go to see Jeremy Davenport at the Ritz Carlton. Have an over priced drink and enjoy the show.

Restaurants are too many to name. You'll be able to find something interesting with just a little research.

live 30 miles from there. I try not to ever go in that nasty city. But that's just me. Do what you want but bring gun with you.

Make sure your tetanus shot is up to date before going to NO

Lots of Lil ninjas on bourbon street doing jigs n pulling tricks ... lots of whore houses ,drugs, and mud puddles filled with raw sewage. It ain't my kinda place !

I’ve been several times and survived and enjoyed it but honestly don’t remember much...do they still serve those absinthe drinks??

Oak Alley is worth seeing. Went to Bourbon St. once and it was just nasty, like I needed a shower.

If it wasn’t for nawlins the South would have lost the war.

First off, my recommendation for a place to stay comes from a trip 25 years ago. A small hotel was recommended named The Bienville House. It is in the French Quarter very close to Jackson Square and was one of the less expensive places to stay. Before I wrote this I checked and they are still in business and still getting good reviews. You won't get a more convenient place to stay, but don't hold me responsible if it isn't what I remember, but it was great 25 or so years ago. Smaller hotel with very personalized service and everything is an easy walk.

I think Judge Sharpe hit most of the must do's.
Carriage ride tour through the Quarter.
Beignets and café au lait at Café Du Monde
Walk Jackson Square and watch the street performers
Muffaletta at Central City Gro
Piano Bar at Pat O'Brien's but watch the hurricanes. They sneak up on you and hit hard. Lot of fun in the piano bar.
Walk Bourbon street and see the freak shows
Chili dog from one of the Lucky Dog Vendors.
The Riverboat tour is alright too. Takes you by the sight of the Battle of 1812
You're not a proud American if you don't do the D-Day Museum
Take a trip outside the Quarter to the Garden District and try a Roast Beef Sandwich at Mothers although I'm told it isn't what it used to be.
Just walk and take it in. It is really a fascinating place. A unique culture.
Eat, eat and then eat some more. Best food in the world heaped into one city.

Don't stray from the crowds in the Quarter. That is when the 137% comes in. I have a friend who was with his wife and another couple. They thought they were safe since it was four of them. They were robbed and the other man was shot and killed after he turned over his wallet. NOPD sent a couple of detectives to Selma, one a female, to follow up on the interviews. I escorted them around town. I later saw the female on a TV show about N.O. murders. It may have been 48 hrs. This would have been in the mid 90s or so. It may be a little better, but still not a place to wonder from the crowd.

I went to New Orleans for the sugar bowl and never stepped off bourbon street except to go to the game and had a freaking blast. of course I am still in college so our interest are probably not the same.

Everybody loves a freak show.

We've stayed in the Bourbon Orleans Hotel a few times and it was really nice.

Royal Sonesta

https://www.sonesta.com/us/louisiana/new-orleans/royal-sonesta-new-orleans

20th anniversary, I would stay at the Hotel Monteleone and take Mama dancing at 711 Blues Club.

I went to New Orleans last year for the first time. I had to go to the Orleans parish jail and pick up an inmate and transport him back to our jail. I had to be in the bowels of our beautiful state there. I couldn't get outa there fast enough. The traffic was horrible and people are plum crazy. Orleans jail is Huge!! And not a person in the place would help me get to where I needed to be. If that one trusty wouldn't have helped me I would have been there not knowing where to go. When I got back to our office, I told the sheriff that if he wanted me to go back to that place, I would have his equipment and his truck parked at the end of my rd ready for them to pick up because I'm never going there again.

We always stay in Faubourg Marigny at a little bed and breakfast. We park our car there and just walk everywhere. There are a lot of nice places to eat in the Faubourg Marigny now. We've been out all hours of the night. Maybe I'm not easily intimidated?

We hardly ever go to Bourbon Street unless some friends are with us that want to go there. One of my old Marine buddies and his wife went with us a few years ago and he and I hit every Irish pub in the French Quarter (and there are a few) and we ended up at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop before we met back up with the ladies. Lafitte's is supposedly one of the oldest bars in the U. S.

We mostly hang out at the Jazz bars on Frenchman Street and stay on the Eastern end of the French Quarter.

Me (On the right) and my buddy Dave at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop after a Guinness at every Irish Bar in the Quarter:



Different gal...




New Orleans can be a fun place if you keep your head on your shoulders and just be cool.

Where we usually stay...

The summer is not the time to go to New Orleans. It is hot as Hades.

Both of those girls were virgins by the way.

Plus the aromas are at full effect

I love New Orleans. The food and History are great. I’ve been close to 20 times. But, I have only been once in the summer and that was enough to teach me not to go back in the summer. When you can’t walk 10 feet outside without having your clothes drenched is sweat it isn’t fun.