There’s nothing quite like experiencing the magic of New Orleans in person. Our Spanish, French, African and Caribbean influences create a cultural gumbo of distinctive architecture, celebrated cuisine and cool jazz that only New Orleans knows how to dish out. Until we can welcome you back to our city again, we invite you to take a Virtual FAM Tour of New Orleans. Start your journey by watching our city video below – it’ll give you a taste of all New Orleans has to offer.

New Orleans Virtual FAM Tour: Day 1

Touch down at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport and you’ll immediately feel the spirit of the city. Live music and local restaurants that characterize New Orleans’ distinct culture are present throughout our new, world-class airport. Take a short ride to downtown New Orleans to check-in at one of our hundreds of hotels. Whether you’re looking to live luxuriously, immerse yourself in history or simply rest your head at an eco-conscious property, New Orleans accommodations will give you somewhere unique to re-energize.

Begin your New Orleans trip by taking a grand tour of the city from the top deck of an open-air double-decker bus. On the Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour [click here for video], you’ll get to know authentic and diverse New Orleans neighborhoods from the French Quarter to the Garden District and beyond.

For lunch with a side of 200 years of history, stop into the Napoleon House [click here for video] in the French Quarter. Walk through this beloved landmark that exudes European charm to your table in their hidden courtyard. Make sure to order their signature muffuletta and a refreshing Pimm’s Cup.

Just a short drive outside of the heart of New Orleans, you will find Louisiana’s swamp lands teeming with wildlife. Glide through moss-draped cypress trees and see alligators, wild boar and egrets within feet of you on Cajun Encounters’ Swamp Tour [click here for virtual tour].

Back in New Orleans, your mule-drawn carriage ride awaits outside Jackson Square. On a Royal Carriages’ French Quarter Tour, top-rated guides will educate you on the history of the city as you admire the neighborhood’s old-world architecture. Treat yourself to a high-end dinner at Restaurant R’evolution, a joint venture of award-winning chefs John Folse and Rick Tramonto offering modern, imaginative reinterpretations of classic Cajun and Creole cuisine. 

Or travel to the tree-lined Garden District neighborhood, to dine at the James Beard award-winning Commander’s Palace [click here for virtual tour]. Loved by locals and visitors alike, the Southern hospitality that you experience here is unparalleled.

End your evening by listening to live jazz music in the city where it was created. Experience one of the nightly, all-ages jazz concerts at the intimate Preservation Hall [click here for virtual tour], or for a more luxurious experience, enjoy cocktails at The Jazz Playhouse in the Royal Sonesta hotel.

New Orleans Virtual FAM Tour: Day 2

Just blocks from the French Quarter, in the Central Business District, Mother’s Restaurant offers classic New Orleans home cooking and all-day breakfast. Chances are you’ll find a line to get in, but it’s worth the wait.

Fill the day with your choice of New Orleans tours and attractions. A can’t miss stop for all generations is The National WWII Museum [click here for virtual tour]. The museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world - why it was fought, how it was won and what it means today.

Add a Cajun and Creole twist to your kitchen skills as entertaining instructors at The New Orleans School of Cooking guide you through a cooking demonstration or an intimate hands-on class. Head to Mardi Gras World where you will get a behind-the-scenes look at where over 500 parade floats are built and decorated each year for New Orleans’ Carnival season.

Kids of all ages enjoy the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas [click here for virtual tour], one of the top five aquariums in the United States. See more than 250 species, including endangered African penguins and rare white alligators.

For dinner, tunes and a spectacular view, meet at the riverfront to take a riverboat tour down the Mississippi River. Watch the sun set over the city as you enjoy a graceful, jazz-filled ride on the Steamboat Natchez [click here for virtual tour], the last authentic Steamboat on the mighty Mississippi. The Natchez also offers lunch and brunch cruises. Or enjoy a leisurely dinner cruise or day trip to the historic Chalmette Battlefield aboard the Creole Queen, an award-winning, authentic paddlewheeler. The video depicts self-serve food stations, but moving forward, all food will be served by staff from the stations.

The party never stops in this 24/7 music-filled city. Follow the locals and enjoy the endless music venues along Frenchmen Street or do as the tourists do and hit up the bars on Bourbon Street. You can find live performances of jazz, brass, R&B, funk, soul and more any night of the week.

New Orleans Virtual FAM Tour: Day 3

Start your day with café au lait and powdered sugar-covered beignets at Café du Monde [click here for virtual tour]. The French Market location, established in 1862, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Watch the video demonstration within the virtual tour to discover how their beignets are made.

Take a short drive outside of New Orleans and a step back in time to visit the antebellum plantations along River Road. Dedicated to preserving and interpreting each chapter of its memory, Oak Alley Plantation [click here for virtual tour] invites visitors to explore its 200-year history and 28-acres through exhibits and educational tours. The Houmas House estate allows visitors to experience life on a sugarcane plantation in the 1800’s. Beyond guided mansion tours and antebellum artifacts, the grounds are home to expansive gardens and three restaurants where you can enjoy lunch in a casual or fine dining setting.

Travel back to the city to kick off your evening with a cocktail at The Carousel Bar, the first and only revolving bar in New Orleans. Take a seat at the carousel, which completes a full rotation every 15-minutes, while world-class bartenders mix French 75s and the live band plays swanky music. Then, come to learn why New Orleans is the most haunted city in the United States. Explore infamous haunted sites and hear chilling stories with Haunted History Tours.

New Orleans Virtual FAM Tour: Day 4

Take a morning stroll down our cobblestone streets and admire the wrought iron balconies and pastel-colored walls that hold the early history of New Orleans. Gray Line’s French Quarter Walking Tour brings the neighborhood to life – your expert guide will tell you stories of the city’s colorful past and teach you about our one-of-a-kind culture. Be a part of tradition with breakfast at Brennan’s Restaurant. You must visit in person to experience bananas foster flambéed before your eyes table-side but watch the Southern Living feature for an inside look at the restaurant and its history.

With tax-free shopping for international visitors, New Orleans is a world-class shopping destination. So, while you are enjoying the unique sights, sounds, cuisine and people of the city, receive a sales tax refund on purchases made at more than 900 tax-free stores. One of the best places to find uniquely New Orleans souvenirs is the French Market [click here for virtual tour], five charming blocks of open-air shopping.

We hope you enjoyed visiting some of what New Orleans has to offer without ever having to pack a bag. After a real trip to New Orleans, you won’t just be leaving with souvenirs in your suitcase; you’ll leave the city with stories to retell for the rest of your life. We can’t wait to see you and your clients again soon!