• Things to do in New Orleans

    What Should First-Time Visitors Do In New Orleans?

    6 Min Read

    The best ways to get around New Orleans are on foot and by public transportation. The city’s neighborhoods are very compact, making them perfect for strolling sightseers.

    If this is your first visit to New Orleans, what you need to know is a guide on what you can do each day. So , as a helpful resource, we’re going to lay out a plan for you to see what you what to see.

    Food

    Here are some of the must-visit food spots in New Orleans:

    Dooky Chase

    2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 821-0600

    Dooky Chase has the best fried chicken in New Orleans.

    Here’s what one customer says about Dooky Chase:”The very best spot for fried chicken in town! The atmosphere and service make this place much better than Willie Maes. Good enough for 2 presidents! The lunch buffet is a must..”

    Ray’s On The Ave

     2005 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119 |  (504) 766-6404

    Ray's on the Ave has some of the best fried chicken in New Orleans.

    Here’s what one customer says about Ray’s on the Ave: “This place was Great. There was a live band and they were Amazing. The music , WOW, it was such a joy. The Owner Mr. Ray was very gracious to us. And the food, Fried Fish Plate and Fried Chicken was Delicious. What a great evening.”

    L’il Dizzy’s Cafe

    1500 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116 |  (504) 766-8687

    L'il Dizzy's Cafe is the best black restaurant in New Orleans.

    Here’s what one patron says about L’il Dizzy’s Cafe: “Lil Dizzy’s serves up some of the best soul food New Orleans has to offer. In addition to classics like po’boys and fried chicken, you can choose from daily specials like fried Catfish and grits or smothered pork chops.”

    M&J Soul Food Restaurant

    9301 Lake Forest Blvd #107, New Orleans, LA 70127 |  (504) 304-2703

    M&J Soul Food Restaurant is the best black eatery in New Orleans

    Here’s what one person says about M&J Soul Food Restaurant. “Saw this place on Uber Eats, wanted to support local and glad I did!! Food arrived quickly and still was piping hot. We had two orders of the White Beans (one with mac/yams, one with mac/cabbage). Food was awesome with great flavor! Super glad we gave this place a try, and will definitely be ordering again!”

    Seed

    1330 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 417-7333

    Seed is the best vegan restaurant in New Orleans.

    Here’s what one customer says about seed: “So yummy, we enjoyed it all but my favorite was the Thai noodle salad, my kids favorite was the fried tofu. A pretty atmosphere and very good service. We will be back.”

    Sweet Soul Food

    1025 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119 |  (504) 821-2669

    Sweet Soul Food has the best vegan fare in New Orleans.

    Here’s what one customer says about Sweet Soul Food. “About 7 years ago I was laughed out of room after suggesting a vegan restaurant concept serving classic southern food and other typical New Orleans cuisine. Well, Sweet Soulfood is who’s laughing now. Every dish from their cafeteria style serving line is not only a staple, soul food item like collard greens, red beans & rice, cornbread dressing and shepherds pie. Rather, they’re as rich, decadent and flavorful as their Animalia cousins. And that, is where the real praise is given because that’s where the doubt and criticism always lurked.”

    Recreation

    Here are some great things to do recreationally in New Orleans:

    The Chloe

    4125 St Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA 70115 | (504) 541-5500

    The Chloe hotel and restaurant in New Orleans

    The Chloe is a historic 14-room hotel, restaurant, bar in a New Orleans mansion. Come for the history, stay for the pool and patio.

    Here’s what one observer says about The Chloe: “Amazing staff. Phenomenal food. Delicious drinks. Beautiful interior design. Lovely rooms. Great frozen ritas by the pool. I could not love this place more. 10/10 would live there if I could.”

    Pitot House

    1440 Moss St, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 482-0312

    Pitot House in New Orleans

    If you want a dose of antebellum history, the Pitot House in New Orleans fits the bill. The historic landmark is an 18th-century Creole colonial country home and makes for a great weekend stop.

    Jackson Square

    701 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116 | (504) 658-3200

    Jackson Square in New Orleans

    Jackson Square is a historic landmark in the heart of New Orleans. The site is the centerpiece is a beautiful park and holds unparalleled historic significance: It’s the site where the Louisiana Purchase was made official.

    Here’s what one visitor says about Jackson Square: “Jackson’s square was beautiful. There wasn’t many people at 11:30 when we went but it was also about to storm. There is a farmers market a couple blocks away that is a must to go through. If you time it right you can watch the riverboat take off for a tour. Very pleased with how clean the park was and the music playing by live performers.”

    Take A Swamp Tour

    Best New Orleans swamp tours

    When you come to Nola, there are few things as bayou-authentic as a swamp tour. You’ll enjoy the time outdoors, get a real taste of the bayou and even get to see some alligators.

    Family Fun

    Here are some great things you can do in New Orleans as a family:

    Woldenberg Park

    1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 |  (504) 861-2537

    Woldenberg Park in New Orleans is great for picnics.

    Here’s what one visitor says about Woldenberg Park. “Best view. I love water. And it’s very peaceful. People running pass. Kids running having fun. Watching the sunrise and sunset right here amazing.”

    Marsalis Harmony Park

    8211 S Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70118 | (504) 658-3200

    Marsalis Harmony Park is the best in New Orleans for picnics and playgrounds.

    Here’s what one park lover says about Marsalis Harmony Park. “Wonderful atmosphere with occasional festivals and art markets! Hands down one of the best shaded playgrounds in the city.”

    Mississippi River Heritage Park

    John Churchill Chase St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 658-3200

    Mississippi River Heritage Park in New Orleans is the best for picnics and playgrounds.

    Here’s what one visitor says about Mississippi River Heritage Park. “The park has the cool artwork thru its entrance path and is a nice simple green space with benches to enjoy your stroll. Plus, its next to several of the hotels and across from the convention center.”

    Final Word

    New Orleans is such a great place with so much to do that you will likely not be able to do everything you have in mind.

    Here’s what you do: Write down a list of must-visits that you can check out while in New Orleans. If you can’t do everything you want to do, you may need to plan another trip.

    More NolaFi.com Articles:

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  • Restaurants open for Thanksgiving Day in New Orleans

    Where To Eat In New Orleans For Thanksgiving

    3 Min Read

    Turkey Day is going to be cold in New Orleans, but that’s no reason why your belly shouldn’t be fat. Here are the Atlanta restaurants you can grab your meal from for Thanksgiving Day.

    Don’t think for a second that the majority of these eateries are settling for a limited menu. All the trimmings will be on the menu.

    Grab Your Thanksgiving Meal From These New Orleans Restaurants

    Cracker Barrel

    Every year, Cracker Barrel is serving customers for Thanksgiving for dine-in service as well as curbside, pick-up, delivery.

    Denny’s

    You can always expect Denny’s to be open all day, every day, year-round. This Thanksgiving, the diner-style restaurant will have an option for families to order take-home Turkey Packs in advance, in addition to offerings of seasonal delights like Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes (yum!).

    Fogo de Chão

    Thanksgiving Day is associated with a hearty meal full of meat, and what better place to inculde than at Fogo de Chao’s Brazilian steakhouse.

    Golden Corral

    Are you up for a holiday buffet? Then there’s no better place than Golden Corral, where the entire family (and friends) can eat until their full on T-Day. To-go plates are available as well.

    IHOP

    Pancakes and turkey? Where do we sign up? Select New Orleans IHOP restaurants will be open so you can plan your meal. To be sure, call your local IHOP to see what their hours are.

    Popeye’s

    Let’s support the hometeam! Popeyes will be serving faithful customers on the holiday. Don’t forget to order your Cajun Style Turkeys in advance.

    Final Word

    Remember that waiters and waitresses across the industry make less than $3 a day unless they receive tips, so please show your gratitude for your service.

    Looking for more places to eat in Nola? Here Are Some Top Desserts To Order In New Orleans.

    More From NolaFi.com:

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  • 5 Drinks That Are Healthy For You (Besides Water)

    3 Min Read

    What you put in your body is of utmost importance. There’s nothing as refreshing as a nice, cold drink. That’s why water is the ultimate nutritional drink. But what can you drink Besides water that’s healthy?

    Believe it or not, there are liquids out there besides water that are pretty healthy for you. Some of them contain nutrients that promote hair growth, weight loss, blood circulation and much more.

    5 Healthy Drinks (Besides Water)

    Let’s look at some things to drink that are good for you (besides water).

    Smoothies

    When you think about it, why wouldn’t a liquid fruit be as nutritional as it sounds (and looks)? In many cases, smoothies are just that – liquid fruit and vegetable concoctions — that fortify your body.

    With smoothies, you can to take in fiber as well as protein, which lowers your risk of diseas and increases your overall wellness.

    Green Tea 

    Green tea is known for its medicinal properties and has been in use for centuries, especially in Asia. Drinking green tea can also help you lose or stabilize your weight.

    Here are some of the ailments that green tea can also help with:

    • Diabetes
    • Heart disease
    • High Blood Pressure
    • Cancer

    Mint Tea

    Peppermint tea or mint tea is a popular drink because it has zero calories and generally tastes good. The mint flavor also acts as a natural breath freshener.

    Mint tea has been known to help with the following ailments:

    • Indigestion
    • Headaches
    • Congestion
    • Sore Throat

    Soy Milk

    Soy milk has gotten a bad rap through the years. While many view it as imitation cow milk, soy milk stands on its own for the gentle way it treats your stomach.

    Because soy milk is a plant-based substance, lactose-sensitive people can drink it with no problem. Soy milk also helps provides a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids which promote mental health issues and even some neurological ones.

    Lemon Juice

    Much has been said about the benefits of orange juice, and it’s all rightly deserved, but lemon juice is right up there with it.
    Lemon juice gives you a strong dose of Vitamin C, which promotes bone density and strong circulation. Lemon juice is very nutritional and can counteract against heart diseases and ailments involving soft tissue.

    Final Word

    In addition to fruit and veggie smoothies and soy milk and similar products, there are other healthy drinks for you as well. Black coffee, which we didn’t discuss in detail, is an excellent alternative to its caffeine-laden counterpart.
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  • How to make good coffee

    How To Make Some Good Coffee

    2 Min Read

    Coffee is one of the simple joys of the morning. If the weather is cold or if you want a sweet drink, coffee is an excellent option.

    In this article, I’m going to show you how to make some good coffee. For the purposes of this article, we’re going to go over how to make coffee with a coffee maker.

    How Do You Like Your Coffee?

    You may enjoy coffee that is really sweet with a lot of creamer and sugar or you may prefer it black (with nothing added).

    No matter how you like it, coffee has a lot of benefits. It can give you some much-needed energy in the morning and be a great endcap to a tasty meal in the evenings.

    One of the best coffee makers that I have bought is the Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker.

    Buy It

    How To Make Great Coffee

    Here are some steps I used to make some pretty good coffee.

    1. Plug in your Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker.
    2. Put 2 tablespoons of coffee in 6 ounces of water.
    3. Turn your Keurig on and let it brew the coffee.
    4. When the green light turns on, it’s ready
    I know that some people love caffeine, but I try to stay away from it. Caffeine is a stimulant that causes a temporary surge in alertness and energy. But you can also overdo it, if you’re not careful.
    So how do you make coffee? Tell us in the comments below.
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