There’s so much to do, see, and eat in NOLA. But more on that last one next week! This week I’m sharing recommendations for things to do in New Orleans. And no worries, if you’re short on time. I managed to fit all these activities in a 48 hour trip without feeling too rushed.
National World War II Museum
Whenever I travel I like to go to a local museum because it gives me a sense of the city’s history. The National World War II museum came highly recommended and I can see why. Even if you’re not a “museum person” I’d still recommend making a trip. Why? Because the exhibits are highly interactive and engaging. 
They’ve also made it a more personal and customizable experience. At the beginning of your trip, you can choose a WWII service member and follow their journey throughout the war to see what happened to them.
They also give you dog tags you can electronically scan at different stations throughout the museum and collect artifacts. Later you can go online to see the artifacts you collected. To be able to do the museum justice you need to devote a bare minimum of 2 hours but probably more like 4-5. If you’re on a short trip, 2 hours should be enough to let you feel like you saw a good bit of the museum. If you have more time though, spend it. The nice thing about this museum is that when you buy a ticket you have access for the entire day so if you want to leave to grab lunch and come back, you can as long as you save your receipt. It’s time and money well spent.
Studio Be
I knew of this place from watching Queen Sugar which featured B. Mike’s studio in an episode. From seeing the artwork on screen I really wanted to see it in person so this stop was a must for me. 
The studio is in a warehouse about a mile or so out from the heart of the French Quarter. Inside the studio they also have a time lapse video set up that shows B. Mike at work and seeing the transformation of the space is incredible. Their hours are somewhat limited (they’re only open from 2-8 on select days of the week) so be sure to plan ahead.
Jackson Square
This is a great place to come to walk around and explore. There’s the St. Louis cathedral and a fountain which are nice to get some pictures of and in front of. There are also walking tours you can take if you want to learn some of the city’s history along the way.
The French Quarter
I like to bring back artwork or decor from my travels and incorporate it into my space, and the French Quarter was a great place to find some. There are shops galore here – records, crystals, confections, mask, antiques, and even pen shops.
You could easily spend several hours just walking around and going into different shops. If you’re not stretched for time, I say absolutely do this. Plus it’s a great way to work off the beignets!
If you’re a little more time conscious (as I was), I’d say map out what specific types of places you want to hit up and then as you’re walking from Point A to Point B take note of what else there is and stop in any shops you come across as time permits. I ended up getting some cool and very affordable watercolor paintings (from the Great Artist Collective), and a feather pen with a brass holder, and another tortoiseshell pen (from Papier Plume). I also got some pralines (for the fam) and butter pecan fudge (for moi) from Kilwins.
Frenchmen Street
I was told by several locals that Frenchmen Street was Bourbon Street’s less touristy cousin with cleaner walkways, lots of live music, and cool artwork. This description pretty much hits the nail on the head. Frenchmen Street really perks up at night though so plan to swing by later in the day after you’ve checked out some of the other places on this list. In the evening the live music really starts going and they set up an outdoor gallery where artists sell their crafts.
I can’t wait for my next visit back to NOLA. The city is so lively and the people were so friendly. If you’ve been to NOLA before, what things do you like to do when you go? Anything you’d add to this list? Let me know below!
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