Baltrum

is new orleans or south padre island better for vacation?

we are going to vacation we want to stay for one night , but i want to know is new orleans , LA better or south padre island , tx ?? we want to stay for 1 night . which one is cheaper and which one is fun and better ??

Public Comments

1. new orleans is better is funer alot of stuff to do and qo see.
2. I am not familiar with South Padre island so can't directly compare the two places. Summer is low season for tourism in new orleans and the hotels are offering great rates; www.frenchquarterhotels.com Things to do in New Orleans: Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year: www.nola.com/festivals The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a "tourist attraction" in its own right. It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines: www.norta.com There is always music, but the bands change: Go to www.bestofneworleans.com and click on Music then Listings or to www.offbeat.com and click on Listings, then Music. Note that music clubs often advertise "No Cover", meaning there is no charge for entering. However, clubs with "No Cover" often require that customers buy a beverage each for every "set " of music (which can be every 20 minutes) so KNOW THE PRICE before you sit down. Clubs do that because some people will sit in the club all evening drinking nothing (clubs only make money from the drinks they sell - not from the music). It is also a good idea to pay for each round of drinks (in clubs on Bourbon Street) as it is delivered so there can't be any confusion at the end of the evening. An incomplete guide to bars & clubs: http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Nightlife/ www.neworleanscheapdrinks.com About certain alcoholic beverages: Realize that some famous drinks are VERY potent compared with regular cocktails that have only 1 to 1 ½ ounces of alcohol. For example, a Hurricane is basically 3 or 4 ounces of rum in something like red Kool-Aid, and a Hand Grenade has at least 4 ½ ounces of Everclear + rum + vodka mixed with melon liquor. They don’t necessarily taste like an alcoholic beverage and it is easy to over-indulge. Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions). Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park). The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com). The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.). http://www.landmarktheatres.com/market/NewOrleans/CanalPlaceCinema.htm Magazine Street is a miles-long shopping district: www.magazinestreet.com Louisiana is the only US state that offers tax-free shopping for international visitors: http://www.louisianataxfree.com/ The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com). Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn't miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d'Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry. The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and offers traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel 504-525-0200 (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to about September 25th each year. Maximo's Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, (504) 586-8883. All of the famous restaurants (Antoine's, Arnaud's, Brennan's, Commander's Palace, etc.) have reopened. The Pelican Club (on Exchange Alley in the FQ) is not as well known but is the same type experience. Reservations are a good idea, and probably essential on weekends. Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices: www.tujaguesrestaurant.com Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635). The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes: www.napoleonhouse.com More restaurant suggestions: http://www.10best.com/New_Orleans,LA/Restaurants/ Preservation Hall has traditional live Jazz, and doesn’t serve alcohol so all ages are welcome: www.preservationhall.com New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre: www.nobadance.com www.neworleansopera.org www.lpomusic.com www.lepetittheatre.com There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_street_ferry The Aquarium, Audubon Zoo, and the new Insectarium are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. The Zoo is several miles from downtown. You can drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter. The Louisiana State Museum is in the French Quarter: http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/ New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (http://www.nationalww2museum.org/) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking. Go to www.neworleansmuseums.com for info on more museums. Harrah’s Casino is in the Central Business District: www.harrahs.com (age 21 required for entry) New Orleans City Park has a variety of attractions + free parking. (www.neworleanscitypark.com). Check www.frenchquarter.com and http://www.nola.com/visitor/ for ideas about other things to do. Hope you have a great time, wherever you go!
3. New Orleans Hands down... Eat uptown At commanders palace, Upperline, or Brigtsens. YOu can cab it from columns to any of these places. There is a lot of good places to drink uptown i would recommend walking down magazine street for some food shopping and bars. The Old coffee pot restaurant has the most perfect red beans i have ever had!!!!! I didn't need to add any crystal hot sauce or anything. It is in the french quarter near pat o's. It also has awesome breakfast. but i was the one out of the group ordering red beans for breakfast! My favorite restaurants: jacque-imos... They do not take reservations so prepare to wait long but there is a cool bar next door called the maple leaf, they play good music too we hang out at while we wait!!!! it is so worth it. and casual you can go after a day of walking around!!!!!!http://www.jacquesimoscafe.com/ Commanders - dress up nice for dinner. You will get the best meal and best service you will ever have! I go here every year for my bday dinner and mothers day brunch and sometimes easter brunch! http://www.commanderspalace.com/new_orle… Dick and jennys- All hidden and so good! http://dickandjennys.com/ Also i love brunch( i usually like commanders) Touristy places i also love are Muriels, and Brennans. I don't care they get alot of toursits the food is wonderful. Make sure you take an airboat swamp tour in the atchafalya basin. Also, try a chartered fishing trip and go see some Plantations. Oak Alley is by far the most gorgeous one in the state. Go the the Historic New Orleans collection. If you like museums go to the Ogden Museum and NOMA in city park. (new orleans museum of art) Also if you like drinks go to the cocktail museum. If you like zoos i also highly suggest the zoo and aquarium. Don't forget to check out cafe du monde, st. louis cathedral, and the cemetaries. You can spend a whole day just walking the french quarter. Also look up what festivals are happening. http://blog.nola.com/festivals/2007/12/l… For music i suggest frenchman street- DBA, snug harbour. In the FQ Krazy Korner has some good music and preservation hall has good music. Tipitinas has cajun music and dancing every sunday night.
4. New Orleans all the way!