Of course, the Big Easy has its must-see attractions. The New Orleans Museum of Art is as spectacular a piece of Southern culture as you’ll find. The National World War II Museum is a world-class institution that attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, too.
Furthermore, there’s the live music scene, which is the city’s lifeblood. But there’s a lot more to New Orleans than those places. Make time to explore the less apparent areas, such as City Park, and take a local swamp tour to learn more about the region’s natural wonders.
We’ve compiled a list of some cool things to do after moving to New Orleans!
some cool things to do after moving to New Orleans
Take a stroll through Crescent Park
Until 2014, the Mississippi River banks that ran through the city’s downtown Marigny and Bywater areas were almost impassable. Consequently, the city spent a lot of money on a big rehabilitation project that turned an ugly post-industrial wasteland into a magnificent riverfront park.
Crescent Park is a mile-and-a-half long and feels like a neighborhood hangout; you won’t see any Mardi Gras-beaded visitors here. It’s also a great place to kickstart your fitness journey! Find a grassy riverbank area for an afternoon picnic with a bottle of wine and a cheese platter from neighboring Bacchanal Wines.
Visit the New Orleans Museum of Art
Most travelers’ itineraries in New Orleans include it as a must-see, and with good reason. With its alabaster walls and Greco-Roman columns, this structure situated in City Park is imposing and majestic. A five-acre sculpture park with artwork underneath magnolias and Spanish live oaks is also a beautiful part of the park.
The collection is as remarkable on the inside, with French and American art and touring exhibits ranging from fashion to digital media. Its fine art collection is still one of the best in the South! This makes it one of the coolest things to do after moving to New Orleans!
Louis Armstrong Park
Because there aren’t many green areas in downtown New Orleans, Louis Armstrong Park, located just beyond the French Quarter, offers a pleasant alternative. The park has also been the center for festivals and seasonal events. Visiting the park will help you relax and unwind while enjoying its beauty!
It’s a well-designed, manicured location with 32 acres of space. Don’t miss Congo Square, which originated as a gathering place for slaves and free people of color to celebrate their African ancestry via music and drumming circles—the forerunners of jazz.
Take a tour through The National WWII Museum
Thousands of people visit the National WWII Museum every day. The museum is located in a vast complex of contemporary buildings in the Warehouse District. Contextualizing a massive global event like World War II is a simple feat.
Still, the museum succeeds in doing so through enormous narrative exhibitions that incorporate highly detailed, personal testimonies from eyewitnesses. The primary rooms include the Home Front, Pacific, and European Theaters, and the D-Day Invasion.
Got to an event at Saenger Theatre
The glitz and glam that followed the opening of the Saenger Theatre in 1927 are still present. The magnificent facility, which has reduced in size from 4,000 to 2,600 seats, remains one of the city’s largest theatres, with a performance space fashioned after an Italian baroque garden and overhead lighting that mimics a starry constellation.
The venue accommodates significant events that require a more intimate environment than a sports stadium, such as touring Broadway musicals, major comedians, and the odd concert. This place might even inspire you to start producing music!
The Contemporary Arts Center
The Contemporary Arts Center is one of the city’s most prominent places for the complete range of contemporary arts, including painting, cinema, theatre, and music. It is situated in a substantial redbrick structure that sticks out in the somewhat subdued Central Business District.
Exhibits can contain any visual art medium, from photography to sculpture and painting, and rotate every four to eight weeks. The paintings on display have been thoughtfully chosen, sometimes around themes and other times around particular modern artists. Artists usually make the installations in a unique style that makes use of the interior design.
This makes this place a must-see and definitely one of the cool things to do after moving to New Orleans!
Take a peek at Mardi Gras World
You could stroll right past this nondescript warehouse near the Port of New Orleans, yet it houses a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the country’s largest free celebration, Mardi Gras. It takes months to create and decorate the massive floats. And this is where a lot of it happens.
This 90-minute walking tour will make you feel like you’re being let in on a secret since painters and sculptors are actively working on pieces while you’re there. Experts from zippyshelllouisiana.com say that this is one of the favorite places for newcomers to the city!
Visit the Southern Food & Beverage Museum
Most of the events in and around New Orleans seem to revolve around the preparation and consumption of regional cuisine and beverages. It’s no surprise, therefore, that this museum, which debuted in 2014, is dedicated to the region’s favorite foods and drinks.
The atmosphere in this enormous, open-plan warehouse is bohemian. It’s jam-packed with vintage artifacts and a whopping amount of ingredients! The exhibitions cover the whole southern United States, not just Louisiana. The museum is quite sociable, and there are always a few live events going on every week, ranging from demos and talks to evenings where you may try unique dishes or beverages.
Moving to New Orleans
It’s no wonder why many people decide to make this city their new home. New Orleans has a unique energy that attracts a lot of people. Moving to New Orleans is easy, and there are many reasons to do this! We went over just a few! If you are an artsy or a young person you will enjoy the city very much. The music is great, the food is amazing, and the people are warm and welcoming!
This vibrant city has something to offer to everyone. We have mentioned only a small portion of all the cool things to do after moving to New Orleans. If you want to understand its appeal to the fullest, you will have to visit and experience its unique energy yourself.
