New Orleans is located on the Mississippi River
approximately 110 miles from Gulf of Mexico. The city was established as the
capital of Louisiana, then a French colony. The region was annexed by America
in 1810, which brought the city economic development and population growth.
Various small sectors of the city, such as the French Quarter and the Garden
District, expanded and became the city that New Orleans is today.
New Orleans’ largest tourist event by far is Mardi
Gras. Meaning “Fat Tuesday” in English, it falls on the Tuesday before Ash
Wednesday. The first documented Mardi Gras parade is New Orleans occurred in
1837. In 1872, it began to resemble the event it is today, when the Russian
Grand Duke visited the city. Residents were ready to pull out the stops in his
honor. The masquerading and partying reached epic proportions, and the locals
declared of the Russian Grand Duke, they crowned their own king – Rex, the Lord
of Misrule – who decreed that the events’ officials colors were purple ( for
justice), green (for faith) and gold (for power). Rex and the colors have
remained key components of the party even since. They city-wide celebration
features extravagant floats, outrageous costumes, and non-stop partying.
The French Quarter is one of the most distinctive
neighborhoods in New Orleans. The nation’s only French Colonial and Spanish
settlement remaining intact, it is the city’s most historic area. Its lacy iron
balconies, elegant courtyards, exceptional restaurants and wide variety of
offbeat, one-of-a-kind shops are best explored on foot. It is the heart of the city.
Bourbon Street is the most popular destination in the
French Quarter. Its attractions are open twenty-four hours a day, and include
clubs, shops, and sights you won’t find anywhere else in the city. The French
Market is the oldest city market in the country. More than a place to find all
types of food, it is transformed into a giant flea market on weekends.
There are many more unique attractions in New Orleans,
including New Orleans Botanical Garden, Destrehan Plantation, the Audubon Zoo,
and the Confederate Museum. New Orleans possesses an old-world charm that makes
it one of the most interesting, historic and fun cities in America.
