Visit New Orleans with a Local

By Christina Daves

When I visited New Orleans in my 20s, it was all about Bourbon Street and bar hopping. Now, approaching 60, we had a wonderful trip experiencing the city from a local’s perspective. My best friend Jen, a New Orleans native, organized a St. Patrick���s Day long weekend trip for our families, allowing us to share her city with our twenty-something adult kids.

If you go for St. Patrick���s Day, check out a local favorite, the Metairie Parade. This year, the parade lasted 4.5 hours with floats, bands, and dancers. Get ready to catch goodies as the people on the floats toss beads, stuffed animals, toys, and even vegetables (be wary of the cabbage��� that hurts when it hits you.)

Here is a list of local must-dos in New Orleans:

The French Quarter remains a must-visit, but I’d recommend exploring it during the day. You can visit the outdoor market featuring handcrafted artisans, pop into artist galleries, and explore local shops. A stop at Caf�� Du Monde for beignets and coffee is a must. Don’t forget to capture photos with the stunning St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square behind you. A local muffuletta is a must-try; Central Grocery is renowned for this Italian sandwich topped with olive salad on special sesame-seeded muffuletta bread.

Pat O’Brien’s, though a bit touristy, offers the iconic hurricane cocktail���be careful, as they’re potent. As a local advised us: a Category 1 hurricane is okay, but at Category 5, you’d better evacuate.

If you’re a coffee enthusiast, check out PJ’s Coffee House���a local favorite.���

Po’boys are a New Orleans staple. Popular fillings include fried shrimp, fried oysters, and roast beef, but options like smoked sausage, hot sausage, and catfish are also available. A “po’boy” essentially means “sandwich” in New Orleans. When asked if you want it “dressed,” it means adding mayonnaise, lettuce, and pickles. Some restaurants include cheese and tomato with “dressed,” so it’s good to ask how they do it. Once again, it’s the bread that makes it delicious. Domilise’s is a local tradition for po’boys. It’s been around since the 1930s and is a favorite of the famous NFL Manning brothers, who grew up around the corner.

Magazine Street runs six miles through the city and is home to great shopping.���

New Orleans is one of only two cities in the country with a legacy streetcar system. This is a great way to get around. You can buy a one-way pass, an all-day pass, or a multi-day pass. The St. Charles Streetcar Line operates 24 hours a day, with frequent service during the day and hourly from midnight to 6 a.m. It runs from South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenues to Canal Street, and you can hop on and off as you like. ���

At the corner of South Carrollton and St. Charles Avenue is another local staple, Camellia Grill. It’s been there since 1946. It’s a counter-service diner with the best hamburger I’ve ever had. Make sure you save room for dessert, as they are known for their pies. They warm their pies right there on the grill where they cook the burgers, and the flavors are like nothing you’ve had before. The pecan pie is my favorite, topped with a heaping scoop of Blue Bell vanilla ice cream. If there’s any way you have room for more, their milkshakes are homemade and absolutely delicious!���

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After dinner, you can make your way over to another staple that has been there for over 40 years, Cooter Brown’s. It’s a ���dive bar��� with cool metal artwork of Hollywood icons all around the bar, from Prince to Lucy to Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. One of the things I love about the old, local places around New Orleans is their house wine is good! Everywhere we went, I could get a nice glass of wine versus what I refer to as “headache” wine, which is usually what you find at establishments like these.���

A few more local restaurant staples in New Orleans are:

R&O’s ��� Known for its seafood and po’boys, this restaurant has been serving locals and tourists alike for decades.���Parasol’s ��� Known for their roast beef po���boy, they also host a huge block party on St. Patrick’s Day, full of music, dancing, and, of course, green beer.���Frankie & Johnny’s ��� My friend Jen grew up with the original owner. This is where I had one of my favorite po’boys���a grilled shrimp one. It was an interesting twist on the fried shrimp, and it was delicious!��� Onion rings are a regular on most menus, and we had our fair share. Does this count as a vegetable?Commanders Palace ��� This is a legendary New Orleans restaurant located in the Garden District. Established in 1893, it has become a cornerstone of the city���s culinary scene and helped launch the careers of celebrated chefs like Emeril Lagasse. Dining at Commander’s Palace is more than a meal���it’s an experience. Ask to be seated in the garden. You won���t regret it!

Last but not least, take some time to walk the Garden District. The homes are incredibly beautiful, and the streets are serene with lush bushes, trees, and flowers.

If you want a fun trip with your adult children, give New Orleans a try. It offers a rich array of experiences, mixing history, culture, and cuisine. Whether you’re revisiting old favorites or discovering new ones, the city’s charm will captivate you.���

Christina Daves is a publicity strategist, on-aiir lifestyle expert, and the host of the award-winning podcast, Living Ageless and Bold, which is now a regular television segment on local CBS. She is passionate about celebrating women over 50 and creating content to help them live their next chapter to the fullest.

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