Insight Guides: New Orleans

by Insight Guides, Martha Ellen Zenfell

A travel series unlike any other, Insight Guides go beyond the sights and into reality. Their incomparable photojournalistic approach captures the uniqueness of each culture they cover: their traditions, their arts, their history, their lives. The stunning photography is married to compelling text, written by local writers; the people most qualified to convey their culture's "secrets".Yes, Insight Guides will tell you which attractions to visit, but they'll also tell you a whole lot more. From the most popular resort cities to the world's most remote and exotic villages, Insight Guides will give you the insider's perspective you need to truly experience any destination you visit.

Insight Guides serve many purposes. They are ideal for planning a trip. And, they're wonderful souvenirs to treasure for years after. Even the armchair traveler can be swept away by their magnificent content and experience the world from the comfort of home.

Many international and domestic and domestic destinations also offer companion FlexiMaps, an innovative laminated folding map specially designed for the discriminating traveler.

Genres: Travel

310 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1992

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though the edition I have was published in 2003 and is thus quite dated and pre-Katrina, this is still a wonderful guidebook and any more recent editions would be helpful to the new visitor or NOLA veteran alike. There is a respectable amount of material on the complex and fascinating history of the city, many interesting and beautiful photos, and of course lots and lots of information and maps about the many various sites and sounds of this, one of the great cities of North America and the world. If you know what it means to miss New Orleans, this book will whet your appetite for a return trip, and if you ain't been to heaven then you ain't been there, and this book will explain why that statement is true. The book also has generous introductions to the broader Cajun country and swamplands around south Louisiana, so it is also suitable for a more extended trip to the region, even though the focus is on the city. There were a number of warnings in the book about places to avoid, especially at night, and while I thought that part of the guide was a little overdone (I have visited New Orleans on several occasions, including Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, and the French Quarter Festival and have never felt afraid or threatened), I appreciated the effort to keep the visitor safe and keep the comments real. The best advice though is, when in doubt, ask a local. Oh, and by all means go back to New Orleans or go there for the first time. It is a place to love.