New Orleans

New Orleans, the legendary Creole city beside the mighty Mississippi River, has one of North America’s most distinctive cultures. The Big Easy, as it’s lovingly called, is famed for its very own brand of carnivalesque street life, music, multi-ethnic cultures, and heritage architecture – all distilled in the melting pot of its delicious Creole cuisine. The first things that come to mind at the very mention of New Orleans are its pulsating nightlife and year-long festivities. The most popular of its street parades are the famous Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest celebrations. As the birthplace of jazz and popular American music, rhythm and blues run through the veins of this city’s vibrant street culture. Watch street performers at Jackson Square entertain crowds before the imposing St. Louis Cathedral. Hear the heartbeat of this historic city with its African, Caribbean and European influences in the French Quarter. Taste the city’s rich cultural flavors at the Cajun restaurants, bars and jazz clubs lining Bourbon Street. Try signature dishes like file gumbo, crawfish ettouffee and jambalaya. This is an earthy culture that displays its painful history in a distinctly playful manner.