vacation in new orleans

New Orleans Holiday
By
Debbie Lindsey
Ah, a villa in the South of France, a London flat, or a cottage in Scotland where all the cobblestone streets lead to a quaint little pub. And then there’s Italy, Sicily and don’t forget Barcelona. Or, how about N. Dupre Street, centrally located and just a hop, skip and a jump to Metairie or Kenner.
The Vacation -- that annual escape to sights unknown, adventure, romance, immersion into new cultures – is what most of us set our sights on when working our fingers to the bone all year long. Lord knows Boyfriend and I had high hopes of distancing our selves from everyday life by either flying off somewhere or road-tripping to new vistas. And then came Gustav. Little did we know that our evacuation last year to exotic Birmingham, Alabama would be it for the time being. Sure it set us back money-wise for the moment but no big deal we thought, that is until the world economy began to fizzle. Now it’s time to place those passports back in the drawer, put on some rose-colored glasses and take a fresh look at what’s in our own back yard.
For the past couple of weeks Boyfriend and I have been writing our Picks for the Best of the Big Easy and together compiling a list of “we gotta do this and see that”. Next thing I knew, we were planning a vacation right here at home and realizing that we might need an extra week because our play list was getting as long as our itinerary in London and Paris was last year. And that was when we decided not to be vacation over-achievers but to allow relaxation to guide us.
Like so many folks these days, we are working longer and harder just to keep our heads above the bills. So, the idea of keeping it simple and therefore utterly inexpensive has become the goal. There will be no rushing to make connecting flights; no eye strain from reading maps while maneuvering exits on unfamiliar freeways; no jet lag and no mountain of bills to face after going on holiday.
There is a reason why so many tourists visit our city. We are flush with history, culture, music, art, and amazing wildlife and fauna. And then there’s our food, which rivals just about anywhere. You could eat your way through this city and still only nibble at the tip of that iceberg. Also, I just checked the yellow pages and found twenty different museums listed and I know there are more than that not listed. Some offer free admission, others a free day or discount and those with fees are all priced low to reasonable.
Many of our first time tourists are day-trippers – volunteers taking a break from house gutting or visitors brought in by charter buses from Mississippi and turned lose for just an afternoon. I am a magnet for these folks and they always wanna know, “What would you recommend we see or do in such short time?” and my answer is “Go sit down…and ride the St.Charles Street Car”. I take my own advice on this and suggest that other locals do the same. Get on that pony and ride.
It’s easy to take our city for granted and she certainly has her difficult moments. Yet every time for the past twenty years that I board the streetcar I become a born-again New Orleanian. The first streetcar line dates to 1835 and today the St. Charles line of cars in current use were built in 1923 (can ya imagine anything built nowadays to last that long). In 1973 the St. Charles Streetcar line was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the oldest urban passenger rail system in the nation. So, whether you’re a visitor on the run or a local with time to spare, go sit your butt down on a piece of history. I certainly will be using the streetcars (including the newer Canal and Carrollton lines) to sightsee. And note: you can purchase a one-day RTA VisiTour pass for $5 or a three-day pass for $12 for unlimited travel, good on buses as well; so save money and call 248-3900 for info.
I stress the use of our transit system because many folks do not have cars and that should never keep one tethered to the fence. Get out there and visit Audubon Park and if ya have some bucks to spare spend the day at the Zoo. Also check out the Park’s public swimming pool located at 6500 Magazine Street, phone 864-8139 or its horse riding stables on 700 East Drive, phone 891-2246.


City Park had always felt like my personal park with it being just a short bike ride away from my home in the Quarter. But now that I live in its neighborhood the Park feels like my back yard. Boyfriend and I might need several vacations just to reintroduce us to all the park has to offer. We will start with renewing our New Orleans Museum of Art membership (it’s cheap). And then visit the Amusement Park and Botanical gardens. Even take an urban wildlife hike and still be within strolling distance of a cold beer (Parkview Café in the old Casino building).
“What did you do on your day off?” If your answer is nothing more than a shrug of your shoulders then I need to pistol-whip you with a barrage of get-a-life-and-enjoy-it. There is no excuse for not having an adventure or passing a good time. I have touched on only a handful of things to do for little or nothing. And if you are blessed with something resembling ‘disposable income’ then get out there and go to a festival, movie, music gig, restaurant, road trip. Get on that streetcar, unleash yourself from that electronic device, and look out the window. You just might be surprised and I promise you’ll never be bored.