Known as the Crescent City, New Orleans was founded as a trading post 272 years ago on a graceful curve of the mighty Mississippi. An estimated 5 million tourist pour into the city each year to enjoy its music, partake in Mardi Gras festivities, peek into courtyards, hop on a streetcar or horse drawn carriage, and stop by Cafe' du Monde in the French Quarter for beignets and cafe' au lait. The oldest part of the city, the Vieux Carre', or French Quarter, is the only "European town" in the U.S. It comprises 90 city blocks laid out in a grid patten containing some 2,700 buildings with striking wrought-iron embellishments.

A R E A   I N F O R M A T I O N

Greater New Orleans Black Tourism Network- 1520 Sugar Bowl Dr., New Orleans, LA 70112. July is Minority Tourism Month with month-long activities including family reunions, festivals, jazz concerts and an Indian workshop. (800) 725-5652.

Greater New Orleans Tourist & Convention Commission - 1520 Sugar Bowl Dr., New Orleans, LA 70112. Jazz up your travel program by coming to the birthplace of good music, good food and good times. Like European cities, our architecture is distinctive, our cuisine unique, our jazz cool. (504)566-5005.

A T T R A C T I O N S

The Aquarium of the Americas - 1 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70130. Home of more than 7500 aquatic specimens. Four major habitats including the Caribbean Reef and one of the world's largest shark collections. (504) 565-3033

The Audubon Zoological Gardens - 6500 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70118. One of the top five zoos in the country. Enjoy over 1500 animals in their natural habitat settings, including our white alligators in the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit. (504) 861-2537 Ext.366

Bayou Barn "Cajun Canoeing & Dancing" Hwy. 45 & LA 3134, Crown Point, LA 70072. Authentic Cajun Festival-style parties, swamp tours and canoe rentals. Live Cajun dance, Sunday 2-6 pm. Open to public. Location on bayou. (504)689-2663 (800) TO-BAYOU

Biloxi Wildlife Management Area - 39,583 acres of productive brackish and saline marsh. St. Bernard Parish, 40 miles east of New Orleans. Accessible by boat only. Birding, boating, shrimping, crabbing, fishing, hunting. (504) 568-7685

Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World - 233 Newton St., New Orleans, LA 70114. Ride the "free" Canal St. ferry to Algiers Point where our "free" shuttle will meet you. Experience the home of Mardi Gras. Open year round. Adult/children rates. (504) 361-7821

The_Cabildo 701 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70116. The site of transfer ceremonies for the Louisiana_Purchase, the Cabildo houses exhibits tracing Louisiana's past from exploration through Reconstruction presented from a multicultural perspective. (504) 568-6968

Captain Nick's Fishing Charters - 7160 Thornley Dr., New Orleans, LA 70126. Half-hour from New Orleans in Acadiana. Bayou or deep sea trips. Free hotel transportation; credit cards; color brochure. Private swamp tours/ photo safaris available. (504) 361-3004, (800) 375-3474

Confederate_Museum - 929 Camp St., New Orleans, LA 70130. Louisiana's oldest museum. Collection consists of uniforms, weapons, oil paintings, flags, and other memorabilia of the Civil War. (504) 523-4522

Cookin' Cajun Cooking School & Creole Delicacies Gourmet - #1 Poydras, Riverwalk Store 116, Level 3, New Orleans, LA 70130. Learn to cook Cajun/Creole. Two-hour, daily classes include delicious meal and recipes. Call for reservations. Free mail order catalog available. (800) 786-0941, (504)586-8832

1850_House - 523 St. Ann St., New Orleans, LA 70116. This antebellum rowhouse in the legendary Baroness Pontalba's famous building depicts family life through period artifacts and furniture reflecting New Orleans' most prosperous era. (504) 568-6968.

Ernest N. Morial Convention Center New Orleans - 900 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70130. World-class center with nearly 700,000 sq.ft. of contiguous exhibit space on one level. Phase III expansion by 1998 to 1.1 million sq.ft.(504) 582-3023

Flamingo Casino - 610 S. Peters St., New Orleans, LA 70130. Poydras St. wharf behind the Hilton. Offering the nostalgia of the turn-of- the-century riverboats with the excitement of modern gaming. Full casino. Live Dixieland Jazz. Reservations: (800) 587-LUCK, (504) 587-7777.

Gallier_House_Museum - 1118-1132 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70116. Restored 1857 home of architect James Gallier, Jr. Elegant Victorian interiors, courtyards, exhibits, films, gift shop. Free parking. National Historic Landmark. Mon-Sat, 10-4:30. Last tour, 4 pm. Open selected Sundays. MC, V. Admission. (504) 523-6722.

Hermann-Grima_Historic_House- 820 St. Louis St., New Orleans, LA 70112. National Historic Landmark depicts lifestyle of 1830s French Quarter Creole family. Cooking demonstrations, tours of elegantly restored house, stable and outbuildings. Mon-Sat, 10-4. Admission, group rates.(504) 525-5661

Historic Lower Quarter Association - 831 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70116. Where locals and tourists shop, dine and socialize - among historic architecture and top attractions - 800 thru 1000 Royal Street and 800 block of Chartres Street. (504)581-7150

House of Broel's Historic Mansions of St. Charles Ave. - 1508 & 2220 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130. Two of the most famous homes of New Orleans. The Victorian Mansion

Dollhouse Museum & Shop and the "Gateway to the Garden District" featuring Mardi Gras exhibits. Mon-Sat, 10-4. (504) 522-2220, 525-1000

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour - Crown Point, 27 Poydras St. Wharf, New Orleans, LA 70130. Only 20 minutes from New Orleans! Experience the exotic plant and animal life of this privately-owned swampland. Covered Boat; Restroom Facilities; Snacks. (504) 689-4186 or (800) 445-4109

Longue Vue House and Gardens - #7 Bamboo Rd., New Orleans, LA 70124-1065 (I-10 Metairie Road Exit). National Register of Historic Places. City estate, original furnishings, eight acres of gardens. Gift shop, bus bays, travel industry arrangements. Mon-Sat, 10-4:30, Sun, 1-5 pm. (504)488-5488

Louisiana Children's Museum - 420 Julia St., New Orleans, LA 70130. Over 45,000 sq. ft. of colorful and electrifying hands-on exhibits where children and their families learn together by playing together. Interactive exhibit centers and live performances. (504) 523-1357

Louisiana Nature and Science Center - Joe W. Brown Memorial Park, Read Blvd. at Nature Center Dr., New Orleans, LA 70127. One of the country's few national wildlife preserves located in an urban area. A planetarium, exhibits on Louisiana's environment, 3 nature trails and special hands-on learning area. (504)246-5672

Louisiana State Museum - French Quarter, New Orleans, LA 70116. One of the country's largest historical complexes, the State Museum is comprised of several landmarks including the Cabildo, Presbytere, 1850 House, and Old U.S. Mint. (504)568-6968

Louisiana Superdome - 1500 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA 70112. The world's most beautiful and versatile public assembly facility. Indoor/outdoor sports, convention/trade shows and entertainment: rock concerts to Mardi Gras parades. Guided tours daily. (504) 587-3808

Musee_Conti_Historical_Wax_Museum - 917 Conti St., New Orleans, LA 70112. Discover the story of New Orleans. Meet Napoleon, Andrew Jackson, Jean Lafitte, Marie Laveau, Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain and many more. Plus the Haunted Dungeon. (504) 525-2605

New Orleans Fair Grounds - 1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119. Live thoroughbred racing November-March. Open year round for special events. Free parking. Home of the Jazz Festival. Groups welcome. Ten minutes from French Quarter. (504) 944-5515

New_Orleans_Historic_Voodoo_Museum - 724 Dumaine St., New Orleans, LA 70116. See artifacts and sacred objects in guided tour through museum. Take swamp, plantation or Voodoo walking tours! Visit our unique gift shop! See ya soon! (504) 523-7685

New Orleans Museum of Art - 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, New Orleans, LA 70124. Collections include the Arts of Western Civilization, Africa, Asia, and Pre-Columbian America. Special exhibitions scheduled regularly. Special Faberge gallery. Tuesday-Sunday, 10-5. Closed holidays. Admission. (504)488-2631

New Orleans Paddlewheels, Inc. - Canal Street Dock/Aquarium Dock, 27 Poydras Street Wharf, New Orleans, LA 70130. Daily River and Plantation/Battlefield cruises aboard the authentic PADDLEWHEELER CREOLE QUEEN and the RIVERBOAT CAJUN QUEEN (food and beverage available). Nightly Dinner/Jazz Cruise with Creole Buffet. (504) 524-0814, (800) 445-4109

The New Orleans School of Cooking and Louisiana General Store - 620 Decatur St., The Jackson Brewery, New Orleans, LA 70130. A delicious introduction to Creole cooking! This 3-hour demo is held daily and includes a full meal! Reservations required. Free catalogue. (504) 525-2665, (800)237-4841

Old_U.S._Mint - 400 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116. Built in 1835, this landmark served as both Federal and Confederate Mints. It now houses a Historical Center and exhibits on Jazz and Mardi Gras. (504) 586-6968

Old Absinthe House

In 1918, Aleister Crowley, the British occultist and writer, composed a lyrical essay on absinthe and aesthetics titled "The Green Goddess." He wrote his essay not in London or Paris, but in New Orleans – the absinthe capital of the United States.

240 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 523-3181 or (504) 523-0103
Fax (504) 410-0750

Presbytere - 751 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70116. Built in 1795, the Presbytere houses various exhibits showcasing unique, eclectic and charismatic aspects of Louisiana's heritage and culture. (504)568-6968

Riverboat JOHN JAMES AUDUBON Aquarium/Zoo Cruise - Aquarium of the Americas Dock, New Orleans, LA 70130. 1-hour Mississippi River cruise between the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Zoo. MONEY-SAVER combination Boat & Zoo & Aquarium packages, one-way or round trip. (800)233-2628, (504) 586-8777

Salvador Wildlife Management Area - St. Charles Parish, 12 miles southwest of New Orleans. Access by boat only. 30,600 acres primarily fresh-water marsh. Waterfowl hunting, watchable wildlife, fishing, boating, canoeing. (504)568-5885

Showboat Star Casino - 1 Star Casino Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70126. Voted #1 casino in New Orleans by Gambit Magazine. Open 24 hours, 365 days a year. Free admission, valet and hotel shuttle. Group packages. (800) 504-7827, (504)243-0400

Steamboat NATCHEZ - Toulouse St. Wharf at JAX Brewery, New Orleans, LA 70130. See New Orleans aboard the only authentic steampowered sternwheeler. Daily 2-hour Jazz Cruises from the heart of the French Quarter. Nightly Dinner/Jazz Cruise, optional buffet. (800) 233-2628, (504) 586-8777

Top of the Mart - 33rd floor, World Trade Center, #2 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70130. Revolving lounge, 33 stories high, atop the World Trade Center. Superb view of the French Quarter and the River. Specialty drinks, light food. (504)522-9795

Your Sound Promenade of the Vieux Carre - P.O. Box 8876, New Orleans, LA 70182. Preview your visit, reliving French Quarter history, legends, secrets and mysteries listening to two 90-minute audio cassettes. Stroll at your own pace. A lifetime souvenir. (504) 243-1098