Top Rated Attractions in New Orleans

"Let the good times roll" is the unofficial motto of New Orleans, one of the United States oldest cities. New Orleans is a city with a legendary appetite for all the good things in life - music, food and celebration. The iconic French Quarter is the heart of the city, its Creole architecture still lived-in and home to a staggering array of bars and restaurants. This is the site of the annual Mardi Gras, but there's always something to celebrate in New Orleans. Birthplace of Jazz, music is an essential part of the day to day life its citizens. Bars host live music daily featuring everything from Blues, Rock and Jazz to genre-defying compilations. Along the way are eateries doling out local cuisine - fluffy beignets dusted with sugar, steaming bowls of gumbo, and crocodile sausage - easily one of the nation's most distinctive and ethnically diverse. Top attractions include the National WWII Museum, Jackson Square, the Garden District and St. Louis Cathedral. Built on the banks of the Mississippi River, the surrounding swamps and bayous of New Orleans are the setting for safaris of a different kind, where close encounters with crocodiles are common amid the cyprus trees.

Woldenberg Riverfront Park, a green oasis of 20 acres (8.1 hectares) stretches along the old Governor Nicholls Street wharf to the Aquarium of the Americas at Canal Street. This promenade is located in the heart of the city and is scattered with numerous works by local artists. It boasts hundreds of beautiful trees such as oaks, magnolias, willows and crepe myrtle. Sit on one of the many benches and view the city's busy port, second only to Amsterdam in tonnage.

Aquarium of the Americas is a world-class aquarium with state-of-the-art exhibits, allowing visitors young and old to experience underwater nature first hand. Visitors immerse themselves in the major marine and submarine habitats of North and South America, including the Caribbean Sea and the Amazon Rainforest. The aquarium also features thousands of fish, reptiles and birds native to these habitats.

Stretched along the length of the Mississippi river, the Crescent Park offers 1.4 miles (2.25 kilometers) of paved trails, picnic areas and stunning views of the New Orleans skyline. This riverfront park has a promenade that also features benches for sitting and a nifty bridge called the Piety Street Arch that connects Charles Street to Piety Wharf. Bring your pets here for a quick walk or simply gaze at the mighty river during sunset.

Thanks to the generous donations from Sydney and Walda Besthoff, New Orleanians and visitors to the city can enjoy art-in-the-park at Besthoff Sculpture Garden. The nearly five acres that make up the sculpture garden in City Park are home to 57 large-scale works of art. The sculptures, situated among the park's large oaks and Southern magnolias, vary greatly in style and represent a range of classic and modern artists. Additionally, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden is free for all visitors.

New Orleans Botanical Gardens is spread across 10 acres (4 hectares) of tropical conservatory, including a water lily pond, formal rose garden, azalea, camellia gardens and a horticultural garden. Scattered throughout are fountains and sculptures by world-renowned artist Enrique Alferez (a New Orleans local). Take a guided tour or browse through the library and gift shop located in the lovely Pavilion of the Two Sisters.