Great Lodging is only the beginning! New Orleans is cram packed with things to do!

St. Charles Guest House
1748 Prytania
New Orleans, LA 70130

Phone: (504) 523-6556
Fax: (504) 522-6340
E-mail: dhilton111@aol.com

Joanne and Dennis Hilton,

Suggested Tours

Sunday (or Day 1)
Try late morning or early afternoon arrival. After you get settled in, take the Streetcar down to the French Quarter (exit Canal Street) depending on time. The Flea Market, at the back of the French Quarter is busiest and most interesting on Sunday, but it does close at 5pm. Watch the artists and listen to the street musicians at Jackson Square. Have dinner at one of our moderately priced restaurants in the Quarter - Ralph & Kacoo's, Mike Anderson's, Seaport, Landry's, or have a delicious Po-Boy sandwich at Maspero's or world famous Mother's. The food court at Riverwalk is excellent for fast, tasty, New Orleans specialties.

Finish off the evening at Preservation Hall, a living museum of live, authentic, New Orleans Dixie Land played by the best. Preservation Hall is the Smithsonian of Dixieland Jazz.

Monday (or Day 2)
Take a self-guided walking tour of the Garden District, a nearby residential district replete with Southern Mansions and beautiful gardens. Visit historic Lafayette Cemetery and have lunch at world famous Commander's Palace. A wonderful three course meal at lunch is about $15 per person, roughly 1/3 the cost of dinner.

After lunch have a free guided tour of Anne Rice's Garden District homes. They are sometimes open on Mondays and are both very near Commander's.

If time permits take the streetcar to our world class Audubon Zoo (the Magazine Street Bus, 2 blocks from Commander's or Anne Rice's First Street home, will also take you directly to the Zoo. You mat even take a boat ride back downtown from the Zoo to the Aquarium in time to catch an IMAX theatre screening.

The evening would be well spent at one of our delightful music clubs - Storyville, House of Blues or Snug Harbor in the French Quarter - all provide food & music, while Tipitina's uptown is nearby to a fabulous Copeland's Cajun American Cafe for dinner.

Tuesday (or Day 3)
Tuesday is the day to do the French Quarter in style. Start with Café au Lait and Beignets (Coffee and Donuts) at Café du Monde*, Jackson Square, then visit the 1850's Creole Town House, our Fabulous Cabildo and Presbytere Museum, all around the square. The Pharmacy Museum on Chartres Street is fascinating as is the Herman-Grimma House. The National Park Service provides free walking tours of the French Quarter, call for details. (504) 589-3882.

The New Orleans Museum of Art* can be easily accessed by bus from Esplanade Avenue, a few blocks from Jackson Square. Since it is in City Park, you can stop a few blocks early and get a picnic lunch from the Whole Foods Store and Deli, on dine "al fresco" at Café Degas. Check the Museum website for current shows.

Wednesday (or day4)
Reserve Wednesday for your field trips to points right outside the city and visit the plantations, and swamps. Cypress Swamp Tours offer good value, along with transportation and several tour companies visit Laura Plantation*, the most well-researched chronicle of plantation life, for both master and slave on the River Road. Laura may not be the most splendid, but it is the most interesting! For sheer splendor, visit San Francisco*, on the east bank of the Mississippi. Houmas House and Evergreen are also beautifully appointed.

If time permits, a late afternoon Jazz & Riverboat Cruise is a delightful way to end the day. The cruise departs from the dock at the French Quarter in the afternoon.

The Contemporary Arts Center* at 900 Camp St. is fun to visit - and while you're there, viisit their Cyber Café for free internet time to check your e-mail!

Thursday (or Day 5)
Reserve this day for the fun shops on Magazine Street. You'll find everything from fine antiques to vintage clothes, old books & prints, elegant decoration items, imports from around the world, custom wood working shops… trash to treasures, and great coffee shops along the way. This would also be a good day for the Zoo, as you could stroll and shop, from the 1700 block to the 4000 block, and have a nice lunch at a great place along the way - Magazine Po-Boy, Rocky's (Gourmet Pizza & Salads), Semolina's (Fresh Pasta), Vizard's, Kelsey's (Creole), or Casamento Oyster House. The Zoo is up Magazine Street to the 7200 block, via the Magazine Street bus.

If you want to experience good food at reasonable prices in a real New Orleans neighborhood restaurant, try Iler Pope's Café Atchafalaya on Louisiana Avenue. Her specialty is Creole Southern food, and everything is fresh and delicious. She even makes home made ice cream!.

Thursday evening is a good time to check out the music at House of Blues or Tipitina's French Quarter! House of Blues even serves good food; nearby the Crescent City Brew House serves up casual food and music. Cap off your night with a visit to Pat O'Brien's. It reigns as one of our favorite attractions. Sing along in the piano bar, have a "Hurricane" and get a souvenir photo.

Lagniappe:
If you're around on Sunday morning, attend an authentic Gospel Mass at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church. The mass starts at 9:30 am and is a short cab ride from the Garden District or Central Business District. They welcome guests and if you haven't gotten enough Gospel, attend the Gospel Brunch at the Praline Connection, soul food "extraordinaire" near the Convention Center. The National Park Service also gives a fabulous free Jazz Concert at Armstrong Park on most Sunday afternoons.

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