Top 5 Things To Do In NOLA

The top 5 things to do in New Orleans are touring the National WWII Museum, taking a ghost and voodoo tour, visiting a historic plantation, exploring the French Quarter, and riding an airboat swamp tour. Bayou Swamp Tours runs trips 90 minutes to 1 hour and 45 minutes long, about 30 minutes from downtown, so a swamp adventure fits any NOLA visit.

1. The National WWII Museum

Step back into World War II at one of the world's top-ranked museums, located in the Warehouse and Central Business District. Exhibits tell the story of the home front and the men and women away at war, showing the conflict's influence on the present. Knowledgeable staff lead guided tours, and you can even ride in a restored PT boat.

2. New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour

Take a guided group tour at night through the French Quarter to hear gruesome, chilling stories. Visit the home of rumored vampire Jacques St. Germaine and Madame LaLaurie's Creole mansion, and hear suspenseful tales from the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum. The walking tour covers about five blocks, and guides know all the shortcuts on a spooky night.

3. Whitney Plantation Tour

Transportation is provided for this powerful tour. The Whitney Plantation is the only one that focuses on the history of the enslaved people who worked the fields, told through narratives and exhibits. The plantation dates back more than 260 years and is considered one of the best preserved in the state. For more, see our guide to the best plantations in Louisiana.

4. Visit the French Quarter

The best neighborhood to soak up New Orleans culture is the French Quarter, the oldest section of the city. Founded in 1718, it covers about 78 square blocks, according to New Orleans and Company. Check out infamous Bourbon Street for nightlife and cuisine, or take a daytime walking tour - there is something for everyone.

5. Take an Airboat Swamp Tour

Looking for something out of the ordinary? Ride through the Louisiana bayou on an airboat that skims the water at up to 40 miles an hour. Keep your eyes peeled for boars, alligators, eagles, and other native wildlife - Louisiana is home to roughly 2 million wild alligators, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Expert swamp guides share the history of the bayou along the way.

What Wildlife Will You See on a Swamp Tour?

Louisiana's wetlands are teeming with life. The state holds about 3 million acres of coastal wetlands, roughly 40 percent of the continental U.S. total, per the USGS, and its marshes host about 400 species of birds along the Mississippi Flyway, according to Audubon. Expect alligators, herons, egrets, turtles, and more. Learn more about local swamp animals.

When Is the Best Time to Visit New Orleans?

Any season works, but spring and fall are the most comfortable for walking tours and swamp trips. Summer highs average about 92 degrees with brief afternoon showers, while January highs sit near 62 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Warm months bring the most active alligator sightings.

How Do You Reach the Swamp from New Orleans?

The bayou is closer than you think. Bayou Swamp Tours departs about 30 minutes from downtown, with French Quarter hotel pickup available. Small airboats carry 6 to 10 passengers and large airboats carry 13 to 27 passengers, so groups of any size can ride together. Tours run year-round.