Memorial Day weekend in New Orleans marks the unofficial start of summer, with festivals, museums, and hotel deals across the city. The Bayou Swamp Tours team suggests booking an airboat trip about 30 minutes from downtown to spot wildlife before the summer heat peaks near 92 degrees.
The National Weather Service reports New Orleans July highs near 92 degrees and January highs around 62 degrees, so late May is warm but manageable on the water. A Bayou Swamp Tours airboat ride lasts about 90 minutes, departs roughly 30 minutes from downtown, and carries 6 to 10 passengers, while larger boats hold up to 27 passengers. The USGS counts about 3 million acres of Louisiana coastal wetlands - roughly 40 percent of the national total - and the New Orleans and Company guide lists holiday-weekend events.
Memorial Day weekend is a special time for the US to honor all of the men and women who have died while serving in the armed forces. This weekend also marks the beginning of the summer season in New Orleans. Each year people flock to the region to visit our museums, attend festivals, and explore the different neighborhoods. Many hotels offer great deals for Memorial Day weekend getaways. Here’s a short list of how you can spend your weekend.
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Where Should You Grab Breakfast?
Start your day off right with a tasty breakfast at the Pagoda cafe. Enjoy your meal while sitting outside and soaking up the morning sun. This cafe also serves the best cup of coffee in town. Short on time? Opt for a delicious muffin and coffee and be on your way.
How Can You Explore the Bayou?
After breakfast, take a stroll down Esplanade Avenue towards Bayou St. John. Rent a paddle board and paddle up and down the Bayou. Afterwards, grab some delicious turkey and alligator sausage at the Parkway Bakery. Pairs perfectly with a cold beer.
Not a fan of paddle boarding but still want to explore the Bayou? Consider booking an airboat swamp tour. This is the perfect way to experience the Louisiana swamps up close. You may even get to see some cool wildlife!
Which Museums Should You Visit?
The country’s National World War II Museum is located in New Orleans. Make some time to visit this museum during the weekend. Not only with you be honoring our servicemen and women, you’ll be able to learn all about WWII. There are lots of interactive exhibits making it fun for the whole family. Don’t forget to check out the restored P-T boat
What Wildlife Might You See on the Bayou?
Louisiana's wetlands are alive over Memorial Day weekend. The state is home to roughly 2 million wild alligators, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and warm late-May water keeps them active and easy to spot. Male American alligators average 10 to 11 feet, notes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which removed the species from the endangered list in 1987. You may also see herons, egrets, turtles, and the occasional river otter as your guide idles through the cypress.
When Is the Best Time to Take a Swamp Tour?
Morning and late-afternoon trips avoid the midday heat, and alligators are most visible once water temperatures climb above about 70 degrees. Because Bayou Swamp Tours depart roughly 30 minutes from downtown and last about 90 minutes, it is easy to fit a swamp trip around your holiday plans. Nearby Jean Lafitte National Historical Park protects about 26,000 acres of swamp and marsh, per the National Park Service, giving photographers plenty of quiet water to explore.
What Else Is Worth Doing Over the Weekend?
Beyond the bayou, spend an afternoon in the French Quarter, catch live jazz, or paddle Bayou St. John. Many hotels drop rates for the long weekend, and museums like the National WWII Museum run special programming to honor service members.
Before you head home make sure to stop by Elizabeth’s. Order the praline bacon and duck waffle with a glass of chilled apple juice, you won’t be disappointed. New Orleans is the perfect Memorial Day weekend getaway. Enjoy your visit!
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