New Orleans is not your typical city. Its creative (often Cajun) culinary conquests have made NOLA a famous food town, and its drink-first mentality has made it one of the most celebrated party towns in the world. Take a stroll down Bourbon Street on a Friday, and you’ll see why. Walk into any venue on Frenchmen Streetand you’ll hear some of the grooviest blues or jazz tunes around. The French Quarter—New Orleans’ oldest district—is a pleasant promenade, featuring Creole architecture, unique shops, and outstanding eateries. If you walk along the river on Decatur Street, check out the rich street art scene and be sure to grab the world’s best beignet at Café du Monde.

Food, art, and music aren’t all The Big Easy has to offer. Catch a New Orleans Saints game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome or watch the New Orleans Pelicans play in the Smoothie King Center. You can also relax in the lush Louis Armstrong Park, browse for designer goods at The Shops At Canal Place, or mingle with sea life at the Audobon Aquarium of the Americas. For a different view of the city, hop on the Creole Queen paddlewheeler and head on down the Mississippi River.