Local Fun
Magazine Street
Tryna shop and eat away from French Quarter madness? Head to Magazine Street for a strip of cute, local boutiques, bars and restaurants in the Garden District. Frequent spots for Quinn and Danielle are Juan's Flying Burrito, La Araña (nachos for the win), Red Dog Diner, and Surrey's for brunch (get the banana pancake with peanut butter!!) Tip for the people who want to hit Surrey's. Number one: it does live up to the hype. Number two: be ready for a long wait the later it gets. Number three: there are actually two locations! Both are on Magazine; the closer one to the French Quarter (and Quinn's place) usually has the longer wait but if you head down a couple miles and cross Napoleon, the Uptown location is right there, (closer to Dani's spot.)
Saint Charles Avenue
If you're looking to see the old charm of New Orleans, hop on the St. Charles streetcar. This trolley ($1.25 each way or $3 day pass) will take you along St. Charles Avenue where all the huge mansions line the street. This is also the street where Mardi Gras parade routes go! Some of our favorite places along St. Charles is the locally owned Avenue Cafe, Audubon Park, and Delachaise (wine bar). Here is a link to a map of the New Orleans streetcar if you're interested in hopping on to explore, (second page). You'll hop on the green line to get on the St. Charles car. Note that the streetcar isn't the most reliable form of transportation but a great option if you have some time on your hands!
Riverwalk
If you want a breezy view of the Mississippi river, head to water and walk alongside it. It's where Quinn and Danielle had their first date in New Orleans (all aboard Steamboat Natchez) and where he dropped to one knee (right past Washington Artillery Park)!
Frenchmen Street
Hit up Frenchmen Street Friday night if you're looking for live music. This street is packed with talent and has a great strip of bars filled with jazz bands. You can also find art walks around Frenchman but they are usually Monday through Thursday evenings.
French Quarter
From historical to ghost-centric to bar-hopping, browse the walking tours in the French Quarter to learn a little more about the city while you're here! A great resource for tours is Free Tours By Foot (paid by tip only); however, remember to still sign up for the time slot you want to go to because they do have a limited number of people allowed per tour. Outside of the tours, the French Quarter is where you will find Café du Monde, Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, the French Market, and all the bars and restaurants you can imagine.
Organized Tours
New Orleans is the best city to visit for fun, parties, events and culture. With only a weekend to partake in the action, a more planned tour might be the way to go to see the most of the city. Though there are plenty of tip-based options in the Crescent City, there are also plenty of "official" tour groups that would be great for a Friday afternoon/Saturday morning. Here you'll find a curated list from Visit New Orleans filled with walking tours (including a cocktails and ghost tour!), boat tours (both air and steam), and bus tours.