everything in this city is a good idea.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a Louisiana city on the Mississippi River, near the Gulf of Mexico. Nicknamed the "Big Easy," it's known for its round-the-clock nightlife, vibrant live-music scene and spicy, singular cuisine reflecting its history as a melting pot of French, African and American cultures. Embodying its festive spirit is Mardi Gras, the late-winter carnival famed for raucous costumed parades and street parties.
Address: New Orleans, Louisiana
Population 384,320
Established: 1718
Climate: typically varies from 47°F to 92°F and is rarely below 35°F or above 97°F.
County: Orleans
Median Home Price: $179,700
Did you know: Louisiana is the only state in America whose political subdivisions are parishes and not counties.
WHY YOU NEED TO SEE IT
The French Quarter, also known as the Vieux Carré, has been the heart of New Orleans for all 300 years of its existence, built on the banks of the Mississippi River on higher ground.
Not long ago, Frenchmen Street in the Marigny was a locals' hangout spot. These days, in-the-know tourists turn up for the live music offered in the neighborhood at Spotted Cat, d.b.a., Blue Nile, Cafe Negril, Snug Harbor and others, where bands play until 4am.
Jackson Square is a heady mix of old school and new, where the St. Louis Cathedral, which was completed in 1794, is juxtaposed with street performers playing everything from Dixieland to funk