Everybody loves New Orleans. Here’s why

You have to try real hard to have a bad time in NOLA [View in browser]( [facebook]( [instagram]( [TikTok]( PICTURE YOURSELF IN… New Orleans [New Orleans] Balconies in the French Quarter Mardi Gras 2020 is my clearest travel memory of the last decade. I thought it was because of the world-changing events that followed. But I soon learned this is what New Orleans does: it lures visitors in with infectious fun, causing us to fall in love when we’ve barely scratched the surface. [New Orleans]( is a million times more complex than I know and can probably ever grasp. But reading more local stories – like this [deep dive into how tourism is changing the Bywater neighborhood]( – somehow only makes it more special. In the face of adversity, the city has never lost the magic of inviting strangers to share joy and community. I received an invitation everywhere I went. There was a backyard party I was invited to where beers flowed freely. At the Zulu parade, a man gently passed me a coconut throw (painted Zulu coconuts) without prompting just because he saw I was too far back to get one. One woman told me all about glass-bead necklaces and how to get them (go right up to the floats and ask very nicely). They didn’t have to invite me in. But they did. I will always be grateful. [AnneMarie McCarthy]     AnneMarie McCarthy   Destination Editor               [Mardi Gras]     Featured Story A local’s guide to Mardi Gras It’s two months until Mardi Gras bursts onto the streets – which means you have just enough time to get planning your trip (if you haven’t already). Here’s everything you need to know. [Read more]( Immerse yourself Navigate NOLA like a pro. Local Lonely Planet writer Adam Karlin shares some insider tips to make your next trip unforgettable. [View all stories]( [Neighborhoods to Explore]( When you’re in New Orleans, you know you’re in New Orleans. Elegant, colorful and often a little faded, the city’s architectural skin reflects its soul. [Read more]( Local tip: Walk through the [Garden District]( to feel a cityscape that’s evocative and exuberant. [Best Things to do]( Since New Orleans offers endless possibilities for fun, introduce yourself to the city’s famous charms with these top things to do. [Read more]( Local tip: Live-music is at the core of understanding what makes New Orleans special. Venues like d.b.a, Vaughan’s or the Spotted Cat consistently showcase the best local musical talent. [Free Things to Do]( Yes, the drinks are cheap – but that’s not the only reason New Orleans is good value. [Read more]( [Ways to Get Around]( Don’t leave New Orleans without taking a trip on a streetcar – a quintessential experience that costs the princely sum of $1.25. [Read more]( Ask an Insider Adam shares his excitement for Mardi Gras, his favorite thing to eat in his hometown and (most importantly) his favorite neighborhood bar. You're going to want these tips. What are you most looking forward to in New Orleans in the next three months? Mardi Gras and all of Carnival season! I’m not actually a big crowd person, but the way Mardi Gras and Carnival allow community celebration to mix with individual forms of expression is always magical and one of my favorite elements of living here. I haven’t been to New Orleans in a while – what’s the best new thing to do? Hit up the [Music Box Village]( a strange (in a good way) art installation/performance space. It’s like someone took all the junk from the movie WALL-E and turned it into a series of giant-sized, playable instruments, then corralled said instruments into a weedy space at the edge of the Industrial Canal. It’s odd and beautiful and affecting – which could really be said of New Orleans as a whole. What’s the one dish you always recommend people to eat while in New Orleans? Barbecue shrimp, hands down. Yes, I love gumbo and étouffée and all that, but barbecue shrimp – which isn’t really barbecued at all, but rather cooked in an incredibly rich garlic butter sauce – is unique to New Orleans and heavenly when sopped up with some crusty bread. A close second: pho. There’s a huge Vietnamese population here, and their cuisine is exceedingly well represented in local restaurants. [Bio image]     This may be the greatest city in the USA for neighborhood bars with lots of locals and character. Pony up to the counter at a spot like Bud Rip’s or Buffa’s, order a beer and a shot, and get ready to hear a good story. Folks here like to tell a tale. – Adam Karlin What should I read, watch or listen to before going on my trip to get me in the mood? The Ones Who Say They Don’t Love You, by Maurice Carlos Ruffin. Maurice is a local author who has penned a series of short stories that absolutely rip through the clichés about the city. He shows readers a place where – yes – magic does exist, but it is often created as a means of navigating pain, oppression and systemic disenfranchisement. Hit us with your best, most surprising fact about the city. A lot of people know jazz was created in New Orleans as an outgrowth of a musical tradition that began when masters let enslaved people use their native languages and practice native rituals in the 18th century. A lot of people don’t know jazz gained much of its initial popularity in the bordellos and brothels that dotted Storyland, the city’s old Red Light district. Anything else we should know before visiting? Participate with respect. An intensely specific set of circumstances and migrations came together to make New Orleans the unique place it is today. You can engage this culture at services at churches like St Augustine Cathedral, or at weekly neighborhood parades called Second Lines (details can be found at local radio powerhouse [WWOZ](. Come curious, be respectful and learn a little about a city that straddles the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and North America. Love travel inspiration in your inbox? Share with a fellow travel-lover by forwarding to a friend. Did someone share this email with you? Subscribe by clicking [here.](   This email was sent to you by: Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 © 2022 Lonely Planet [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy](