The PSP Expo is just around the corner. As you plan your trip down south, we compiled a blend of what the Crescent City has to offer — from eccentric jazz music, haunted walking tours, live theater and more.
A Ghastly Walking Tour
Witches Brew Tours wants to keep you in the Halloween spirit. The company — rated 4.5 stars on Trip Advisor and 4.7+ stars on Google Plus — specializes in cemetery and haunted walking tours featuring ghosts, vampires, witchcraft and more. On its 3 in 1 tour, guests visit the famed St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the alleged burial site of voodoo queen Marie Laveau. You can also learn the history of ghostly energies at the historic French Quarter and its infamous haunted hotels. Will you encounter the city's walking dead?
witchesbrewtours.com
Welcome Aboard
What better way to see NOLA than on the city's last authentic steamboat? The New Orleans Steamboat Company invites you aboard the NATCHEZ to enjoy authentic jazz music on the mighty Mississippi River. Optional Creole food and local beverages are served. Cruises begin and end at the Steamboat NATCHEZ Lighthouse Ticket Office, located on Toulouse Street.
steamboatnatchez.com
Boudin, Bourbon and Beer
If you happen to stay until Friday, stop by Boudin, Bourbon and Beer — a one-day delight for your taste buds. The festival, located at Champions Square, brings together more than 50 leading chefs to show off the many delicious ways of cooking Louisiana sausage. There will also be plenty of bourbon and beer to go around and live music. The event benefits the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides educational programs in the communities where chef Emeril's (the creator of the event) restaurants operate.
boudinbourbonandbeer.com
Learn the Magic of Mardi Gras
A trip to New Orleans would not be complete without a touch of Mardi Gras. What does it take to bring the festival to life year after year? At Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World, guests enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the hard work and extensive planning that goes into the grand event. Wander around the float workshop, where Mardi Gras floats are built from the ground up. Each 60-minute tour also includes a display of Mardi Gras costumes, a video presentation and a free slice of King Cake, a Mardi Gras delicacy.
mardigrasworld.com
It's Showtime
From Nov. 7 and into the weekend is the city's third annual InFringe Fest, an independent theatre arts festival. Under the theme "Favor the Bold," choose from over 30 shows located at local theatre venues across New Orleans. From musicals and classic performances to burlesque, comedies and dramas, there is something for even the pickiest theatre buff.
infringefest.com
Enter Gator Territory
Take a New Orleans swamp tour of the famous Honey Island Swamp by Cajun Encounters. On a small, flat-bottomed boat, visitors venture into the swamp and learn all about its natural inhabitants — from alligators, wild boar, racoons, snakes, owls and more. The company's local, expert captains have "lived on the water for most of their lives and have earned field degrees to give you the best experience possible," says its website. The tour offers pickup services at many French Quarter hotels and visitors centers for your convenience.
cajunencounters.com
Hop-On, Hop-Off
Who doesn't love the convenience of a hop-on, hop-off city tour? If you want to see all of New Orleans at your own pace, the City Sightseeing tours offer transportation approximately every 30 minutes to desirable locations like the Garden District, French Quarter, the Central Business District and more. Spend as much time as you want at each spot. You can also present your ticket to receive deals and discounts at participating attractions, restaurants and gift shops along the route. There's a tourist in all of us — it's okay to indulge yours.
citysightseeingneworleans.com
