New Orleans heats up in the summer—both with rising temps and a hot lineup of festivals and events. Plan to do most of your outdoor activities in the cooler morning or evening hours, and beat the heat at shady parks and indoor attractions. Once the sun sets, join other revelers for ghostly explorations or a cocktail bar crawl. Here are our top summer picks.
- Create your own Cajun or Creole feast with a hands-on cooking class.
- Escape to the shady Louisiana swamps for an airboat ride or bayou tour.
- Stay cool aboard an air-conditioned vehicle on a hop-on hop-off or minibus tour.
- Sip a cool Sazerac or Hurricane on a boozy cocktail crawl.
- Steam down the mighty Mississippi at sunset on a jazz dinner cruise.
- View expansive collections and artifacts at the National WWII Museum.
- Get spooked after dark on a voodoo, vampire, or ghost tour.