Ten Best Low Cost Local Favorites in New Orleans

New Orleans is such a fun city to visit or live, known for its outrageous Mardi Gras celebrations and the Jazz Fest. If you do not have family living in the city it can be challenging to find the hidden gems when visiting this city. Here are ten low cost local favorites in New Orleans, non-tourist places to visit when you are vacationing in this busy and entertaining city.

New Orleans Jackson Square street performers

The city known for its entertainment, is rich with street performers, also know as the art of busking. Buskers perform on the street to entertain, getting paid for their performance through tips from spectators. The actors, singers, musicians, and performers can be found around the Jackson Square mall. The New Orleans jazz is also known as Dixieland that became popular in 1910. This music style can be found among the many street performers at Jackson Square.

Audubon Zoological Gardens

This is one of the biggest zoos in the U.S. that divides the gigantic park into continents and includes a swamp exhibit where you can see alligators and eat spicy Cajun food. A fun place to visit that New Orleans non-tourists might not know about it is located on dead end Magazine Street. There is also a dance hall over the swamp and cold beer is served from open to close. A combined ticket for the aquarium, riverboat, and zoo runs $26. There is an IMAX theatre next door to the Audobon Aquarium of the Americas.

Food and Drink for Non-Tourists in New Orleans

Approximately 10 minutes outside of New Orleans, in Jefferson, Louisiana, Crabby Jack's is a seafood lover's paradise with reasonable prices and rave reviews. For more information, call Crabby Jack at (504) 833-2722.

Cannata's King Cakes is world-famous and they offer 60 fabulous flavors such as Apple Cinnamon Pecan, Strawberry Cream Cheese, King Creole Praline and many more! Every King Cake is made from scratch, the old fashioned way. Contact them at 1-800-CANNATAS ext.118 (1-800-226-6282) to place your order or make a reservation. You can also order King Cakes and more to be shipped to you!

Tour and sample the specialty drinks at Old New Orleans Louisiana Rum, the Oldest Operating Rum Distillery in the United States that produces 4 different rums all year round. They have a fabulous Cajun Spiced Rum that I recommend you try. Daily tours are given at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and for only $10! The tour includes their specialty drink, the Cajun Iced Tea and a sample of their rums. You can purchase the products right at the distillery and they even have a specialty 10 year product that is only available at the distillery! Call them for more information 504-945-9400.

Non-tourist tour

Take a swamp tour in an airboat on the Barataria Swamp and through Cajun country, about 25 miles from downtown New Orleans. Just take BR 90 SW to SR 45 S to Crownpoint. The swamp entrance is at 9714 Barataria Boulevard in Crownpoint, Louisiana. Call 888-30-SWAMP for more information on the swamp tour.

New Orleans Jazz Fest

Don't miss the Jazz Fest held the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May. You can expect to find authentic Louisiana cuisine and unique food items at the music festival.

Low Cost Local Favorites for Shopping in New Orleans

If you are shopping for souvenirs and traditional or authentic New Orleans or Louisiana products, the French Market, near the end of Decatur Street, provides some of the best shopping options for non-tourist Low Cost Local Favorites in New Orleans. The Riverwalk, located at the base of the Poydras on the river has a great variety of souvenir stands and stores selling New Orleans gifts and souvenirs.

New Orleans Mardi Gras

Don't miss Mardi Gras if you are in New Orleans during the celebration. It falls in February or March depending on when Easter is. Mardi Gras falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which is 46 days before Easter. Easter can fall on any Sunday from March 23 to April 25 with the exact date to coincide with the first Sunday after the full moon following a Spring Equinox.

Sources:

Mardi Gras Calendar Dates, MardiGrasNewOrleans.com

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Presented by Shell, Associated Content, Ranee Wright

Destination Mini Guide, By Craig Guillot, gonomad.com

Classic Party Music for Mardi Gras 2010: New Orleans Style, Associated Content, Ranee Wright

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2653201/new_orleans_jazz_heritage_festival.html?cat=8

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2636081/classic_party_music_for_mardi_gras.html?cat=9