New Orleans Getaway - Itinerary
From your hotel in the heart of the French Quarter, your ears will feast on the sounds of jazz musicians, steamboats, and streetcars. Here in the “Jazz Capital of the World” you will enjoy a jazz revue on famous Bourbon Street. Admire the stately St. Louis Cathedral, and savor the feast of sights and sounds of the French Marketplace. Board the Steamboat Natchez for a memorable cruise back to a slow and graceful time when cotton was king.
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the French Quarter on your own, perhaps taking a narrated carriage ride, or take some time to give back to this charming city by participating in a special service project. Be sure to pack your imagination for your mask-making class, where you participate in this age-old New Orleans tradition. And at the New Orleans School of Cooking, learn about the art of Creole-style cooking and then judge the newly-created results for yourself.
The sequence of touring and days may be altered to adjust to religious holidays, special closings of sites, air schedule changes, etc. Hotels listed subject to availability. Meal inclusions may vary by departure.
Day 1: New Orleans, Louisiana - Tour Begins
Enjoy the ultimate getaway to New Orleans, the "Jazz Capital of the World"!
Day 2: French Quarter
A leisurely walking tour of the beautiful French Quarter highlights the stately St. Louis Cathedral. You will delight in the sights and sounds of the French Marketplace and thrill to the views of the Moon Walk and Pirate's Alley, the infamous meeting place of Jean Lafitte and his partners. After the tour, a scrumptious and elegant Jazz lunch awaits you in the courtyard of the Court of Two Sisters Restaurant, where you'll be as enchanted by the rich history as you are by the outstanding Creole cuisine. While enjoying lunch, relax and sing along with a strolling Jazz trio. Then, board the Steamboat Natchez for a river cruise from the heart of the French Quarter. Your cruise takes you back to a time when cotton was king and life was as slow and graceful as the current on the Mississippi. The remainder of your day is at leisure. (B,L)
Day 3: French Quarter
Today you have the opportunity to spend time giving back to the people of New Orleans by participating in a special service project supported by the Collette Foundation. Or, you may choose to discover New Orleans your way with an entire day at leisure. Your Tour Manager is on hand to recommend suggested attractions and sightseeing so you may experience all the city has to offer. Ask about taking an optional excursion that includes a visit to Mardi Gras World, followed by a delicious dinner at a local restaurant and ending with a narrated carriage ride through the French Quarter. (B)
Day 4: French Quarter
Express yourself during your very own mask-making class. All you need to bring is your imagination; we’ll provide everything else necessary to participate in this age-old New Orleans tradition. Following this wonderful experience, board a comfortable coach for a city tour along historic Esplanade Avenue and St. Louis Cemetery #3, one of New Orleans’ oldest and most intriguing cemeteries. Later, drive along the shoreline of Lake Ponchartrain before following the street car line down majestic St. Charles Avenue past Tulane and Loyola Universities and beautiful mansions. Tonight, close your eyes and let your taste buds explode during an included dinner at the New Orleans School of Cooking. Watch as your chef instructs you on the art of cooking Creole-style. Then enjoy tasting the meal created. Following dinner, experience an exciting jazz revue. (B,D)
Day 5: New Orleans - Tour Ends
On this vacation you have experienced it all - tasty food, unique sites and the soulful sounds of New Orleans - all from a terrific location in the French Quarter. (B)
