Why choose this tour ?
Get ready to move and groove in the birthplace of jazz as you explore the storied streets of New Orleans with this self-guided walking tour. Discover rich history and culture as you stroll through the French Quarter. Stop for beignets at Cafe du Monde, hear a spine-chilling (and accurate) tale of horror at the LaLaurie Mansion, and visit the city’s lively Bourbon Street, where there’s never a dull moment! Along the way, you’ll learn about the origins of Cajun and Creole, get to know jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, and so much more. After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route. Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
What makes French Quarter Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour of New Orleans a unique experience ?
Welcome to New Orleans! This 2-mile stroll through the French Quarter will take you on a journey back in time through the history of the Crescent City. So, as the French say, allons-y! Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
The plaza at the top of this platform is Washington Artillery Park. Established in 1976, this small park honors the many militaries which have used this land as a defensive fortification, from the French to the Spanish, the Confederates, and the United States. Strange bedfellows, for sure!
There’s a fantastic view straight ahead of St. Louis Cathedral. It’s the oldest continuously used cathedral in America. Originally built in 1720, it burned down in 1788 and was rebuilt immediately within a year. We’ll walk right by the Cathedral later in the tour and get a chance to visit.
To our left is the popular Decatur Street! With it’s horse-drawn carriage rides, restaurants, and clubs, I’m sure you’ll find yourself spending lots of time walking up and down Decatur for the rest of your visit here in New Orleans. There’s always something to do!
This building straight ahead is the ever-popular Cafe Du Monde French Market. First established in 1862, Cafe Du Monde became famous for its chicory coffee. Chicory is the root of a blue-flowered perennial plant first used in ancient Egypt. Before it was ground and mixed with coffee in France, Egyptians used chicory in tea to heal various ailments. But the chicory coffee here wasn’t just made for its flavor – it was born out of necessity.
Do you see a steamboat straight ahead? That’s the Natchez, the last authentic steamboat on the mighty Mississippi. You’re looking back in time at the early 1800s, when boats like this one revolutionized trade and travel up and down this river. They’re also the inspiration for riverboats, which Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn famously rode on. Plus, if you want to experience some jazz on the river, this boat is the place to be! Note: This tour is 1.9 miles long and covers all its essentials in 1-2 hours.
Look up and to the left. See that balcony with all the plants up ahead? That’s the birthplace of game-changing jazz musician Danny Barker! Pause in front. Barker’s own family, the Barbarins, were musical legends in their own right. His grandfather played with Louis Armstrong!
This is it: The LaLaurie Mansion. So what exactly happened here? Delphine LaLaurie had a disturbing appetite for violence, which she inflicted upon her enslaved servants. She beat them, underfed them, and seemed to take pleasure in their suffering. It became an open secret in town, but authorities didn’t really care. That is, until Delphine chased an enslaved girl off the edge of the roof with a whip and the girl fell to her death. Authorities then forced the LaLaurie’s to surrender their nine remaining servants.
We’re walking toward Bourbon Street, New Orleans’s party central. But this street wasn’t named after liquor. It got its name from the French royal family at the time, the House of Bourbon! In the early 1800s, Bourbon Street was mostly residential. In 1859, the sleepy neighborhood did get a bit of excitement. That’s when the French Opera House arrived. Clever entrepreneurs saw this as an opportunity. Soon, restaurants, bars, and other diversions popped up around the opera house. The sleepy street started to wake up!
On our right, directly on the corner, stands Jean Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop. On chilly nights in the 1770s, legend has it that the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte held meetings at this bar! He and his fellow privateers housed illegal contraband as they discussed which ship to hit next. Back then, a blacksmith shop stood next to the bar, hence the name.
Look ahead a few houses on the left. Do you see a yellow house with a triangular roof and a balcony? That’s the former home of famous American playwright Tennessee Williams! Head over there and pause in front.
Directly ahead of us is Louis Armstrong Park. I’m sure you can guess who it’s named for! Cross the street toward the park when it’s safe, then continue straight into the park. Born in the early 1900s, Louis Armstrong grew up in a rough neighborhood here in New Orleans. But he wouldn’t have traded it for anything. He once said: “We were poor and everything like that, but music was all around. Music kept you rolling."
This 12-foot statue depicts none other than Louis Armstrong himself. It honors the jazz musician’s life and legacy. And what a legacy that is! Armstrong lives on throughout New Orleans. The airport carries his name, as do countless other landmarks. But not everything bearing Armstrong’s name is in New Orleans. Some of it isn’t even on this planet! In 1991, NASA named an asteroid after Armstrong! They called it 9179 Satchmo.
The orange mansion across the street is the LaBranche House. The LaBranche family designed the home in the Creole style back in the 1830s. They frequently held lavish parties where party revelers spread out on the three balconies. If you look closely, each balcony has cast iron grillwork with oak leaf and acorn detailing.
The green garden to our left is St. Anthony’s Garden, dating back to the founding of the city. Over the years, this has been used as a shelter for fire victims, a dueling ground, and a home for Capuchin monks.
Tour Description & Additional Info:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Walking tours: couples can share one tour by splitting headphones
- Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Options To Choose for Your Trip:
- French Quarter Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour of New Orleans
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French Quarter Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour of New Orleans Inclusions:
Included with Your Ticket
- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Learn more: dive deeper into any story you enjoyed with extra stories.
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Not Included
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Special Instructions:
Set your tour up NOW ahead of your trip, while in wifi/cell signal. Do not wait until your travel date, your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR. 1. Find The Setup Instructions NOW: - Email: Search for “Action Tour Guide” with a subject line "Your tour operator sent you a message.". Check All Mail and Spam. - Text: Search for “Action Tour Guide” sent from 14159804997. - Viator App Messages: Viator App > Bookings > View Voucher > Contact Tour Operator - TripAdvisor App Messages: TripAdvisor App > Account > Messages Can’t find it? Ask Action Tour Guide to resend: actiontourguide.com/redeem/ 2. Download The Tour NOW: You MUST follow the instructions and download your tour BEFORE traveling to the site over WiFi/cellular. Do NOT wait until your travel date to download the tour. Your tour is VALID FOR ONE YEAR. The tour is not tied to your travel date and is valid any day, any time for multiple visits for one year from your purchase date. If you've reserved the tour for multiple participants (e.g., four people), the same password can be redeemed multiple times (e.g., four times). 3. Audio Tour Tips Not familiar with Action Tour Guide’s audio tours? Watch a short video: actiontourguide.com/tutorial Important Note: Your purchase is for the audio tour ONLY. It does not include entrance tickets to parks or attractions. Valid For One Year: Use your audio tour anytime, any day over the next 12 months. No need to change your booking if your travel date changes. Support: Action Tour Guide is here to help! For quick answers read the Action Tour Guide website FAQs at actiontourguide.com/faq. For further help, call Action Tour Guide at 1315-291-0634, chat online at actiontourguide.com, or email support@actiontourguide.com.
Please be advised..
- This Tour is Provided by Travel with Action.
- Tour Timezone & Starts at America/Chicago.
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- This Tour is Rated 4 Stars based on 1 valid reviews on TRIPADVISOR.
- Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
- Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.
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