This year’s APTA Combined Sections Meeting is closing in, and we for one couldn’t be more excited. Whether it’s your first time (or your hundredth) to The Big Easy, there is almost always something new and exciting to experience. While the CSM conference is the big draw, of course, be sure to take an occasional break to experience some of what the amazing city of New Orleans has in store for you.
To help you plan your trip, we’ve put together our recommendations for some of the best tourist sites, restaurants, and jazz clubs New Orleans has to offer.
Best of New Orleans for CSM 2018 Attendees
Best Venue to Catch Live Jazz
Fritzel’s European Jazz Bar
4.5 of 5 stars (622 Reviews)
The oldest operated jazz club in New Orleans. Fritzel’s European Jazz Bar has been home to the top talent in Jazz for years. It’s located right in the heart of the action on Bourbon Street. Be sure to try one of the world famous Bloody Mary’s while enjoying the set.
Runner-Up: The Spotted Cat Music Club
Best Tour to See a Ghost
New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo, and Vampire Tour
4.5 of 5 stars (420 Reviews)
Delve into the darker side of New Orleans’ with an evening walking tour of the city’s most eerie sites! You’ll wind your way through the streets of the French Quarter while be regaled by the spooky tales of ghosts, vampires, voodoo, and witchcraft.
Runner-Up: The Ultimate 5-in-1 Haunted Tour Experience
Best Street to Get Your Party On
Bourbon Street
3.5 of 5 stars (5,285 Reviews)
No New Orleans list of things to do is complete without an obligatory mention of this infamous stretch of pavement. Bourbon Street (in the French Quarter) is the liveliest and wildest thoroughfare in the city. Weave your way through the crowds of people and step into one of the many (MANY) bars to enjoy some relief while enjoying one of the greatest spectacles of people watching available.
Runner-Up: Canal Street
Best Museum to Guarantee an Outdoor Art Fix
The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA
4.5 of 5 stars (1,086 Reviews)
Atypical of most sculpture gardens, this garden is located within a mature existing landscape of pines, magnolias and live oaks. Visitors can enjoy the lovely greens and outdoor paths of the garden while taking in some of the most well-known sculptures including Corridor Pin, Hercules the Archer, and L’ARBRE AUX COLLIERS (TREE OF NECKLACES).
Runner-Up: Banksy’s ‘Umbrella Girl’
Best Tour to See Some Wildlife
Cajun Encounters
4.5 of 5 stars (2,970 Reviews)
Get your bayou on with this eclectic tour that takes you into the heart of Swamp Country. On every tour, you’ll have the opportunity to encounter snakes, owls, wild boars, and alligators! For an extra thrill, sign up for the sunset tour to watch the swamp come alive at night.
Runner-Up: Kayak Swamp Tours
Best Place to Cheat On Your Diet
4 of 5 stars (28,089 Reviews)
No trip to New Orleans is complete without at least one Beignet Binge at Café Du Monde. Beignets are square French-style donuts that have been generously covered in powdered sugar. Café Du Monde has been bringing these sweet treats to New Orleanians (and the rest of us) since 1862. They have locations all over New Orleans, but the one closes to the CSM conference can be found at 800 Decatur Street (right near Bourbon Street).
Runner-Up: Angelo Brocato Ice Cream
Best Restaurant to Scratch Your Creole Fix
Coop’s Place
4 of 5 stars (2,782 Reviews)
A Decatur Street staple since 1983, Coop’s Place is the place to go for a true taste of New Orleans at down home prices. Customers frequently rave about Coop’s shrimp creole, jambalaya, and fried chicken. Guests can enjoy a true New Orleans dinner experience, without breaking the bank.
Runner-Up: Upperline Restaurant
With hundreds of restaurants, nightclubs, museums, and tours, to choose from, it’s easy to see why New Orleans was chosen to host the 2018 CSM APTA Conference. We’re excited to be a part of this year’s conference. Be sure to stop by and see us at Booth #231.