Nu-Shooz

Thanks for that, sounds like we have picked some great places to visit.

Rete

In case no one tells you, when you are walking through New Orlean's French Quarter and see the wrought iron balconies you will see there there are spikes going up the poles holding the balconies and all along the railings. This is because they did very seriously believe in Vampires and the spikes were to ward them off. Also you will see so many voodoo shops in the Quarter. Enter at your own risk

BTW if you want to gamble one night there is a casino right there as well. I've not been since we go to the casinos on the water in Mississippi in the Biloxi/Gulfport area. I believe the one in NO is the MGM.

If you aren't afraid of ghosties and ghoalies you might want to take the haunted tour of NO one night.

Here I found the link for you:

http://www.viator.com/new-orleans-to...=01&aid=yus978

meauxna

Oh you have, indeed.
We did a road trip flying into Nashville (not my cuppa) and driving Memphis, down the delta (there's a terrific Blues museum at the Crossroads, pm me for details if you can't find it) and swung around through Lafayette Louisiana (Cajun country & soooo scenic) on our way to New Orleans. You can take in the plantation drive outside NO also (not as much to see as you'd think).

Oh, you will probably also like Natchez Mississippi, and as you are coming down the Delta, take a portion of the Natchez Trace, one of the earliest roads.

Even though I had been to all those places before, it made a great trip all put together like that. Our music tour.

Nu-Shooz

Will be booking that one love that kind of thing. Thanks

Nu-Shooz

We are planning on taking the sat nav for the drive from Memphis to New Orleans..i was told it would take 5 hours or so?
Blues museum sounds a good stop off.

tonrob

Mapquest says 6, but it also depends on what you want to do along the way. When we drove it we did it over two days and took back roads. We stopped at Tunica for the casinos.

Patzy

I live in Memphis so if you need any info please let me know. NO is a great city to visit it took us about 6 to 7 hours to drive from NO to Memphis, allowing for stops......have fun

meauxna

Now you've got me daydreaming!

It's worth splitting that drive into 2 days if you want to do some sightseeing.
The start of highway 61 out of Memphis & through the northern part of the Delta is not the most 'scenic'... flat cotton fields.. but is worth seeing. It's also not a freeway, so is not the fastest road ever and it's away from the river. (the freeway of course is even less scenic)

If you do go the freeway route, Oxford MS is a classic example of the small towns there; the downtown square is charming (John Grisham fans will be especially interested).

BAck on 61, besides the Museum, it's worth giving Clarksdale some time, it's like a living piece of history and NOT yet all gussied up. Almost shocking, actually, but gives great context to the info in the museum.
http://www.deltabluesmuseum.org/high/pyv_stay.asp
The DH & I are pretty big blues fans; he was inspired to a tattoo of the 'Crossroads' sign after this trip.

The Natchez Trace is an incredibly beautiful drive and has several places you'd want to stop and look around; historic buildings stocked with period items etc. It's a very slow road, like driving through a park in many places, but you can jump on to it at several points off the main road. Because we were trying to make time, we jumped in at Vicksburg, but you could do even less of the Trace and still get the flavor, riding it into Natchez.
http://www.nps.gov/natr/planyourvisit/index.htm

Natchez would be a lovely place to overnight. This is a great place to tour antebellum homes & soak up that Gone With the Wind feeling. The town is very sweet and a carriage tour is a good way to cover lots of ground & understand what you're seeing. Terrific views of the river, and you really do feel like you stepped back in time.
http://www.visitnatchez.org/

You can of course freeway straight through to NO, but I really think the land between Lafayette and there is worth the detour. NO is one of the most unique cities ever; that's partly because of the piece of country it's in. The New Iberia region has to be one of my more favorite places ever & delivers all the dripping Spanish moss, giant oak trees, bayous, shrimps and Cajuns you could ever want.. all the things that make Louisiana magical.
Any of James Lee Burke's early books draw you a picture that you *have* to see in real life.
http://www.cityofnewiberia.com/site296.php

New Orleans could be a thread of its own! I'd just say, definitely stay in the French Quarter, park the car up and hoof it around. I usually wear myself out in about 3 days.
If you wanted to alter anything, I'd do less time in Memphis. Other than Graceland and the obligatory pass through Beale Street, there just isn't that much to do and it's very car-centric (apologies to the Memphis folk if I have missed the charm, but if we hadn't been visiting friends, I'd have skated straight through).


OK, I'm convinced.. I'm coming with you! It was fun 'virtually' revisiting those places just now!

Kaffy Mintcake

We loved Fritzel's European Jazz Pub in New Orleans. It's small, dark and a bit seedy (which seemed appropriate) but it wasn't overly crowded, the drinks were reasonable and the music was fantastic. You have to order one drink per set but can stay as long as you like. We saw Ryan Burrage (saxophonist) there who is accompanied by a band.

Here's the club's address:
Fritzel's European Jazz Pub 733 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116

Here's a Youtube clip of Ryan Burrage playing in the club by someone who didn't know how to hold the camera right-side up.
It would give you a good idea of what you'd hear if you went.

For Memphis, I would highly recommend the Civil Rights Museum. It's in the hotel where Martin Luther King Jr. was assasinated and is very worth visiting.
http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/home.htm

Nu-Shooz

I see you're out of there 2010??? Will be staying 2 days only in Memphis.
Wow, so much info there, sounds like NO is a great place. I'm so glad we chose this place.
I'm soooo looking forward to it, thanks for all your help

Are children allowed in these clubs? age 10 and 14.

Kaffy Mintcake

That's a good question, they might not be, I'd call and ask (their phone number is in the link). Interesting, it turns out the one I referred you to is New Orleans' oldest operating jazz club.

http://www.fritzelsjazz.net/

Even if Frizels doesn't admit children, I'm sure someone does.

Bink

+1 to Fritzels. Great little place.

Snug harbour, on Frenchman is always a nice Jazz place and also serves pretty decent food. http://www.snugjazz.com/site/

Loads of great places to eat and drink in NOLA, food is generally very good but you can easily spend a lot.

I also highly recommend getting some Char-broiled oysters from Drago's at the Hilton (2 Poydras street). Great for lunch or a starter before going on somewhere else.

Enjoy NOLA, it's a great place. I'm fortunate enough to go there regularly with work and always enjoy my time there.

Kaffy Mintcake

Oh, and how could I forget ... you HAVE to go to Cafe du Monde in New Orleans for coffee and beignets. They are open 24 hours a day.

meauxna

OH yes, multiple times!

That's mandatory, and no one will let them forget!

gaaa... 11am and raining here, had a late sleep in... how much could I go for some Cafe du Monde right now?!?!


Kaffy, was it you and I laughing about wearing all black to CdM?
Anyway Nushooz, don't wear black when you go there.

Kaffy Mintcake

Nope it wasn't me, but I remember going to Cafe du Monde on a cold, dreary day when it was drizzling and being perfectly happy with my cafe au lait, splitting a serving of beignets with my husband.

All black would be dangerous to wear to CdM! Something with white polka dots might be safer.