Best Things to Do in New Orleans

Traveler’s Guide to New Orleans History

New Orleans is a vibrant, multicultural city thumping with parties and festivals, backed by a tenacious and fascinating historical backdrop. A vacation to The Big Easy is sure to leave you mystified and exhilarated. Make the most of your stay with our list of places to go, sights to see, and things to do in New Orleans, Louisiana.

New Orleans History

New Orleans was founded by the French in the early 1700s and ruled by the Spanish for four decades before the United States took ownership in the Louisiana Purchase. In the same year that the city was established, a hurricane swept in and wiped it out, forcing colonizers to rebuild. This brief and unfortunate story is quite indicative of the rest of the city’s history, one that is dramatic, romantic, lively, and tragic.

Things to Do in New Orleans

The entire city of New Orleans is etched with a history so beautiful and enthralling, that even your kiddos will be fascinated with these New Orleans historical sites. Here are a few of the best ways you can explore the city’s compelling and lamentable past.

Explore a Museum

What better way to begin your historical journey than with a trip to one of the city’s many history museums, such as The Historic New Orleans Collection? Wander through intriguing exhibits, watch history unfold on a big screen, marvel at influential artifacts, and gain a deep understanding and respect for the marvelous city of New Orleans.

Tour a Plantation

Once upon a time, New Orleans was home to more millionaires than any other city in America. Tour the immaculate mansions of old Southern wealth for a first-hand look at how the rich and powerful lived in the early 1800s. Book a tour at the Laura Plantation, which was rated by Lonely Planet Travel as the best history tour in the United States, step inside the Oak Alley Plantation, or dine at the Houmas House (a.k.a. The Crown Jewel of Louisiana’s River Road).

New Orleans Cemeteries

How many cities can label their cemeteries as tourist attractions? The New Orleans cemeteries (locally referred to as the Cities of the Dead) are definitely worth a visit. The beautiful and haunting marble chambers were a solution to the problems that arose from burying the dead in a swamp town below sea level. Not only are these immaculate graveyards a rare and stunning historical sight, but you can also visit the burial sites of those who left a significant imprint on New Orleans’ history, such as the revered Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau.

Budget Car Rental in New Orleans

Make the most of your time in The Big Easy with a dependable vehicle to get you to each fascinating destination. Pick up a quality Budget car rental at our New Orleans Airport car rental location, at Canal Street, or at any of our other New Orleans locations. Whether you need a family-sized SUV for a weekend of historical site visits or a monthly car rental deal, we’ve got you covered. Rent a car in New Orleans from Budget Car Rental for the best rental car experience.