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DAY THREE
For a decadent breakfast , head to Brennan ’ s on Royal Street , which has been operating since 1946 . The eggs hussarde — English muffins topped with coffee-cured Canadian bacon and poached eggs — is a standout . Don ’ t miss the theatrical table-side production of bananas Foster , invented in 1951 and named after Richard Foster , a friend of restaurant founder Owen Brennan . This iconic dessert consists of sliced bananas being flambeed tableside in a mixture of brown sugar , cinnamon , butter and banana liqueur and served with vanilla ice cream .
After breakfast , embark on a Music Legacy Tour that takes you from Congo Square , along Rampart Street and into Armstrong Park by the Mississippi . Congo Square is now a park commemorating enslaved Africans who gathered on Sundays to play the music that would later emerge as jazz . Pioneering artists like Louis Armstrong , Jelly Roll Morton , Dr . John , Irma Thomas and the extended Neville family shaped the city ’ s music scene for over 100 years . And then there ’ s city native Fats Domino — whose songs
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Statue of a marching
band in Congo Square
included Blueberry Hill , Walking to New Orleans and Ain ’ t That a Shame , and who Elvis Presley credited as ‘ the real king of rock ‘ n ’ roll ’. The heritage of these local legends is carried forward by talents such as Branford Marsalis , George Porter Jr ., Kermit Ruffins and Trombone Shorty . New Orleans also has an eclectic line-up of festivals . Time a visit in early February to catch the city ’ s most famous celebration : Mardi Gras . Carnival season here is marked with king cake ( an iced round of cinnamon-swirled brioche ), festive purple , green and gold decor and spirited parades that start weeks before the big day . The international Jazz & Heritage Festival is always scheduled for the last weekend of April through the first weekend of May and brings in acts like the Rolling Stones , Foo Fighters , Chris Stapleton , and the Killers . Meanwhile , if the Saints are playing , there ’ s no better window into local life than a football game in the Superdome on a Sunday afternoon . Local basketball team the Pelicans play in the Smoothie King Center next door . Both venues are walkable from the French Quarter and Central Business District .
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ESSENTIALS
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When to go : Summer months are guaranteed to be hot and humid with occasional downpours . Carnival season begins in January and coincides with temperate weather . The fall months are cool and breezy , but watch out for hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico . Currency : U . S . dollar Language : English Getting around : The French Quarter is walkable , with rickshaw bikes often available for a quick jaunt . Board a streetcar on Canal Street for a scenic open-air ride uptown . Taxis and rideshare options are widely available .
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BOOK IT NOW
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Spend a weekend in New Orleans before or after a seven-night cruise with Royal Caribbean . Snorkel among colorful reefs in Cozumel , see Mayan ruins in the Yucatán Peninsula and spend a full day at Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman during a fun-filled western Caribbean sailing . Board the Brilliance of the Seas in New Orleans on March 1 , 2025 .
CALL US
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Contact our agency to book your vacation .
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image : alamy . Illustration : Lis Watkins |
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