Louisiana · 4 days
New Orleans, off Bourbon after dark
New Orleans rewards people who pick a lane. This itinerary is music, food, and walking — not a scavenger hunt of every famous corner. Stay in the Marigny or Lower Garden District so the Quarter is a visit, not your bedroom.
Day 1
Arrive and walk the Quarter like a local guest
Drop bags and do a daylight loop: Jackson Square, the river, Chartres more than Bourbon. Café du Monde is a bit; the surrounding streets are the point. Dinner in the Marigny. Early night. Tomorrow is for ears.
Day 2
Garden District, then Frenchmen
Streetcar or a rideshare to the Garden District. Walk Prytania and the side streets, not just the mansion checklist. Afternoon po-boy, nap if you need it. After dark, Frenchmen Street: two rooms, not six. Stay for a full set. That is the photo that belongs in the chat.
Day 3
One museum, one dress-up dinner
Pick the WWII Museum or the Historic New Orleans Collection — not both. Leave air-conditioning time in the schedule. Book one reservation you dress for: Commander’s, Dooky Chase, or a smaller room a friend swore by. The rest of the eating can be counters and sidewalks.
Day 4
Slow morning, then fly
Beignets are optional. A long coffee and a last walk along the river is not. If your flight is late, add a second-line if one is happening, or just sit. New Orleans is better when you stop collecting it.