Welcome to New Orleans

Home of Mardi Gras, the French Quarter, and known to many as the most unique city in the US, New Orleans is a must-see city. This year Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, February 13th, and the city has a lot of great events lined up for the extended weekend. We here at InMotion always strive to make your business trips feel like adventures, so here are some great tips for your time in New Orleans!

Visit Jackson Square

The Most Photographed Place in the Big Easy

Jackson Square is a historic park in the French Quarter, and both its beauty and its fascinating history make it a great place to wander around and unwind, or to sit and get some work done. It was in Jackson Square that Louisiana was made US territory after the Louisiana Purchase, and it had a cameo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the place where Joseph Sisko met his wife.

Trying to get some work done outside of your hotel room? Bring your Thule Subterra Backpack 30L along, with its protected case for your computer and comfortable straps for any long walks you may end up taking. Make sure to pack a water bottle as well to combat the New Orleans heat!

Stop into Cafe du Monde

Try their Chicory-blended Coffee!

Cafe du Monde is a New Orleans must-see. Situated within walking distance of Jackson Square, it’s an open air coffee shop that has existed for over a century. Chicory-blended coffee is a New Orleans tradition of mixing chicory, a plant root, into a coffee roast for a unique and tasty experience that will definitely wake you up and get you ready to explore the city!  Make sure to try their beignets as well, one of New Orleans’ other signature foods.

If you’re a Jimmy Buffet fan, you might recognize Cafe du Monde from his song “The Wino and I Know”!

Shop in the French Market

Find Your Perfect Souvenir

The French Market is right down the street from Cafe du Monde, and is an open air market that is open seven days a week, so make sure not to miss it! The market began as a Native American trading post in 1791, and has been a cultural hub ever since.

It’s a great place to just relax and stroll through with your Beats by Dre Studio 3 Wireless Headphones while enjoying the history of the city and maybe picking up something to take home! With these headphones, you don’t have to worry about wires getting tangled up while you’re trying to get a closer look at an antique.

Check out the Germaine Cazenave Wells Mardi Gras Museum

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Connected to Arnaud’s Restaurant

Germaine Cazenave Wells reigned as queen over twenty-two Mardi Gras balls, the most of any woman. The exhibit shows several of her gowns, as well as the costumes of other Mardi Gras performers, and has a gallery of historic photos so you can start imagining what your Mardi Gras parade experience will look like early on!

Best of all, it’s attached to Arnaud’s, a restaurant committed to serving authentic Creole cuisine, and if you get hungry looking at the exhibits, you can stop to eat or get a drink. A family-owned establishment, Arnaud’s is an acclaimed New Orlean’s stop, with a taste of history in every bite.

Visit Preservation Hall

Experience the History of Jazz

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Preservation Hall is dedicated to appreciating the rich history of New Orleans jazz, and has concerts seven days a week. Visitors to the city can experience both the city’s jazz traditions and some great tunes! Even Louis Armstrong once said that Preservation Hall was the place to find all of the greats, and as jazz continues in the 21st century, that’s even more true! If you’re finding yourself loving any of the music, you can pick up your Beats by Dre Studio 3 Wireless Headphones and listen to jazz anywhere with Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s recent album!

Mardi Gras Parades

Last, but Certainly Not Least, the Parades

Parades for this year’s Mardi Gras started in January, but there are still plenty to see on Fat Tuesday itself. The parades start on February 13th at 8:00am with the Krewe of Zulu in Uptown New Orleans. If morning parades aren’t your style, look out for the carnival fun the night before with the Krewe of Orpheus Uptown! Another amazing parade to check out is the Krewe of Muses, an all-female krewe. They’re best known for their beautiful, hand-decorated shoes, which are one of the most coveted Mardi Gras throws. You can catch their parade February 8th! No matter when you enjoy the carnival fun, the floats, flambeaux carriers, and krewe royalty are all a must see for any visitor to the city!

While you’re at one of the parades, make sure to bring along your GoPro Hero6 Camera to capture all the action. It’s even got great nighttime settings for all of those after dark parades.  With amazing image quality and hands-free capabilities, the GoPro Hero6 Camera is a must have to make sure you’ll have a memory of all of your Mardi Gras fun!

See the City Like Never Before

With all of these amazing sites and experiences in New Orleans, your visit will be jam-packed with fun. Whether you’re there for a business trip or just to explore all of the great things the city has to offer during Mardi Gras, InMotion wants to make sure you have a great trip. Stop by before your flight and we can help get you ready for an amazing vacation.

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