Come to New Orleans for Music, Meals, Museums and Mardi Gras

Victor Block on Jan 24, 2026

Think swinging jazz and soulful blues played in clubs and by street musicians outside. Picture sidewalks crowded with people sipping beverages as they stroll along. If you guessed that describes New Orleans, you're right -- but there's more. Now imagine museums whose collections range from food and festivals to history and mystery. Where? New Orleans again.

Many visitors to "the Big Easy" are on a quest for fun and frivolity, and both are there in abundant supply. That's especially true during the Mardi Gras celebration, which marks the end of festivities and the start of the traditional Lenten fasting season.

New Orleans has much to offer, no matter what time of year you come. For those seeking something more educational but no less enjoyable, there's fascinating history, a rich cultural melange and attractions for people with various interests.

Anyone seeking to delve below the surface of the city's well-known appeals has an inviting choice of museums that await exploration. They offer insight into aspects of New Orleans for which it is famous along with less well known but no less intriguing tidbits.

My wife, Fyllis, and I spent time walking along Bourbon Street, enjoying music both in bars and outside and partaking of meals that lingered in our minds long after they left our taste buds. We also satisfied our curiosity at museums which, we concluded, too many people might overlook.

A good place for an exploration is The Historic New Orleans Collection. From its modest start, this institution has expanded to occupy 15 buildings spread over three blocks in the iconic French Quarter. Exhibits present the history and culture of New Orleans, Louisiana and the entire Gulf of Mexico region. They document events that have shaped the area as well as the everyday lives of people who passed through and settled there. Guided tours provide in-depth information for those seeking more than a casual introduction, and changing exhibits offer insight into various aspects of the area's stories.

One current exhibit is labeled "New Orleans Musicians in Art" and other is "French Quarter Life: People and Places in the Vieux Carre." "A Vanishing Bounty: Louisiana's Coastal Environment and Culture" informs visitors about land loss and climate change.

You'll also get a glimpse of the work of float artists, carnival royalty and Zulu coconuts. These are coconuts that have been drained, shaved and decorated so that float-riders can hand them to spectators along the parade route.

Another museum offers an opportunity to experience the wonder of carnival festivities without the craziness. Mardi Gras World is where floats for the parades in New Orleans and other locations around the world have been made since 1947. In a studio so vast it could almost have its own ZIP code; visitors see artisans constructing lavishly decorated floats literally from the ground up.

The scene is set in a video, followed by a taste of King Cake, a treat closely associated with Mardi Gras. This confection, which is believed to have been brought to New Orleans from France in 1870, is served throughout the carnival season.

During the tour, Fyllis and I felt like Lilliputians in a world of giants. We were dwarfed by larger-than-life likenesses of cartoon figures, movie personalities and fantasy creatures. Oversized animals and flowers the size of trees loomed over us.

Other museums that deal with vital facets of what makes New Orleans such a magnet for tourism rounded out our immersion. The aptly named Old U.S. Mint was built in 1835 and during its decades of operation produced millions of gold and silver coins. Today it houses the New Orleans Jazz Museum, which displays treasure of a different kind. On display are instruments that were played by notable musicians and other memorabilia that traces the history of jazz from its humble beginnings on the city's streets.

Food has top billing at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, along with local beverages of the city and the South. There's a separate exhibit area for each Southern state that tells the story of the various cultures that contributed to the region's culinary heritage. You can sign up for your own cooking class and learn to make authentic New Orleans dishes such as gumbo and jambalaya.

If you've ever wondered why New Orleans is sometimes also called the Crescent City, a new attraction will show you. "Vue Orleans" provides a unique look at the city from the 34th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel. You can also step inside a larger-than-life trumpet-shaped listening station to hear jazz, blues or classical music. As you gaze out over the Mississippi River, another exhibit provides the opportunity to virtually pilot a riverboat down its sharp turns and swift currents.

Whether enjoying distinctive dining, listening to world-class jazz or checking out any number of other attractions, New Orleans offers a surprisingly complete menu of choices -- a number of which are below the usual visitor radar.

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WHEN YOU GO

For more information: neworleans.com or 504-566-5011.

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Victor Block is a freelance writer. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.