Activities One Can Enjoy on Vacation

Mardi Gras parades occur over quite a few nights.  But, there are saint Patrick parades, the Italian Heritage Parade celebrating Saint Joseph Day, Easter parades, and, well, there are many other parades.  Jazz funerals can occur anytime with no notice.  Parade viewing is free.

A streetcar ride along historic Saint Charles Avenue, or along Canal Street, is an inexpensive activity that can be quite enjoyable, and is a good activity for kids to enjoy. Relax and ride the rails on the median, called the neutral ground by the locals. Streetcars have the right of way, so they stop only to load and discharge passengers, and at stoplights. TA streetcar will use a clanging bell instead of a horn to notify traffic it is coming. Since they run on electricity, they do not make fumes like other vehicles, which allows the passengers to ride with windows open if they wish.

There is a reasonable fee to ride a streetcar.  The red ones look nicer, but the green ones are the kind used in the past, and are more historic.

Of course the San Francisco trolley or the double decker busses of London might be closely related activities in those cities.  And there are many more cities with their own fun mode of travel for a tourist.  we could even include gondola rides in Venice.

Horse and carriage tours are available in the French quarter. The carriages line up on the Decatur street side of Jackson Square, and offer a unique experience. The driver doubles as a tour guide. With the narrow streets of the French Quarter keeping traffic moving slowly, these relics of the past fit in quite nicely.

Of course there are walking tours and bus tours.  Some walking tours specialize in ghost tours.  Others offer historic information.

The French Quarter streets are the stage for many street performers. Musicians, mimes, and dancers perform for tips. A walk can provide unexpected entertainment at any time.  If ou like it and stop it is expected a tip be left, but if you walk by you are not expected to pay.

New Orleans has many old buildings. The city was under both Spanish and French rule before being part of the Louisiana Purchase and bought by the United States in 1803. There are influences of the many cultures from which the city evolved in the buildings themselves. Certainly, this is true in the French Quarter, but it is equally true of some other parts of the city. A leisurely drive can offer entertainment of its own.

Many cities, especially European cities, have old, interesting buildings.  Those ruins of buildings built by the romans and by the Greeks are particularly.  Also, older churches rich with stained glass windows and painted ceilings are a must for tourists, provided the tourists are respectful.

The Natchez is a wonderful riverboat operating on the Mississippi River. Board the Natchez for a unique tour.

Of course there are river cruises on some rivers of Europe.  This is a wonderful way to relax and view the banks of a river, taking in scenes you would not otherwise be able to view.

Many artists sell their paintings on the fence of Jackson Square. If you are looking for something different, check out their art. But some will draw on request. Have a sketch drawn while you wait. See yourself. or the person you are with. emerge as a permanent reminder of the day.

Just an hour or so from the city of New Orleans are many old plantations.  Many are opened to the public, and may even feature dining.  Check which ones are open, and what is available.  Then contact the plantation you are hoping to visit, and verify it is actually open.  Private events like weddings can cause a plantation to be rented for the day, hence closed to the general public.

In just a short time one can travel to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.   There is a lengthy beach along the Gulf of Mexico.  Picnics, and seasonal water fun are possible.

And, if you travel a short distance on, you will come to the unique Biloxi light house, a relic of the past that is on the median of the highway.  It is located at just west of Interstate 110, a short spur from Interstate 10.  It is amazing that it survived Hurricane Camille and Hurricane Katrina.  I suppose the round design kept the force of the oncoming waves as the area flooded from exerting enough force to topple the structure,  An image of one of my Zazzle products that uses  the light house is used for the introduction image.

his article contains links to affiliate programs from some or all of Amazon, Zazzle, Viglink, and Ebay through Viglink, and Adsense advertising.  These must use cookies to allow for proper crediting.

The introduction uses one of our own images, and is our Zazzle product.