The New Orleans Cemetery is one popular location for city walking tours.
A New Orleans city resident, Democratic political analyst James Carville once said, "You don't need a guidebook to see New Orleans--just a good pair of shoes." New Orleans is friendly to travelers. Its attractions like St. Louis Cathedral are easy to locate, and neighborhoods like the French Quarter are segmented into just the right size for travel by foot. Free walking tours are an economical and healthy way to get to know "The Big Easy."
Jazz Walk of Fame
The New Orleans Jazz Historical Park and the National Park Service system recommend a walking tour down the Jazz Walk of Fame. This famous walkway is decorated with lampposts dedicated to famous jazz musicians. The walking tour begins at the post of Louis Armstrong and continues to honor musical greats like Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Prima. The full-color pamphlet for the one-hour tour can be downloaded at the NPS's website. Walkers can access a free voice narration for the tour by calling 504-613-4062 or downloading a file from the National Park Service's website.
New Orleans Jazz
Also provided by the NPS, this 11-stop walking tour offers travellers a glimpse into the rich history of jazz in the Big Easy. The tour begins at the statue of Louis Armstrong at Armstrong Park and ends at the Algiers Ferry Landing. Walkers are led through the French Quarter to see stops such as Congo Square, J&M Recording Studio and Preservation Hall. A color map is available for download from the NPS's website and voice narration is available by calling 504-613-4062.
French Quarter
The New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau offers its own free walking tour through the French Quarter. While this tour covers much of the same ground as the Jazz tour, its focus is on more general places of interest. The tour begins at the First Ursuline Convent and Charity Hospital and ends at the The house of Jean Pascal. During the tour, walkers explore Pirate's Alley, visit the oldest cathedral in the United States and take a walk on the Moon Walk. This is a long tour and travellers should set aside a minimum of two to three hours for its completion. The tour brochure is available for download through the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau's website.
Garden District
New Orleans Garden District is home to expansive Southern mansions and historic cottages. Visitors interested in the city's unique architecture will enjoy Frommer's free walking tour, which includes stops at the unique Greek Revival and Queen Anne hybrid Women's Opera Guild House and the Gothic Revival-styled Briggs-Staub House. This tour will also delight Anne Rice fans, as it includes her favorite bookstore, the Garden District Book Shop; the Lafayette Cemetery, which houses the Mayfair witches' family tomb; and the Brevard-Mahat-Rice House, her former home.
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