The Big Easy. The Crescent City. Paris of the South. Whatever you call it, New Orleans is a magical city filled with history, culture, music, and fun. Plan a trip with your student group to N’awlins and experience a place that’s a world away, just down the road!
Café du Monde
Photo by Peter Burka, flickr
No trip to New Orleans is complete without a stop at Café du Monde in the New Orleans French Market! It’s a traditional coffee shop that was established in 1862 and has become a Crescent City tradition. Your group can sit back and enjoy the French Quarter while sipping a steaming café au lait and eating beignets: square French-style doughnuts drenched in powdered sugar. The café is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so it’s always the perfect time to try this iconic snack!
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Photo by Rusty Costanza / Digital Roux Photography
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has been voted one of the top five aquariums in the country and one of the top things your group can do in New Orleans! The exhibits take you from the Caribbean, to the Amazon rainforest, to the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River. You’ll see over 3,600 animals from more than 250 species, including rare animals like white alligators and African penguins. Don’t miss Escape Extinction: Sharks, where your students will help save the sharks and board an escape pod to complete your mission!
Dine on a Riverboat
Photo courtesy of New Orleans Steamboat Company
Experience one of our nation’s oldest and richest traditions. Enjoy lunch/brunch or dinner on the sternwheel riverboat City of New Orleans as you travel down the mighty Mississippi River. The two-hour cruises feature live jazz music and New Orleans-style cuisine. Your group can relax and enjoy the panoramic views of the river and the city that sprawls along her banks. The trip is narrated, so you’ll also learn historic facts and highlights of the area.
The National WWII Museum
Photo courtesy of the National WWII Museum
The National WWII Museum uses immersive exhibits, multimedia experiences, artifacts and oral histories to tell the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world. Your students will learn why the war was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. They will leave with a better understanding and appreciation of the price that many paid for our freedom.
Mardi Gras World
Photo courtesy of quirkytravelguy.com
New Orleans has been celebrating Mardi Gras since the 1700s. While your group may not be there at carnival time, you can tour one of the workshops that has built floats for the parade since 1947. You’ll see colorful costumes, amazing floats, and learn about the history of the festival itself. Don’t miss this chance for a behind-the-scenes look at the backbone of Mardi Gras!
Cajun Pride Swamp Tours
Photo by Joshua J. Cotten on Unsplash
Cajun Pride Swamp Tours take place on a private wildlife refuge 25 miles from New Orleans. Since the animals are protected from hunting and fishing, they aren’t shy of humans. So, there’s a chance your students will see lots of gators and wildlife! Our captains are born and raised in Louisiana, and will entertain you with stories about life in the swamp. Add a tour of a 1800s plantation to learn more about this Southern way of life.
Take a Ghost Tour
Photo courtesy insidethemagic.net
New Orleans is often referred to as the nation’s most haunted city. With cemeteries where the dead are buried on top of the swampy ground, and a mix of African, French and Spanish superstitions, it’s the perfect place to find ghosts! Whether you choose a tour that focuses on the historic aspects of the city or one that offers a more theatrical experience with costumed guides, you never know who – or what – you and your students will see on a ghost tour in the Big Easy!
Do you want to take your students on an all inclusive trip with unforgettable memories? Request a quote for travel today!
