There is always something exciting happening in New Orleans, and your visit to the city will go a lot smoother if you have your own car to get around town. Renting a car at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is easy, and saves you the trouble of getting downtown. Stretch your legs after the flight, at the New Orleans Botanical Gardens in City Park, which houses more than 2,000 species of plants and flowers.

Key Facts

There is always a party going on in the French Quarter and on Bourbon Street. You can pick up the city's favorite drink, a Hurricane, and dance your way up the street to the sounds of jazz. If you missed Mardi Gras this year, visit the Mardi Gras World in the Warehouse District and learn more about the history of this celebration, you can even see past floats.

Taking a tour of a cemetery might seem morbid, but you'll want to find time to visit the city's St. Louis Cemeteries. Since New Orleans is actually below sea level, the dead are buried in above-ground vaults, some of which are ornate and unique.

Hints and Tips

You'll find yourself in the air a little less than 3 hours when you fly from the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to New Orleans. If you want to sound like a native, brush up on local vernacular: for instance, "lagniappe" means getting a little something extra for free.