Located right off the Spanish Plaza, Vue Orleans is a fun, historic observation tower allowing for…read moreunobstructed views of the riverside and French Quarter. For an observation deck it's reasonably priced as well. Checking in is very easy and it's right next to the Canal Street trolley station making it a convenient stop. When you enter you're greeted with videos and short exhibits outlining New Orleans' deep and rich cultural history. This part really sets a tone for the city and is a great introduction into some of the city's culture if you're unfamiliar with it. When we went it was pretty empty and we felt like we had a lot of time to explore. Heading up into the elevators you watch a short clip on the walls which shows New Orleans throughout the ages and lets you see history well beyond when it was even known as New Orleans. Once you reach the main deck you are inside the tower with panoramic views of the city. There are also exhibits there showing more history. One more short elevator ride later and you are at the outdoor deck. The deck itself is pretty barren but does allow for great photo ops weather pending. We unfortunately went on a very windy day so if you're looking to take photos make sure to check the weather and plan ahead as best as possible. This observation deck isn't as classic or immersive as Sears Tower in Chicago or some of the ones in NYC, but for what it is, it's a very beautiful and fun way to learn more about the vibrant city of New Orleans.

Great immersive and educational museum and observation deck. If you get the city pass, you can get…read morea discount on their Bayou Breeze cocktail at their observation deck cafe. My family and I enjoyed this experience as it is interactive and very interesting. And the 360 view of New Orleans is beautiful.

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting this interactive cultural funhouse, highlighting the Joy /…read moreArt / Music of New Orleans. It was truly a love letter to the city, full of colorful, unique, and creative art exhibitions, all made out of recycled materials (which I found to be impressive and admirable)! There was a curated playlist of amazing jazz music playing throughout, which really set the tone delightfully! Upon entering, guests are welcomed into the space and there was a personable and helpful guide who described the space, then led us into the opening rooms. The first one was blue with neon pink, green, and glowing, with letters, symbols, and TV screens, comprising of one big puzzle. The next is a long hallway of hot pink with blue detailing and lights throughout, along with cool protruding, spongy shapes representing organs on the walls. Very psychedelic vibes! This led into a large space with sculptures of a larger than life alligator mouth open wide, creature atop a huge pot with the words "Stir the Pot," crawfish, tall lily pads, insect jazz band, peacock and more. There was also a cool, pretty flower wall, and upon closer inspection, I discovered they were made out of records. From there, I headed upstairs to see the blue, purple, and pink room holding the gorgeous Fountain of Youth glowing bright blue, filled with gold coins in them for wishes. The ceiling was lush and leafy with a lovely hanging light, as well as a pearly oyster shell inspired one. In addition, there was a shotgun style house with a balcony we could go in. Back downstairs, I explored a bar neon colored words related to New Orleans all over the walls, with upside down piano & drinks. Next, I checked out a decorative white a black room, featuring a glowing green stand. With the press of a button, it turned the room disco-y blue with a glow in the dark effect. After that, I went into the beautiful Desire themed room with humongous pearl structures hanging down, where you can write and release your true desires. Such a dreamy, ethereal feel to this one! There was a little sleek and sexy speakeasy space, called Candlelight Lounge. Then was one of my favorite exhibits: Feast Mode, displaying glittery New Orleans culinary delight classics in true indulgent style, as well as super funky, fun paintings and art pieces. Near this room was a window with full of shiny, delicately constructed objects of vibrant colors representing New Orleans. This was a glitzy video opp with props offered, with the phone going in the center, spinning around and capturing us dancing, shimmying, or whatever suits your fancy! The remaining few installations were music themed with drums and large silver circles, which could be played, emitting different sounds to create a symphony of song. At the end, there was a room showcasing larger than life sculptures of heads of musical greats, including Louis Armstrong, Lil Wayne, and Big Freedia. I really enjoyed my time here. Staff were super welcoming, accommodating, and helpful with photos throughout. The artistry, detail, and care was visible throughout each and every art piece and room. JAMNOLA was such a fun experience and I recommend you check it out for yourself!

I took my 12 year old daughter to JAMNOLA and we had a blast…read more Every room was something different, super colorful, interactive, and just fun. She was excited the whole time, and honestly so was I. It's one of those places where you can actually enjoy it as an adult and still let your kid have their moment too. We definitely got some really cute pictures, so if you're into that, you're going to love it. It's very "stop, pose, next room, do it again" in the best way. It's not a super long experience, but it's worth it. I'd say give yourself about an hour, maybe a little longer if you're taking your time with photos. Only tip is try to go when it's not too crowded, because some people really turn it into a full photoshoot and you'll be waiting a little. Overall, I'd definitely recommend it, especially if you have kids or just want something different to do in the city.

Amazing show and even better memories! Would recommend for a girls trip…read more The food was also tasty!

I've been to some of the best burlesque and drag shows in the country. I've seen gravity defying,…read moresultry, sophisticated shows in New York. While this is not that . . . it's perfect for New Orleans and the south and has it's own flavor. I loved the show here! Madame Kennedy was the perfect emcee (and also put on a wicked black light bubble show). Some acts were sexy and seductive. Some acts were acrobatic and martial arts based, as Madame Kennedy said, "I'm sure someone is missing their anime character somewhere." There were hula hoops, feathers, and grinders! One act was a woman who put a grinder against a metal plate on her belt and sparks flew everywhere! I also saw my first (as far as I can remember) burlesque by a transgender man. It was so much fun! We did the reserved tickets, so we got a table right up front. There isn't a bad seat in the house, but I really prefer being in the center of the action. Doors open at 6:30 for a 7 PM show, but ours was running late (we didn't mind). They have a basic bar with decent prices. They also do dance classes, varying show themes, comedy routines, and more. So you'll always be able to see something different.

Terrific comprehensive museum of all things Mardi Gras and New Orleans. Pricing is slightly…read moreaggressive, but it's worth it for the comprehensive look. someone recommended this as a "all tourists should see this "exhibit and it was definitely a must see.

Staff was amazing and it was great to try on the costumes! Def worth the visit and time.read more

Today I had a reading with Miss Raven! The shop was able to schedule me in and before I knew it,…read moreRaven was whisking me away for our read! It was amazing! I laughed, almost cried, felt seen!!! Thank you so much for your wisdom, insight, and time with me!

This shop is recommended by NOLA famous High Priest Robi Gilmore as authentic. They have tons of…read moreherbs and ingredients to practice vodou (which is the actual way to spell and say it if you're talking Haitian Creole, like voh-doo). They have alters and figurines. Candles and protective charms. There are educational explanations pinned up around the shop for many of the items on display so you can learn about the practice while perusing. They also have voodoo dolls, which Robi has mentioned are NOT an authentic part of the religion. While the shop has a lot of interesting inventory, it was super crowded in here and very touristy, so you really couldn't enjoy the wares or talk to the employees (who I'm told are knowledgeable and interesting, but alas I'll never know for myself). That's the main reason for four stars instead of five.

Some interesting exhibits here, really enjoyed the Michalopoulos: Mystical Expressionism space…read more Those were my favorite pieces. Currently experiencing renovations, so a couple of the rooms on the first floor are being remodeled.

We stumbled across this museum by accident on our way towards the St Louis Cathedral. We figured to…read morestop by on a whim simply to learn about the history of Louisiana. It's a very complex history, from the Spanish rule to French rule to the Louisiana Purchase to slavery, amongst many other things. This museum helped give us a brief snapshot of history. The Cabildo itself has been kept in fairly decent shape despite the climate and the 1988 fire. They've done a good job preserving the building. For $11, you can't go wrong and you get your money's worth. Budget about 30-45 mins to see everything in entirety. It's not a long visit by any stretch.

Such a great spot to get information on the area, meet up for the St. Louis Cemetery tour and the…read morehop on/off tour bus. They have a cute gift/souvenir shop with coffee cups, magnets, t-shirts, hats, etc. Clean, accessible bathrooms. The staff here is so incredibly friendly and helpful. The adjacent lot has parking for only $5 for up to 10 hours .

What an incredible spot in New Orleans to rest and relax. There are lots of seating areas where you…read morecan cool off. Basin St. Station has a wonderful snack bar and a very nicely well-stocked gift shop. All the information about the trains in New Orleans was SO interesting. The old railway station is one of the main stops on the "Hop On-Hop Off" tour bus that we were using during our stay in New Orleans. It is also the spot where you can purchase tickets for the "official" tour of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1.

New Orleans Pharmacy Museum was such a cool and fascinating museum to walk through! We were looking…read morefor something unique to check out while visiting for the weekend, and this was 5 stars all the way. The museum is highlights the world of pharmacies and medicine in the 19th century. It was so interesting! They also have this amazing little hidden back area where they do weddings - it was a dream of a spot tucked away perfectly. Extra plus - they do military discounts on tickets. Definitely a must check out if you're into museums.

Honestly this is my 3rd visit to the guided tour of the 1st licensed pharmacy in the United States…read more Each visit I learn more fascinating details.

I'm intrigued by all things spooky, murder, true crime, death, etc. and had been wanting to go to…read moresome sort of murder museum for a LONG TIME. But it seems they're always in tourist-y towns, never close to where I live. But of course while planning the New Orleans trip, we had to add this to the itinerary. Right when you walk in, there is a little gift shop we perused at first. There was lots of really cool little knick knacks, and looking back on it, I regret not getting anything. The other three girls were extremely intrigued by all the posters and art lining the wall, and Rachel went back and forth on getting this one piece of art so many times. (Side note, she decided to not get it, but a couple days later on the trip, she was so distraught about her choice to not get it, that she requested we go back to the museum simply so she didn't have to leave New Orleans without it). I saw a t-shirt or baseball cap or something that said something to the effect of "I Came to the Museum of Death and puked" or passed out or something, and I saw it before we even went in! I have an extremely high tolerance for blood, and murder & death related things, so I wasn't necessarily worried at that point, but I was extremely curious what us 4 girls were about to get ourselves into. It's disappointing I have no pictures to attach because they didn't allow photography of any sort inside. I really wish I did, because this museum was packed with things right up my alley. There was a huge serial killer artifacts, including letters written by serial killers, artwork by serial killers, and memorbilia from murder scenes, like O.J. Simpson and the Manson Family. I didn't know this until later, but I guess the New Orleans Museum of Death has the biggest collection of Serial Killer artwork anywhere. There was lots of explicit and graphic photos of famous deaths and car crashes, taxidermy, and autopsy tools. It's funny because I already knew I was going to like that stuff. But I didn't know how the other girls would do. Even if they seemed intrigued, I knew at least Ashley struggled to look at real crime scene photos. But all the girls seemed to do really well; even if it was hard to look at it, they had a hard time looking away. I was unbelievably amazed that I was looking at the actual handwriting of notorious serial killers on paper, and I could barely believe my eyes that I was looking at actual artifacts and memorbilia, like the bra and panties of Aileen Wurnos. Around 3/4ths through the museum, I started feeling kinda nauseous. That had been a somewhat recurring theme during my New Orleans trip, and I truly think it was just because I was away from home in an unfamiliar territory (so I was anxious constantly, although I was having SO much fun), it was UNBELIEVABLY hot and humid being below sea level, so I was always sweaty and uncomfortable. And we were drinking alcohol every couple hours every single day, so my stomach just wasn't happy with me. And although I know for a fact I wasn't ill because of the material in the museum, but I'm sure it didn't help. I was *mostly* done with looking at what I wanted to anyway, so I asked Ashley if she'd sit down with me while we wait for the others to be done. We were hoping there would be some sort of seating toward the end, and sure enough, there was the perfect place for us to relax and wait. The end of the museum has a Theater of Death, it is literally just a room with maybe about 6-8 church pews in front of a movie theater screen TV, that just plays an endless stream of gore. We were seeing heads get chopped off, violent executions, police finding dead bodies inside attics, and just the most gory scenes. It was such a funny and ironic moment, that we went to find solace and somewhere to relax, and that was where we wound up. Even though I can handle A LOT of gore, even sitting watching that for 20-25 minutes straight was quite the sickening experience. I feel like we spent ample time at the Museum of Death, and I don't feel like we rushed ourselves or missed anything. But I do hope I get the opportunity to go back another time, so I can get more time viewing and appreciating the artifacts collected to make such an interesting museum. I'd also love to see the other location(s?) of Museum of Death.

I walked out after 5 minutes. Tourist trap that profits off glorifying serial killers and…read morecommodifying murder through shock value. I didn't leave feeling thought-provoked, enlightened or creeped out. I left feeling heavy, confused and physically sickened. Some people may like that, like that one website from millennial times where they would show you shocking pictures of death to get clicks, but not me! Misleading signage in front makes it look educational. $20 basically helped to pay off this "museum's" investment in serial killer prison art, photos of dead/murdered people, including children, displayed like a quirky tchotchke. I identify as being dark and macabre, majorly Scorpio, super fascinated by medical history, psychology, shadow side of humans and support normalizing death, but my god, these are people's family members that were murdered or died by tragic accident being consumed for fun. The tone was to shock. It seemed to normalize the consumption of shocking acts, objectification of people and disruption of empathy. It also smelled really bad. I'm not trying to be vindictive (as someone who works at a science museum, could be improperly preserved specimens) but it smelled so bad I had to put my mask on. The back of the ticket says their exhibits may fall on you and they're not responsible. They don't explain this when they take your money and hand your admission card, didn't realize until I got back to my stay.

This is a place you must go, plan 30-60 mins. Miss Minnie Lewis is a wonderful and knowledgeable…read morehost who brought the museum's collection to life for us. Great for locals and visitors alike. Call ahead.

To get a down to earth true ninth ward view of the Mardi Gras Indians and their history along with…read moresocial and pleasure clubs of the lower ninth ward, you only need to stop at one place and this is it. Ronald Lewis does an excellent job with this tiny museum located in his backyard on Tupelo street. He has history in there from before and after Katrina and a myriad of information to share about his experiences as well as what it takes to be a Mardi Gras Indian. You get a real feel for the culture in this place it is a homey small place but to be honest I would rather learn about our culture by going here rather than a large sterile museum. You need to phone ahead to see his amazing personal collection of items and bring some cold water as you won't find air conditioning here. What you will find is is years of New Orleans culture and get a closer look at what makes the Mardi Gras Indians so special.