City Focus on New Orleans

From the December 15, 2011 Issue of Student Group Tour Magazine

Welcome to a city that is equal parts pretty, gritty and tough. Students won’t find a destination more jam packed with diverse architecture, art, food, music and enriching history. Founded in 1718, the Big Easy is the birthplace of jazz, the home of Mardi Gras and is marked by deep French influences, as seen in its grand cathedrals and plantations. It demonstrated its resilience by bouncing back from the devastation of two ferocious hurricanes in the past seven years. Instead of licking its wounds, the city continued to welcome visitors and put on a show for all to see in true NOLA fashion.

(800) 748-8695, ext. 5053
www.neworleanscvb.com

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Magnificent mother

Located in the French Quarter, St. Louis Cathedral is the mother church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the United States. Groups marvel at its stunning exterior with its majestic facade and towering center spire. At night, the front is aglow, showcasing its significant presence in the area. The inside is open for self-guided tours when Masses, weddings and funerals aren’t under way. Check out the beautiful stained-glass windows, paintings and the Rococo-style gilded altar.

(504) 525-9585
http://stlouiscathedral.org

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Learn to be wild

A program of the Audubon Nature Institute, the Audubon Zoo is home to a mix of creatures on 58 acres. Visitors can stroll through a real swamp in the middle of uptown New Orleans or sit in a rocking chair stationed throughout for some relaxation. In addition to its animals, the New Orleans favorite is shaded by 100-year-old oak trees. Grab a bite in the restaurant on-site following a tour.

(800) 774-7394
www.auduboninstitute.org

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Stimulating centennial

The New Orleans Museum of Art turned 100 in December, and it has come a long way since sugar broker Isaac Delgado offered $150,000 to New Orleans to build a “temple of art.” It houses a $200 million collection in 46 galleries, which includes European painting and sculpture from the 16th through 20th centuries, American painting and sculpture from the 18th and 19th centuries as well as Asian, African, Oceanic, pre-Columbian and American Indian art and much more. Fifty sculptures are on display on five acres. 

(504) 658-4100
http://noma.org

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War wonders

The National World War II Museum has drawn nearly 2 million visitors since opening in 2000. Its impressive collection of artifacts includes a C-47 fighter plane, Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf 109 airplanes, a Sherman tank and an amphibious Jeep. The museum opened three new venues in 2009: the 4-D Solomon Victory Theater, the Stage Door Canteen entertainment venue and the American Sector restaurant. There is also a coffee shop and a museum store on the original grounds.

(504) 528-1944
www.nationalww2museum.org

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Under the sea

More than 15,000 sea life creatures representing nearly 600 species are on display at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, a student group hotspot. A walk-through tunnel brings the colors of a Caribbean reef to life. Students can touch a stingray, feed a parakeet and gaze at massive sharks and tarpons in the 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico exhibit. It’s always fun to watch the penguins’ and Southern sea otters’ goofy antics, too. Discounts are available for groups of 10 people or more.

(800) 774-7394
www.auduboninstitute.org

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