New Orleans is one of those destinations in the US that is a step away from the usual international tourist hubs of NYC, Florida and Las Vegas. It falls into the class of places that many would like to go to, but probably will never go on enough holidays to America to quite make it. Therefore you’ll often hear an impressed whistle or envious sigh as you regale those about your recent experience. It is justifiably world famous, and sits perfectly within a more extended travel of the States if you’re lucky enough to go on one.

The Street

There is much to do here, but a particular magnet to visitors is Bourbon Street. Classy and seedy all at once, as well as cultural and over touristic in the same moment, it is a great starting off point for the wider French Quarter where it is located. Being just off Canal street means you can arrive here by the historic tram line which runs down the impressively wide road and is incredibly cheap for travellers looking to save money. The corner of Bourbon Street is a popular location for impromptu jazz performances kicking off, which regularly involve double digit numbers of performers and is an appropriate entrance to this lively street.

The Nightlife

By day the street is relatively empty and its messy appearance is all the more apparent in the absence of the bar night lights. New Orleans earns its seedy reputation from the presence of strip clubs down the road and there are often employees of said establishments hanging out of the front doors in various states of undress. In this respect, at night it lives up to its adult reputation, but it is not the sole focus of the street and you can easily avoid this aspect if you’re just here for a good time. Live music, jazz clubs, cabaret, comedy, breweries, pubs and dancing clubs; the list is almost endless for what can be found down here.

This lively scene is made all the more enjoyable by the Open Container Law in the French Quarter, which means that you may carry alcoholic drinks around in plastic cups (not cans or bottles) in the street, creating the famous street scene that has become well known here, and reaches its pinnacle in Mardi Gras.

Bars, Food and Drink

Thanks to its shared American, European and African history there is an eclectic array of popular food and drink served in many of the historic venues down the street. For the foodie, make sure you leave in plenty of time to ensure you can stroll along and check out the menus outside the different restaurants. Bourbon Street has a range of Creole cuisine including Gumbo, which has Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and African influences. There’s also the typical Southern and Cajun cuisine available such as Fried Shrimp, Catfish and Crawfish and even alligator.

For people who like to combine everything, many of the bars serve food as well as having out door areas to hang out making it popular to head to the bars straight away to get the evening started! Bourbon Streets party scene is underpinned by its reputation for serving up some extremely tasty local beverages. The famous Hurricane is a strong cocktail consisting of syrup, fruit juice and rum, and can be found at bars such as Pat O’Brien’s, which is popular due to it’s live music and dueling pianos. If strong drinks are your thing, then head over to Tropical Isle Original which serves the Hand Grenade, a drink known for its potency and recipe shrouded in secrecy. If you are interested in history, you will find the Old Absinthe House a must see, although it’s famous Absinthe House Frappe no longer includes the illegal Absinthe, instead mixing in Herbsaint.

A night down Bourbon Street truly does come alive at night time, creating a unique character that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. The street may appear slightly messy during the day, but when the bright lights come on, the music gets going and the crowds are out there is much to enjoy down a road who’s many buildings date back to the 18th century.

Author Bio: Guest Post written by Matt who is a regular travel blogger and enjoys venturing around the world. As well as America, he likes to explore the Mediterranean.