Creole goodness and Cajun magic have come together to make New Orleans cuisine the stuff of legend. Jambalaya, beignets, gumbo, muffulettas … the list of delicious choices is long.  
 

Creole Tomato Festival
New Orleans residents have celebrated Creole tomatoes, grown in rich soil and vine-ripened in Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes. The festival features a parade, food booths, cooking demos and an outdoor music stage.

Summer Events Southern Food & Beverage Museum
Summer brings added flavor to this museum, which celebrates everything related to America’s Southern cuisine. 

Tales of the Cocktail
Tales of the Cocktail highlights NOLA’s legendary cuisine and cocktails in a week-long celebration, highlighting world-famous bartenders and tasting menus. 

Louisiana Seafood Festival
For visitors who may miss New Orleans’ summer fare, the annual Louisiana Seafood Festival offers an opportunity to experience the state’s culinary legacy, with a weekend of live music, chef demos and, of course, a bounty of fresh seafood. Stuffed po’ boys, charbroiled oysters and tasty crawfish dishes are among the standouts. 

Even in New Orleans’ warm days of summer, there are plenty of options to “laissez les bon temps rouler” — let the good times roll, as they say in the city. Don’t let the humidity put a damper on your visit to New Orleans.  Morning and evening options for outdoors fun are plentiful in the Big Easy, says the concierge at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.

Art and Breakfast at Jackson Square
Bring your fresh beignets and coffee from Café du Monde to Jackson Square and watch this landmark come alive when local artists — some who have been selling their creations here for decades — begin to show up. Drawings and paintings adorn the park, especially on evenings and weekends.

Audubon Nature Institute and the Fly Along the Mississippi River
Head to historic Uptown New Orleans to one of the country’s most exciting zoos, which features an aquarium and insectarium. Once you are done with the sun bears and sea otters, appreciate the Mississippi at The Fly — possibly the best place in the city to relax at sunset.

See the City at Crescent Park
Stretching between Faubourg Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods, Crescent Park is one of New Orleans’ newest green spaces.  Grab a bottle from Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits on the park’s east end, then grab a seat for the best view of New Orleans skyline in its glory along the Mississippi River, recommends the concierge at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.

Mornings in Audubon Park
Hop on the streetcar early in the morning for a peek at the Garden District as it wakes up. Audubon Park’s ancient live oaks have stood the test of time in the Crescent City, while Bird Island, in the middle of the Audubon Park Lagoon, has different species of wading birds putting on a show throughout the year. For those hoping to get a morning jog in before temperatures start to rise, Audubon Park is an ideal destination.

Fourth of July at Woldenberg Park
Take in the Mighty Mississippi and a grand fireworks show while celebrating America’s birthday from this 16-acre green space. Sculptures — “Ocean Song” and “Monument to the Immigrant” among them — and a 90-foot linear water fountain with light shows are among the highlights of this peaceful oasis.

Thursdays at Twilight at New Orleans City Park
Once the sun starts to set, the New Orleans Botanical Garden welcomes jazz and R&B musicians for live performances every Thursday. The series is beloved by local music lovers for its intimate shows and refreshing mint juleps. Through Aug. 31.

Pickleball at City Park

Get active at the City Park Tennis Center.  Featuring five new pickleball courts and 20+ lighted courts, City Park is a beautiful place to brunch up on your court skills.

• When staying with us in New Orleans for a Saints game weekend, be sure to view our top suggestions for tailgating like a local and "Park & Play" with us.
  
  
• When in the area during an LSU football weekend, be sure to view our top suggestions for tailgating like a local and "Treat You" to a stay with us at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans.
   

1. New Orleans has been influenced by both our French and Spanish heritage, but the city was officially founded in 1718 by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville.
   
   
2. Louisiana officially joined the United States in 1803 when Napoleon signed the Louisiana Purchase.
   
   
3. Since New Orleans sits on the Mississippi River, we take on the nickname “The Crescent City” for its winding crescent shape.
   
   
4. The city’s streets are names after royal houses in France and Catholic saints.
   
   
5. Canal Street was developed wider than other streets because it was a dividing line between two cultures (Creoles and Americans). There was supposed to be an actual canal that was built, but it never came to fruition. In fact, many streets change names after crossing Canal because the French and Spanish did not want to be forced to live with the Americans and English.