As you prepare your calendar for mediaXchange 2017, don’t forget to have some fun outside of the conference!
We’ve rounded up the 9 must-see events for your trip:
1. Jazz Fest
Come early and stay late to experience Jazz Fest! This music festival has been going on since 1970. This year the fun runs from April 28 to May 7. More than 425,000 fans attended last year. Single day tickets are $75 at gate, lineup TBA but this year featured music legends Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, Paul Simon, Buddy Guy and more.
2. Café Du Monde Beignets
Do not visit New Orleans without tasting a famous Beignet. These fried fritters are topped with powdered sugar and served in sets of three. This café has been a coffee stand since 1862. It doesn’t get much more iconic than that.
3. Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone
Wind down after the conference by taking this French Quarter bar for a spin. The 25-seat bar slowly spins, rotating completely every 15 minutes. It overlooks Royal Street, so you’ll have one of the best people watching spots around.
4. Bourbon Street
Explore Bourbon Street, a famous avenue in the French Quarter. It stretches 13 blocks and hosts spots like the Royal Sonesta Hotel and Fritzel’s European Jazz Club. Walking down this street will make you want to dance the night away!
5. Tarot Reading
New Orleans is steeped in spiritual ritual with themes of voodoo and ghosts running throughout the city’s lore. Check out Bottom of the Cup Tea Room for a psychic reading. Tarot Cards are believed to tune in to intuition and feature themes like love, money and success.
6. Ghost Tour
Join a walking ghost tour around the French Quarter and learn about the history of the city. The eerie tour visits hauntings and a guide tells a rich story at each stop of disease, disaster and sinister spirits. Most tours run at 6 and 8 p.m. and are under a mile in length.
7. Gumbo
No trip to the Big Easy would be complete without trying some flavorful Cajun gumbo. Go straight to the source and check out the Gumbo Shop, named Best Gumbo by Living New Orleans and Best of New Orleans. Try a chicken andouille or jambalaya dish or dine on a traditional shrimp po-boy.
8. French market flea market
Get ready to shop until you drop. This 300 year old French market spans six blocks. You’ll find local wares like candles, jewelry and art. It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
9. Air Boat Tour
Journey 30 minutes from the French Quarter to the swampland to board an airboat. Get up close and personal with alligators and exotic wildlife of the Louisiana swamps. The tours last two hours, giving you time to meet gators, snakes, egrets and bald eagles. It’s not just a tour, it’s an adventure!
Tweet us with what you’re most looking forward to exploring using the hashtag #mxc17!
Contributing writer
