Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Westwego

"The city’s oldest art museum boasts over 40,000 artworks and objects from across the globe and the ages. But if you’re in town for Mardi Gras, make a point to see their current exhibition on 19th-century Swedish artist Bror Anders Wikstrom, who immigrated to NoLa in 1883 and helped shape the carnival experience into what it is today with his elaborate float designs. Afterwards, take a stroll through the museum’s enchanting five-acre sculpture park."

"Whether you’re an art aficionado or just a lover of aesthetically pleasing works and spaces, then you should pay a visit to NOMA. It’s housed in the center of New Orleans’ City Park, where you can also easily spend a day exploring. The museum features more than 40,000 objects, ever-changing exhibits by world-renowned artists, and is the oldest fine arts institution in New Orleans."

"The South has one of the most distinctive aesthetic cultures in the US artistic universe, a creative vision indelibly influenced by the region's complicated history and deep links to the land. Few museums explore the throughlines of Southern art like the Ogden, which boasts lovely gallery spaces, an awesome gift shop and kicking after-hours performances."

"Located directly adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art, the five-acre park provides a delightful instance for exploring the picturesque landscape of live oaks, Spanish moss, and lagoons. The 64 sculptures are, of course, another strong reason to venture to the garden. Location: 1 Collins Diboll CirArchitect: Lee Ledbetter Architects, Sawyer/Berson Architecture And Landscape ArchitectureDate: 2003Contact: https://noma.org/sculpture-garden"

"The sculpture garden that sits just outside the New Orleans Museum of Art is a wooded quilt of streams, pathways, lovers' benches and, of course, sculpture, mainly of the modern and contemporary sort. During spring and summer, theatrical productions are often put on here, but it's a lovely spot for a stroll any time of year."

"Just outside NOMA’s front door, find the recently expanded Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, a collection of sculptures set among City Park’s oaks and lagoons. The three-acre expansion includes 27 outdoor artworks. Admission to the sculpture garden is always free."

"The Contemporary Arts Center, housed in a large redbrick building that stands out in the relatively muted Central Business District, is one of the city’s most prestigious spaces for the full gamut of contemporary arts, including painting, film, theater, and music. Exhibits, which rotate every four to eight weeks, can include any visual art form, from photography to sculpture and painting. The featured works are well-curated—sometimes around themes, sometimes around individual contemporary artists."

"Right next door to The National WWII Museum is the Contemporary Arts Center, known to locals as the CAC. This artistic hub hosts a variety of exciting contemporary art exhibits and events. To open the 2018 season, the CAC is presenting “Constructing the Break,” their annual open call exhibition of 29 regional artists."

"Located in the center of City Park is NOMA, New Orleans Museum of Art which the building itself is beautiful holding a permanent fine art collection of over 40,000 pieces. We will be checking this out on our next trip as well!"

"After voodoo (or vodou) came to New Orleans in the 1700s—first via West African slaves, then with Haitians after the Haitian Revolution—it entwined with the city’s identity. Which is why, since the 1970s, a French Quarter visit has been deemed incomplete without a stop at the tiny Historic Voodoo Museum. If it’s lore you seek, you’ll find it here."

"Take the famous St. Charles Streetcar to Central City to visit the McKenna Museum of African American Art. The museum’s mission is to make African Diasporan fine art available and accessible to visitors of all ages. They work to preserve the culture of the African American community in Louisiana."

"The McKenna Museum is a fine art institution with a direct focus on African Diasporan pieces. In addition to their collection, McKenna offers a range of diverse programming such as guest speakers, workshops and book readings to further their mission and work."

"La Boca, which resides in a chic renovated former warehouse, is an Argentinian steakhouse specializing in fine cuts of beef served in a simple and traditional way. Established by James Beard semi-finalist chef Adolfo Garcia, La Boca features designs from local architect Brooks Graham and metal craftsman Duane Link, resulting in a beautifully designed space able to accommodate the restaurant’s ever growing clientele. Try dishes such as the chorizo de la casa, La Boca’s house made grilled sausage and the bife ancho, a mouthwatering 24 ounce cowboy cut, bone-in rib eye steak."

"Bife La Boca is a lime- and garlic-marinated Angus sirloin flap served with avocado. Reservations accepted. Dinner Mon.-Sat., late-night Thu.-Sat."

"Commander's Palace has been around since the late 1800s, but under Ella Brennan’s leadership starting in the 1970s, the restaurant essentially redefined New Orleans cuisine and catapulted into stardom with the help of celeb chefs Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse. Today, the menu and service are top notch with James Beard Award-winning chef Tory McPhail leading the kitchen and Ti Martin and Lally Brennan running the show. Go for lunch and make sure to end the meal with the bread pudding soufflé and whiskey sauce."

"Garden District Not all classic New Orleans restaurants live in the French Quarter. Uptown in the Garden District, right across from Lafayette Cemetery No.1, is the famous Commander’s Palace. You might recognize the former head chef’s name: Emeril Lagasse, who helmed the Palace’s kitchen in the '80s, long before “Bam!"

"This private and cozy private room is perfect for solo travelers, couples, or digital nomads visiting New Orleans. It’s modern throughout, and offers wifi, a workspace, and free on-site parking. Staying here puts you 15 minutes from the French Quarter and right in the middle of the neighborhood’s coolest cafes and eateries."

"Frenchmen Street is one of the greatest New Orleans attractions. The most famous section of this street consists of three short blocks that pack in a lot of action of the musical variety. Who doesn't enjoy live music while out to eat or out for the evening?"

"Take your pick for nightlife: Bourbon Street or Frenchmen Street. New Orleans is famous for its nightlife, and no New Orleans itinerary would be complete without including it: this isn’t a place to call it quits and head back to the hotel after dinner."

"Explore locally made jewelry, crafts, gifts and artwork under a twinkling canopy of lights as you walk hand-in-hand with your honey at the Frenchmen Art Market. Located at 619 Frenchmen Street, this charming outdoor craft fair opens only at night and is nestled between some of the most popular nightclubs in the area. After you’re done shopping, pop over to The Spotted Cat Music Club for live jazz music in an intimate setting."

"New Orleans, LA 70116Phone: (504) 358-8287Website: www.Palacemarketnola.com. One of the best things to do in New Orleans at night is wander the Palace Market on Frenchmen Street. It’s an open-air market, hosted only in the evenings, that displays local art and other artisanal goods under string lights."

"In addition to the history behind the name — which we discussed earlier — this French Quarter coffeehouse has been a favorite of many since they opened, including Emily Klein Morris. She loves the energy and vibe in the shop, and vouches for their “perfect almond milk lattes.” She said the espresso is perfectly smooth with no bitter aftertaste, and that “they’ve mastered the challenging task of frothing the almond milk without oversteaming it."

"Green is beautiful at Satsuma, a fetching dining spot with locations on Maple Street Uptown and on Dauphine Street in the Bywater. Yard eggs scrambled with basil pesto and shaved Nueske's ham, free trade coffee and freshly made juices concocted in their industrial juicer behind the bar are just a few of the daily specials. Vegans are in heaven here, thanks to dishes like the tofu scramble and black bean burger with avocado mash."

"A Bywater spot with a great and well-deserved reputation, the Satsuma Café can be easily identified by the line of customer that are often snaking out the door. But this is a good thing, and it’s not hype. You won’t find pancakes on their printed menu, but their delicious spins on buttermilk creations (think roasted pear or s’mores pancakes) are usually a daily special."