Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Metairie

"What looks like a castle in the French Quarter is actually the oldest cathedral in North America. This alone makes it one of the best things to do in New Orleans, especially when you head inside. You see, St. Louis Cathedral was founded as a Catholic Parish in 1720 and includes both Renaissance and Spanish Colonial architecture that is totally gorgeous."

"You can take time for quiet introspection at the St. Louis Cathedral as you admire the architecture and artwork within this historic building. Located at the center of Jackson Square, this iconic cathedral has hosted numerous weddings over the years. It’s open daily from 8:30am until 4:00pm with Daily Mass at 12:05pm."

"Jackson Square is pretty famous in New Orleans, Louisiana, and tourists gravitate towards it like nobody’s business in their quest for what to do for fun while visiting. Once upon a time, Jackson Square was a ground for military parades back in the 1720s, somewhat similar to Paris’ Place des Vosges. In 1815, once the Battle of New Orleans drew to a close, the area was renamed to honor General Andrew Jackson."

"There are lots of places in New Orleans where you can partake in fun activities with your family, and one of them is Jackson Square. The area has got lots of residential and commercial properties, and is named after Andrew Jackson, whose statue was erected here in 1856. Jackson Square has also been featured numerous times in television shows and network broadcasts as well."

"Located just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Bourbon Street, Preservation Hall is the best place in the French Quarter to catch traditional New Orleans jazz. It’s home to one of the city’s favorite groups, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, and hosts some of the best local musicians onstage every week. This music venue was founded in 1961 to protect, preserve, and perpetuate traditional New Orleans jazz music."

"After dinner is sure to check out live jazz at Preservation Hall. This ended up being our favorite thing we did in New Orleans and strongly suggest you don’t miss out on this during your 3 days in New Orleans."

"This historic jazz hall, with a location just steps away from Bourbon Street, is known to attract a crowd. Accordingly, admission is on a first-come, first-served basis. And, it’ll cost $20 to get in."

"Named for the famous Frenchman intended to live there after his exile from France, Napoleon House is a 200+ year old historical landmark. The speakers play classical music and there’s a lovely courtyard. Order a Pimm’s Cup and a muffuletta, served warm."

"But you have to go to Napoleons House Bar to get a Muffuletta. This place has been here FOREVER. They have homemade bread with all their sandwiches and the highest quality ingredients to go inside."

"On a typically hot July summer day In 1966 my fiance, now wife, and I first entered Napoleon House for a late afternoon drink. We were greeted by a…"

"This thoroughfare is one of a few streets like Laurel Street and Tchoupitoulas Street that curves with the course of the Mississippi through Uptown and the Garden District between Audubon Park in the west and the Central Business District to the east. Most likely named after an 18th-century ammunition magazine, this is a shopping artery but with a refreshing lack of chain stores. What you get along these six miles is sudden knots of art studios, restaurants, bakeries, po’ boy joints, bars, cafes and one-off shops for fashion, antique furniture, jewellery, cosmetics, books, homewares, decorations and the like."

"Magazine Street, which runs from Canal Street to Audubon Park, is a six-mile-long shopper's paradise. With dozens of funky boutiques, galleries, and restaurants to choose from, Magazine Street is a terrific place to connect with local owner/operators and sample some famous New Orleans hospitality. Gallery and shop owners are all super friendly, displaying the New Orleans charm that never seems aggressive or pushy."

"A post shared by Magazine Street (@magazinestreet) on Apr 22, 2018 at 5:54pm PDT Magazine Street is six miles long and runs through six different neighborhoods in New Orleans. In the Garden District area, it has tons of cute coffee shops and cafes, little boutique shops and of course, plenty of historic homes. You can actually follow the street all the way down to Audubon Park if you wish."

"* Just a short walk away from here is Lafayette Cemetery, where the inspiration for Lester's tomb sits, and has also recently been a filming location for the vampire-themed show The Originals. You can also find the coven house of American Horror Story in the Garden District, AND the house that was the inspiration for Disneyland's Haunted Mansion!. * Is it any surprise that after our self-led tour of the Garden District we were inspired to take what turned out to be an amazing ghost tour of the French Quarter the following night?!. * * * * #neworleans #nola #bigeasy #ig_neworleans #gltlove #followyournola #igersneworleans #igersnola #alwaysneworleans #visitneworleans #discovernola #flashesofdelight #photosinbetween #wearetravelgirls #theprettycities #unlimitedparadise #sheisnotlost #darlingescapes #femmetravel #globelletravels #openmyworld #thatauthenticfeeling #pursuepretty #traveldeeper #letsgoeverywhere #forbestravelguide #mytinyatlas #dametraveler #timeoutsociety #huffpostgram"

"I chose to do a tour of the Garden District and Lafayette Cemetery. It was fascinating to learn more about the history and symbolism behind the impressive mansions and decorated headstones and mausoleums. If you’d rather wander on your own, then check out this self-guided tour so you know what you’re looking at!"

"From Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral, walk towards the Mississippi River and cross Decatur Street for an elevated perch to capture the Instagram-worthy view overlooking the square! At this point, you’ll have surely smelled the powdered sugar sweetness floating through the air around the Square and Cathedral. Cafe du Monde and their famous beignets are just a few steps away, on the same side as the river."

"Stroll along Decatur Street & the French Market. Decatur Street is, in many ways, one of the main drags of the French Quarter, and is home to some of New Orleans’ most popular restaurants (don’t worry, we’ll get to those in the food section below)."

"For train aficionados, visiting the New Orleans Train Garden is one of the best activities to while away your time in Louisiana. Right in the center of City Park, the garden is as whimsical and charming as it is evocative of history. It is a historic location, with track running nearly a quarter of a mile as a group of scaled-down freight trains and streetcars runs through it, reminiscent of the very same they did indeed run a hundred or so years ago."

"Tucked away in a verdant corner of City Park’s Botanical Garden, the New Orleans Historic Train Garden features replicas of streetcars and trains that wind around 1,300 feet of track. It’s an informative look at New Orleans’ history—all in miniature!. While the Train Garden is open during Botanical Garden hours, the trains only operate on Saturdays and Sundays."

"Set in a renovated home with an outdoor deck on funky Freret Street, Origami has line-up of specialty rolls with topical (and dated?) names like FEMA roll, chocolate city roll, and bye-bye Katrina roll, the latter including layers of smelt roe, cucumber, eel, and shrimp tempura wrapped in tender soy paper, and garnished with snow crab and a drizzle of sweet and salty eel sauce. The fish is pristine and chopped with the kind of expertise that comes from years of experience. Six oyster shooters with spicy ponzu sauce for $6.95 is a deal."

"While from the outside it may look like your average home, Origami is far from ordinary. The menu is extremely versatile– from a poke salad with chili ponzu sauce to seafood gumbo to crawfish sushi. The prices are very reasonable, making it perfect for a night out with friends."

"Massage Envy provides massage, skin care and total body stretch services which are an integral part of total body wellness and a healthy lifestyle. Keep your body working with Massage Envy. Schedule an appointment today!"

"Spa Isbell is a full-service salon and day spa, that offers you a truly unique “old world meets new” experience, with all of the amenities of a modern salon/spa. Their talented crew has specifically designed each service to pamper you from head to toe, while indulging in the charm of New Orleans past, leaving you feeling completely inspired and rejuvenated."

"The spa is located in a 150+ year-old building, which makes a wonderful mix of historic charm and complete luxury. In addition to the full-service spa including the European-style facials, Spa Isbell has a hair salon. And, it's easy to get to from the French Quarter or Warehouse District."

"The Ritz-Carlton Spa, is a luxurious spa where the soul is nourished, the spirit is revived, the body is transformed and the path to a more satisfying sense of well-being awaits. Revel in nature’s beauty while enjoying their signature service, a “zero gravity” massage performed as you sway gently in a rocking hammock, delivering you into true tranquility."

"First we make the world revolve around you, then we gently slow it down...". That's the mission at the luxe Ritz-Carlton spa, a place where bubbling fountains and expert service set the stage for a welcome retreat. This is by far the grandest spa in town, complete with draped chandeliers and beau monde elegance."

"The theatre was originally built in 1906 and completely renovated in 2011. The venue is now used for concerts, plays, films, corporate events, and private parties."

"The Orpheum is an immaculately renovated historic theater with just over 1,400 seats to accommodate concerts, films, and private events. Originally built in 1918, the performance art theatre recently celebrated “100 Years on Stage” (1921-2021)."

"The acoustically-pure Beaux-Arts theater has been fully restored following damage from Hurricane Katrina. Location: 129 Roosevelt WayArchitect: G. Albert Lansburgh (restored by Eskew+Dumez+Ripple)Date: 1921Contact: https://orpheumnola.com/"

"On a rainy afternoon in New Orleans, there's no better place to be than the balcony of the historic Prytania Theatre, cooking up some honest to goodness Hollywood romance with your real-life love interest. Opened in 1915, this charming theater is the oldest in the city and the only single-screen left in Louisiana. Couples can share gelato or a freshly made cappuccino during daytime favorites like Citizen Kane or Some Like It Hot or cuddle up for midnight screenings of cult classics like Rocky Horror Picture Show."

"At more than 100 years old, the single-screen theater in Uptown is a step back in time, with red velvet ropes, balcony seating and family-friendly screenings of hand-picked classic films."