Top 10 Things To Do, Activities and Attractions in Lower Garden District

"Some key points to check out in this small zone are: the artists along the street at Jackson Square, St Lous Cathedral (you can’t miss it), New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo, and shopping for antiques on Royal Street. Of course, Bourbon street is here too and always popping even in the daytime."

"Originally built in 1727, the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis is flanked by the historic Cabildo on one side and the Presbytère on the other. After the great fire of 1794, the original structure was rebuilt. The current structure was finished in 1850 and overlooks Jackson Square."

"Once a military parade ground at the very centre of the city Jackson Square was first laid out in 1720s in the style of Place des Vosges in Paris. After the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 the plaza was renamed in honour of the victorious General Andrew Jackson who would become the seventh president of the United States between 1829 and 1837. At the very centre of formal gardens is the equestrian statue for Jackson by sculptor Clark Mills and unveiled in 1856."

"The Jackson square is kind of the unofficial center or meeting point for tourists. The Andrew Jackson statue placed in the middle with the St. Louis Cathedral neatly tucked behind it, is an iconic landmark that represents the city of New Orleans. The Jackson square and the St. Louis Cathedral share deep rootedhistorythat is worth learning about. St. Louis Cathedral is open to visitors from all walks of life."

"Initially laid out with the rest of the old French Quarter, Jackson Square sits in front of the St. Louis Cathedral. Also called the Place d’Armes, it is the oldest space in the city. Trees and walkways were added to it in the 1830s and the equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson was added in 1856."

"Preservation Hall played a big part in the revival of New Orleans jazz in the 1940s when the genre took a back seat to rock ‘n’ roll. Previously an art gallery, the venue was an accidental success, with musicians invited to rehearse at the venue by the gallery proprietor and jazz enthusiast Larry Borenstein. Now a full-time jazz venue, Preservation Hall features up to 5 performances a day from some of the most respected musicians in the industry."

"If you’re a fan of live jazz performances, then you must make plans to attend an upcoming show at Preservation Hall. Situated in the heart of the French Quarter on St. Peter Street, the venue presents intimate, acoustic New Orleans Jazz concerts featuring ensembles from a collective of more than 50 local master practitioners."

"Preservation Hall is a famous Jazz venue that dates back to the 1950s. It is located on St. Peter just south of Bourbon Street. Its grungy exterior and unique doors are instantly recognizable, as you can see in the image below from Spencer Horsman of Illusions Magic Bar."

"Another well know park and named after a famous musician, is the Louis Armstrong Park. It’s located in Treme near the French Quarter. It has sculptures and vendors selling food and crafts."

"We highly recommend taking a cemetery tour through Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1. This is the oldest and most famous cemetery in New Orleans and has the tombs of famous people like Marie Laveau, the notorious voodoo queen, Homer Plessy’s tomb, from the famed Plessy vs. Ferguson civil rights case, and even Nicholas Cage’s strange pyramid tomb for when he dies."

"The oldest and most storied of New Orleans’ many cemeteries, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is a Roman Catholic burial place a block west of the French Quarter. It opened in 1789 during the city’s redesign following the Great Fire of 1788. In a city partially below water level, cemeteries need to be above ground using decorative vaults."

"The oldest cemetery in New Orleans, resting peacefully for over 200 years now. See All 85 Things to Do in New Orleans"

"If you’re seeking one of the most iconic places to visit in New Orleans, Magazine Street holds a pretty good candle up to the rest of the Louisiana city. Why is it named Magazine Street?. There isn’t any conclusive evidence that dictates where this stretch of New Orleans got its name, but it is likely that it is named after ammunition."

"Stroll down the lower Garden District part of Magazine Street for great shops and more restaurants. Except, you’ll be full from your meal so you can check out District Donuts for dessert and coffee. Trust us, you’re going to want to leave room to try at least one donut here or get a box to go."

"Magazine street is a long street full inquisitive and interesting shops. Taking a walk through this enchanting street, will prepare you for a pleasant surprise."

"Smoothie King Center is where you’ll catch many top indoor sporting events and concerts coming through New Orleans. The multi-purpose indoor arena sits adjacent to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It’s also the home of the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans."

"Home to New Orleans’ moneyed elite (and more than a handful of celebrities), the Garden District is the perfect place to walk around and gape at gorgeous homes. Whether you’re in search of Hollywood filming locations (the coven house from American Horror Story is here), familiar facades (the inspiration for the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland calls this neighborhood home), or celebrity homes (Sandra Bullock, John Goodman, and Anne Rice have both lived here, among others), or you simply want to enjoy the architecture, there’s plenty to love about exploring the Garden District."

"You can’t miss the grand turquoise Victorian restaurant Commander’s Palace when you’re strolling through the Garden District and it shouldn’t be skipped!. Enjoy a fine Creole dining experience that makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time."

"Another choice is to stay in the Garden District close to St. Charles Avenue. The streetcar makes it quick and easy to get to the French Quarter, not to mention how much quieter it is!"

"Internationally renowned artist, Chris Roberts-Antieau offers up her whimsical and bizarre world of fabric appliqué in her galleries in Nola and Santa Fe!"

"Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré is one of the longest-running local theaters in the United States (founded in 1916). As the name indicates, it’s a more intimate theatre setting with a seating capacity of just over 300 seats. Located just off of Jackson Square, this venue is primarily used for the performing arts, including dramas, musicals, comedies, and children’s productions."

"Established in the French Quarter as an “atmospheric” movie theatre in 1927, the Saenger Theatre fell on hard times by the 1960s and was renovated as a performing arts venue in the late-1970s. Katrina hit the Saenger Theatre hard, but fortunately the building was in the middle of restoration so many of its fittings had been removed as the waterline was above stage level. This brought on another phase of restoration that continued right up until Jerry Seinfeld took the stage for three nights in September 2013."

"You can still feel the glamour that must have accompanied the opening of Saenger Theatre in 1927. Although the capacity has been cut from 4,000 to 2,600, the grand venue is still one of the biggest theaters in town, with a performance hall modeled on an Italian baroque courtyard and overhead lighting that resembles a starry constellation. The space hosts big events that still need a more intimate setting than a sports arena: touring Broadway shows, big-name comedians, and the occasional concert."

"With decorative moldings and ornate archways, the interior of the Saenger Theatre replicates that of a grand Italian courtyard, complete with a starry sky ceiling. Having been devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the theatre underwent a huge restoration project and reopened in 2013 to offer a bustling schedule of live music, lectures, comedy, and more."

"Named for the beloved New Orleanean gospel singer, the jewel of Armstrong Park was decimated in Katrina and subsequently refurbished into a state-of-the-art facility. The inaugural performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Messa di Requiem established a roster a of stellar lineups, ranging from Broadway shows and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Orleans Ballet Association. Catch programmes such as Shostakovich, La Bohème and comedian Aziz Ansari this spring."

"The Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts is a theater located in Louis Armstrong Park and named after gospel singer Mahalia Jackson, who was born in New Orleans. It originally opened in 1973 as the New Orleans Theater of the Performing Arts and then was renamed after Jackson in 1993. The theater was badly damaged during Hurricane Katrina but reopened in January 2009."

"For some reason, Frenchmen Street remains an undiscovered gold mine to most first-time tourists, and even for many of the seasoned visitors; the Frenchmen Art Market is one of the gems of the city. If you are traveling with family or simply strive for more depth than the bars and nightclubs can provide, take a stroll under the lights illuminating the fantastic displays. This weekly nighttime market truly personifies the ambiance of this magnificent city."

"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."