New Orleans, Louisiana —
the next chapter of our Deep South journey
After Nashville and Memphis, our road trip continued south to New Orleans — another legendary American music city, but with an atmosphere entirely of its own. Our photographs from this part of the journey also take us beyond the city into the wider Deep South.
Take a virtual drive through New Orleans
New Orleans is a brilliant city to explore virtually because its neighbourhoods have so much character. With our friends at Drive From Home, you can browse their New Orleans guide or jump straight into a virtual drive through the city.
Three music cities, three completely different personalities
By the time we reached New Orleans, we'd travelled through two other cities synonymous with American music: Nashville and Memphis. Yet New Orleans didn't feel like a repeat of either.
That progression became one of the things we loved about this section of the road trip. Nashville brought country music, Memphis gave us Beale Street and Graceland, and then New Orleans added another distinct Deep South atmosphere before our journey continued towards the Gulf Coast and Florida.
After Nashville and Memphis, New Orleans gave us a third completely different take on the musical Deep South.
We spent an evening on a dinner cruise aboard the NATCHEZ — one of the experiences we remember particularly well from New Orleans.
Outside the city, our Louisiana experience included Oak Alley in Vacherie and its famous avenue of live oaks.
Our route also took us through Natchez, Mississippi, adding another historic Deep South stop to this stretch of the journey.
Our New Orleans photos
Our own photographs from New Orleans and Natchez.
Dinner on the Mississippi
One of our New Orleans evenings was spent aboard the Steamboat NATCHEZ for a dinner cruise on the Mississippi. It was a completely different way to experience the city after dark and gave us another classic Deep South memory from this road trip.
The current NATCHEZ jazz dinner cruise runs for around three hours and includes a Creole dinner buffet, with drinks available to buy on board. If a riverboat evening is on your New Orleans list, check current sailing times and availability before travelling.
Our visit to Oak Alley Plantation
While we were in Louisiana, we also visited Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie, on the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
The estate is instantly recognisable for its extraordinary avenue of live oak trees leading towards the Greek Revival mansion. Seeing that famous approach in person was one of the most striking sights of this part of our Deep South journey.
More than the mansion
Oak Alley also has a much darker history that is essential to understanding the site. Sugarcane was grown here using the labour of enslaved men, women and children, and the estate's interpretation today includes exhibits examining the lives of the people who were enslaved there.
That context matters. Oak Alley is visually beautiful, but its history is inseparable from slavery and the plantation economy that created the wealth behind estates like this one.
Continuing through the region
Our route also took us through Natchez, Mississippi, as we travelled deeper into the American South before reaching New Orleans. It was another reminder that this journey was about much more than the headline cities — the route itself was a huge part of the experience.
The historic heart of the city
The French Quarter, or Vieux Carré, is New Orleans' oldest neighbourhood and the part of the city most visitors picture first: historic architecture, music, restaurants and streets built for wandering. Jackson Square makes a natural starting point, with many of the Quarter's best-known sights within a short walk.
Music is woven through New Orleans far beyond a single street. Frenchmen Street, beside the French Quarter in the Marigny, is particularly known for live jazz, blues and other music venues.
Walk the centre, then use the streetcars
Find experiences in New Orleans
From river cruises and music tours to neighbourhood walks and trips outside the city, there is a huge range of New Orleans experiences. Compare current options for your dates below.
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For wandering the city
Long days and evenings out
Especially in warmer weather
There's character everywhere
Memphis → New Orleans → Gulf Coast & Florida
New Orleans followed Memphis on our route south and marked the next major stage before we continued towards the Gulf Coast and ultimately Florida.