New Orleans Tourism After Hurricane Katrina
Tipitinas, House of Blues, Superdome & French Quarter Opened Quickly
Aug 1, 2007
Remember the French Quarter, the Garden District, the Superdome spectaculars, the music, the restaurants, the fun, the history, the charm, the cemeteries, the fascinating characters and the St. Charles Avenue mansions of pre-Katrina New Orleans? It's taken about two years, but the Big Easy has brought most of those back, plus some exciting new adventures.
Yes, the horrible scars of Katrina are still there for the viewing.
So are the opportunities for visitors to help remove some of those scars, as are the opportunities to assist some of the people who fell victim to Katrina and to the federal levees that collapsed
Louis Armstrong International Airport
Gone, however, are most of the obstacles that visitors had to hurdle in the first year after Katrina. The Louis Armstrong International Airport is functioning well, although with fewer planes and passengers. Hotel rooms are readily available. The Morial Convention Center is back in operation and is booking meetings
Most of the celebrated restaurants--Commander's Palace, Emeril's, Antoine's, Galatoire's--have reopened, plus some new ones.
The French Quarter is cleaner than it ever has been, actually generating rave cleanliness reviews. The cafe au lait and beignets are still hot and sweet. The horse-and-buggy tours are running again.
New Orleans Music Recovering
The legendary New Orleans music is slowly recovering with the reopening of Tipitina's, the House of Blues and other jazz spots.
The city is making a tremendous sports comeback. The Superdome is renovated and rocking again with the New Orleans Saints, Tulane football, the Bayou Classic and the New Orleans Bowl in 2007, followed by the All State Sugar Bowl January 1 and the BCS college football championship game January 7.
The New Orleans Arena, fresh from hosting the national arena football championship, welcomes the Hornets basketball team back to New Orleans full time this fall. It will host the National Basketball Association All Star game Feb. 17.
World War II Museum
The Aquarium of the Americas staff went ocean fishing to replace some of the species lost in Katrina and has reopened on the riverfront. The National World War II Museum, the New Orleans Mint museum and the New Orleans Museum of Art have also both reopened with new exhibits.
The area’s three casinos, Harrah’s in New Orleans, the Treasure Chest in Kenner and Boomtown in Harvey, are all running again. Harrah’s has upgraded its entertainment, restaurant and hotel facilities.
Early Mardi Gras
The area is gearing for an early carnival season, starting with Twelfth Night celebrations in January and climaxing with Mardi Gras Feb. 5.
The best time to visit New Orleans is from September through May, but to help cope with the summer heat the city sponsors "COOLinary New Orleans," an annual celebration in which participating restaurants offer special 3-course meals at reduced lunch and dinner prices, through Sept. 30.
New Adventure Travel
The city’s population is down about one third and yes, crime is still a problem, as it is in many other cities. But the French Quarter and other tourism areas have been spared most of the trouble.
Tours to some of the most flood-devastated areas are available, but be ready to be moved by the damage still out there. Thousands of volunteers, including tourists and conventioneers, have poured into the area to help rebuild houses and assist families. Habitat for Humanity is still recruiting volunteers for its continuing house-building program. It’s a new form of adventure travel.
For help in planning your trip, check webistes of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, Greater New Orleans Hotel & Lodging Association, the Louisiana Music Calendar and Hands On New Orleans.
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