Flowers and Flavors of New Orleans

In the morning, fly non-stop Minneapolis to New Orleans (not included in the tour price), where springtime is in full bloom. Jasmine, magnolias, iris and more will be bursting with color to welcome you. The local food will be bursting with color as well as flavor. 

Dinner: Your host, Beth Fisher has chosen a number of “Must Do” places to dine in the Crescent City, starting with Brennan’s on our first night. Of course there will be Bananas Foster for dessert! 

Your hotel is centrally located in the French Quarter, the historic heart of New Orleans, Louisiana -- often called NOLA, one of its many nicknames. Today begins with a walking tour of the area to acquaint you with the place you’ll be staying for the next five days. 

After a French-Creole lunch at Galatoire’s, your afternoon and evening are free for you to explore NOLA as you  wish. Some suggestions are: The New Orleans Museum of Art, The New Orleans Jazz Museum, Mardi Gras World, the National World War II Museum, and Preservation Hall.  

Ask Beth for suggestions on where to eat dinner - there are many excellent choices nearby. 

This morning you’ll ride an iconic street car to The Garden District. This neighborhood is known for its grand antebellum mansions and gardens. Meander on your own under the towering live oaks with a provided map. Enjoy the architecture and the gardens. Meet up with the group at a small sandwich shop Beth has chosen for lunch. 

After taking the street car back to the hotel, you’ll be picked up for a ride to the swamp and an Airboat Tour. You'll see a variety of wildlife -- including alligators! 

Dinner will be on your own. 

Each of the four façades of Longue Vue house has a different appearance, and each faces a different garden. All 4 were designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman. On a guided house tour, you will learn their stories. 

In the afternoon there will be a guided tour of Metairie Cemetery, one of NOLA’s famous above-ground cemeteries.  Due to the city’s high water table, caskets cannot be buried, but are placed in elaborate marble tombs. At more than 150 years old, Metairie is the final resting place of many famous people from New Orleans. 

Dinner is on your own.  

Instead of breakfast at the hotel this morning, you’ll enjoy The Jazz Brunch at the Court of the Two Sisters. The sumptuous buffet includes breakfast classics, as well as gumbo, Creole and Cajun specialties. 

Afterwards, board a riverboat for a Mississippi River Cruise to get a different view of the “Big Easy” (another nickname for New Orleans). Upon disembarkation, stop at Café du Monde for the legendary beignets before heading to  Jackson Square, where a gathering of artists, caricaturists and impromptu live music  performances will delight you. 

Dinner tonight is at one of Beth’s favorite restaurants. 

Spend the morning in a demonstration class at the New Orleans School of Cooking learning to make four different dishes, which you’ll eat afterwards! There will be an  appetizer, entrée, dessert and lagniappe (translated to “a little something extra”). 

Travel one hour west of the city to a historic plantation, the Houmas House, for a guided tour of the mansion and free time to roam through their fabulous gardens. Admission to the Great River Road Museum is also included. 

At the Farewell Dinner this evening, reflect on the stories and share memories of the tour with your new friends. 

Enroute to the New Orleans airport for your departing flight, you will stop at  Audubon Park, located across the street from Tulane and Loyola Universities, for their breathtaking display of azaleas. Traditionally in full bloom from mid-March to mid-April, their magenta, pink and white blooms will be a fitting last visual of your tour. 

Fly to MSP.