Student Group Trip to New Orleans: Have a Good Times!
Jambalaya, Cajun Hospitality, and Great Music! This is what will greet each group of students upon their arrival in New Orleans or N’awlins (as the locals fondly refer to their city). Ranked # 1 in ten categories in Travel & Leisure magazine’s 2009 “America’s Favorite Cities” survey, the people of New Orleans really mean what they say … “Les Bon Temps Rouler!” (Let the good times pass!). Perfectly blending French, African, Spanish, and American cultures, the result is a fun city packed with educational museums, exciting attractions, Cajun / Creole food, incredible music, unique historical sites, and of course, Mardi Gras.
Meal
The food, no matter where you go within the city, is sure to awaken your taste buds. From delicious Po-Boy shrimp and oyster sandwiches, jambalaya and crab soup, to melt-in-your-mouth Cajun pulled pork, muffuletta sandwiches, and seafood gumbo, the Cajun / Creole flavors are sure to please your taste buds. Make sure you don’t forget dessert either! The delicious flavors of New Orleans desserts will satisfy and overcome your sugar cravings. Try a local favorite, Mississippi Mud Pie, a sticky chocolate filling on a crumbly chocolate crust served with vanilla ice cream; Or try what New Orleans is famous for, Bananas Foster, created at Brennan’s Restaurant. Bread pudding is another favorite and comes in many different flavors including white chocolate, dark chocolate, banana rum sauce and more.
Favorite restaurants include Café du Monde, a unique New Orleans French café. Be sure to stop by the original location at 800 Decatur Street and see how fresh donuts and French donuts are made. The only thing better than seeing how they are made is eating them! Another restaurant, touted as the “Total Cajun Experience” is Michaul’s Cajun Restaurant, which offers delicious Cajun / Creole food and live Cajun music every night. For a more formal setting, your group will enjoy Copeland’s of New Orleans, where one will experience Southern cuisine in eclectic Cajun flair. Additionally, student group favorites include Bubba Gump Shrimp, Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Hard Rock Café, Steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise, and Creole Queen Dinner Jazz Cruise.
Attractions / Museums
The most notable streets of the French Quarter, Bourbon and Royal, offer student groups a unique architectural view of 18th century New Orleans. Bourbon Street, which stretches 13 blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue, is primarily known for its party atmosphere and the site of the Mardi Gras parade. With many unique shops, restaurants and clubs, Bourbon Street is a “must see” part of your tour. On Royal Street, iron-cordoned balconies and open-air courtyards grace the street giving student groups a feel of 18th-century architectural design, where more shops and restaurants are located.
One of the most famous New Orleans landmarks in the French Quarter is Jackson Square. Called “Place d ‘Armes” until the early 19th century, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson, was renamed. Jackson Square is surrounded by historic buildings such as the St. Louis Cathedral, many Louisiana State Museums, and Upper Pontalba Apartments, the oldest apartment buildings in the country. Your group of students can have their photo taken in front of the bronze statue of Andrew Jackson and his horse. Or, for a great view of the entire plaza, take your group to Washington Artillery Park, which overlooks the entire plaza.
France’s Cathedral Basilica de San Luis Rey (Saint Louis Cathedral) is the oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the country. The original structure, built in the early 18th century, was unfortunately destroyed in a fire in 1788. Rebuilt in 1794 and again in the 19th century, the church is now one of the most popular landmarks in New Orleans. Your group of students can attend a mass, explore the church, or enjoy free classical concerts that occur frequently in the cathedral.
A visit to New Orleans wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, where your group can peek behind the curtain and see Mardi Gras in the making. From concept to completion, Mardi Gras artists create and build the parade floats for the annual Mardi Gras celebration in both New Orleans and Universal Studios Florida®. This is truly a world of wonder, creativity, and pageantry.
New Orleans offers more than 40 museums including historical, art, Mardi Gras, family / children’s, nature, and religious museums. Some of the more popular museums include:
Old US Mint Museum – Built in 1835, the Old US Mint is the only building in the United States that has served as both a United States Mint and a Confederate Mint. President Andrew Jackson advocated for the establishment of the Mint to help finance the development of the nation’s western frontier.
Louisiana Civil War Museum – The Louisiana Civil War Museum is one of the largest repositories of Confederate memorabilia and memorabilia in the United States, as well as the oldest continuously operating museum in Louisiana.
The National WWII Museum – This museum is a must-see for history buffs and patriots. Designated by the U.S. Congress as the country’s Official World War II Museum, powerful images and extraordinary artifacts bring to life the American spirit of courage, teamwork, and sacrifice of the young men and women who won the war. and they changed the world.
New Orleans Museum of Art: The neoclassical and Beaux Arts Museum of Art of New Orleans (NOMA) houses a $ 200 million collection spanning 4,000 years of art history in 46 galleries.
Ogden Museum of Southern Art – This museum houses the most comprehensive collection of southern art in the world. Showcasing art spanning 15 southern states and the District of Columbia, the museum celebrates the art, history and culture of the American South. Named an affiliate of The Smithsonian Institution in 2001, it was the first museum in Louisiana to receive this prestigious designation.
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas – Located along the Mississippi River, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is home to 15,000 sea creatures, representing nearly 600 species.
Audubon Buggy: If you walk, crawl, or fly, your group will have a good chance to see it on display at the Audubon Buggy.
Audubon Zoo – The Audubon Zoo is a living outdoor / indoor museum filled with some of nature’s rarest and most beautiful creatures. The Audubon Zoo has 58 acres of animals in their natural habitats. The zoo is consistently among the best in the country.
Known as a popular destination for ghost hunters, New Orleans is also famous for its ghost tours, where many above-ground graves abound. Due to the high water table in the area, settlers were unable to bury the coffins of their loved ones, so most of the city’s graves are above ground. There are many ghost tours that you and your group of students can take. Explore one of 40 cemeteries, including the St. Louis Cemetery. Many New Orleans celebrities reside in the St. Louis Cemetery, including sugar industry pioneer Etienne Bore, Homer Plessy (from the Plessy v. Ferguson civil rights case), and Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. A ghost tour of the St. Louis Cemetery will provide your group with an unforgettable moment.
Notably, a boat trip through the Cajun Pride Swamp is always the highlight for student groups. Experiencing the famous Manchac reservoir is the highlight of student group itineraries. The tour takes your group back into the early days of Louisiana swamp and swamp explorations. Your group will see swamp creatures like alligators, snakes, many types of birds, as well as the Cajun town of Frenier. This unique trip is one that your group of students will always remember.
Music
New Orleans is known to many as the birthplace of jazz and is an ideal destination to enrich your students ‘performance groups’ appreciation for jazz, as well as many other types of music. It seems that when you walk the streets of New Orleans, you constantly listen to music. There are many musicians performing throughout the French Quarter, as well as other areas, including parks, etc. For example, New Orleans Jazz Historical Park provides groups with an opportunity to learn about New Orleans’ rich musical history of jazz. There are many free concerts and music workshops offered throughout the year, of which your performance ensembles can be a part.
The Jazz and Heritage Foundation and French Quarter Festivals, Inc. host many free concerts and festivals throughout the year, including the Satchmo SummerFest, which celebrates the life of New Orleans-born trumpeter Louis Armstrong, the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest, the Congo Square Rhythms. Festival, the French Quarter Festival, and the Treme Creole Gumbo Festival, among many others.
From April to June, Lafayette Square offers free concerts from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. M. Many bands perform different types of music during the 12 weeks of the festival.
Whether you are a middle or high school band, orchestra, or choir, performance opportunities are numerous throughout New Orleans. Performance venues include Jackson Square, Riverwalk Marketplace, Creole Queen Dinner Jazz Cruise, Steamboat Natchez, and many local cathedrals. Workshops can also be arranged at Loyola University for band, choir and orchestra ensembles.
We have a more serious note …
Understanding what New Orleans has been through since the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina can be an important part of your student group trip. A visit to District 8 or 9 will reveal the rebuilding efforts underway and give your students the opportunity to volunteer, thus embracing the theme of service. There are many opportunities for student groups to assist in these efforts, including volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank, helping rebuild schools or paint houses, and more.
Overall, New Orleans is a fun city with an energy that continually vibrates. New Orleans should be at the top of the list when educators select destinations for their group student trip. With many exciting attractions, historical museums, delicious food, incredible music opportunities, and revival projects, New Orleans will entertain your group of students like no other city. The magic in New Orleans runs deep. When you leave, fun and excitement are with you.