14 Top-Rated Adventurous Places In New Orleans (2024)
New Orleans is surrounded by large parks, marshes, and wetlands home to various species. Many of New Orleans’s parks and natural areas, which are just a short distance from the city center, seem like a whole other world.
To paraphrase the city’s motto, “Let the good times roll,” New Orleans is alive with vitality and an unquenchable need for adventure. The city’s tourist attractions include scenic scenery, old buildings, delicious cuisine, and live music. The city of New Orleans has a distinct personality that develops on you as you learn more about its history, the Mississippi River, and the unique cemeteries that can only be found in this area of the globe. This is the world’s most popular tourist spot and a must-visit for every traveler.
14 Top-Rated Adventurous Places In New Orleans
Here are the best New Orleans adventure spots.
1. New Orleans’s Own Escape My Room!
Visitors to the New Orleans Escape My Room are in for a thrill. An adrenaline-pumping adventure awaits you here, where you’ll have to think on your feet and put your brain to work. Intricate puzzles and challenging obstacles make this game a lot of fun! Check out Escape My Room if you’re looking for an exhilarating experience while visiting New Orleans!
2. The Mortuary Haunted House
Take a tour of the Mortuary Haunted House if you want to experience shivers down your spine and bones. This well-known haunted mansion, which dates back to 1872, has caused many courageous souls to flee in fear. Located next to an actual cemetery, the structure serves as a haunting backdrop. Many strange escape rooms await you here, and you’ll need all your wits to open them. In this place, the players are so convincing that tourists are frightened to the point of screams. It’s best to visit with a group of friends on Halloween to experience the full terror of the place.
3. The House of Shock
House of Shock, a seasonal haunted house in New Orleans, is a terrifying experience for all ages. This haunted house uses technology, 3D sets, pryo-techniques, horrific sceneries, and lifelike characters to startle visitors into believing it is based on Louisiana’s own dark and morbid history. The House of Shock is one of New Orleans’ scariest attractions, including everything from a zombie-infested cemetery and funeral parlor to a morgue and butcher shop. Don’t go to this site unless you’re physically and emotionally prepared!
4. New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum
Isn’t it spooky? New Orleans’ cemeteries are one of the city’s most unique attractions. The city’s custom of burying itself above dead ground has both historical and esoteric significance. Voodoo has a long history in New Orleans, dating back to the arrival of the first enslaved Africans.
According to legend, in the 1830s, when Creole and Voodoo dance began to mix, the resulting music, known as “Jazz,” was a direct result of this cross-pollination. Many ghost walks and excursions are offered to give visitors a taste of the city’s mysterious past.
5. Audubon Park
There are 350 acres of well-maintained green space in Uptown’s Audubon Park, making it ideal for tourists wishing to rest or participate in activities. Because it was built in the late 1800s, this park has a lot of historical significance.
It’s a great place to take the entire family since it’s kid-friendly and easy to get there. Everyone may enjoy the beautiful scenery and peaceful environment thanks to the well-maintained trail. The average time spent here is roughly two to three hours, but with so much room and things to do, don’t be shocked if you wind up staying all day.
Audubon Park’s sporting facilities are one of its most stunning features. Sports enthusiasts may enjoy a wide range of amenities at this location, such as tennis courts, horseback riding facilities, and a golf course. You’ll also discover a swimming pool and a jogging route at this location.
Keep an eye out for animals while you’re at this park. Great egrets and herons are among the many wading species that can be seen in this park, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers. The parks many lagoons are home to a large number of ducks.
6. The Barataria Preserve
Alligators, birds, and other creatures of Louisiana’s marshes may be found in the Barataria Preserve. Walking pathways and boardwalks connect the preserve’s 26,000 acres of bayous, marshes, swamps, and woodlands with the local species it protects, all only 26 minutes from downtown.
Self-directed or guided tours are available to learn more about the fauna and ecosystems of the region. Alligators, turtles, snakes, and wading birds may be seen throughout your excursion. Stop by the visitor center first to pick up field guides, bug repellants, and other necessities before you leave.
7. The Steamboat Natchez
A trip aboard the Steamboat Natchez, a paddle-steamer, is a memorable opportunity to explore and learn more about the place and the famous Mississippi River.
Two-hour excursions around the city’s port include narration of the place and a creole-themed lunch. In addition to a jazz band, buffet-style meal, and stunning vistas, the evening cruise offers a unique experience.
8. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
If you’re ever in the area, make the trek to two of these spots. There are some of the nicest natural features in Louisiana to be found at the Barataria Preserve.
The natural ecosystem of the park consists of levee woodlands, bayous, swamps, and marshes. Archaeological sites have unearthed the remains of Troyville, Marksville, and Tchefuncte civilizations.
9. Bayou St. John
It’s an excellent opportunity to get a feel for New Orleans’ waterways by paddleboarding in Bayou St. John. If you’re a novice paddleboarder or a veteran kayaker, you can take advantage of Bayou St. John’s variety of adventure cruises.
Itineraries, equipment rentals, and professional guides are all included in bayou paddle boarding tours north of the city center.
10. Cemetery Tour of Famous Gravestones
The oldest cemetery in New Orleans, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, is only a short walk from the French Quarter. Historic individuals like Marie Laveau, New Orleans’s voodoo queen, may be found here. In 2015, the cemetery was forced to shut its doors to the public because of vandalism concerns. If you want to see the cemetery, you must first sign up for a tour of the cemetery. Having a local guide tell the stories of the people buried there is always more intriguing.
Stories of how floods used to bring back remained buried below ground and floated along the street will be told to you.
Just three streets from the first St. Louis Cemetery, St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 is still available to the general public. It includes several notable personalities, including singers and historians. Metairie Cemetery has the most elaborate tombs and funerary monuments, notably the “weeping angel” statue at the Hyam family’s grave. If you have a vehicle, be sure to check it out.
11. New Orleans Jazz Museum
New Orleans, the city where jazz was born, is the ideal spot to learn about its history. The museum’s collection of jazz artifacts is a bit of a jumble, but it does have Louis Armstrong’s original cornet. Additionally, the New Orleans Jazz Museum is situated in the historic Old US Mint, where jazz reigns supreme, near the southern end of Frenchman Street.
12. New Orleans Pharmacy Museum
When Louis J. Dufilho, Jr., America’s first licensed pharmacist, founded the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum in 1823, it was an actual operating pharmacy. It now houses a bizarre array of medical equipment and accouterments. It’s worth noting that the $5.00 entry fee includes a daily tour at 1 pm.
The pharmacy’s second owner, the malevolent Dr. Joseph Dupas, is said to be haunted by the souls of patients who died as a result of his experiments on them. You’re sure to hear all about it if you opt to go on a French Quarter Ghost Tour.
13. Make Plans to Attend a Festival
Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest are New Orleans’ most well-known festivities. However, do not be disheartened; over 130 events are held annually throughout the city. In other words, there’s one about every other day. So, if you’re planning a vacation to New Orleans in the spring, you may catch the French Quarter Festival, the Satchmo SummerFest, the Bayou Boogaloo, the Oyster Festival, the Southern Decadence, or the Voodoo Festival, depending on when you go (October).
14. Take a Tour of Marie Laveau’s Residence
Even if you decide not to go on the Voodoo Tour, you may still satisfy your need for witchcraft in New Orleans. Visit Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo to peruse the huge collection of voodoo-related memorabilia. You’ve come to the correct site if you’re looking for voodoo dolls, talismans, charms, mojo, or gris-gris!
Final Thoughts
Louisiana’s capital city of New Orleans is on the banks of the Mississippi River. Iconic landmarks, including the Capitol, Independence Hall, and Union Station, are just some of the numerous examples of the city’s storied history that can be found throughout the city, including eateries. In each, there is an old-fashioned tale about the past and a look into the past. New Orleans has a wealth of historical landmarks that are well worth a visit.
This southern metropolis, dubbed the “Big Easy,” is well-known for various reasons. It’s the cradle of jazz, and there’s always live music and an excellent time. Many of New Orleans’ current features are rooted in the city’s rich history.
