Forget what the history books have told you about Southern plantation homes and see the beauty of one for yourself. The Oak Alley Plantation has been standing since the late 1830s and its famous live oak trees have been around even longer.
Explore the art at the New Orleans Museum of Art. You'll see masterpieces by some of the world's most famous artists, including Degas, Monet, Matisse, Georgia O'Keeffe, Picasso and many others. With over 40,000 artworks and a sculpture garden, you'll need a whole day to experience the NOMA.
Experience a New Orleans festival, second only to the world-famous Mardi Gras celebration. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival offers two weekends of live music, food, art and more. Don't let the word "jazz" in the title fool you. The festival is a celebration of all genres, welcoming artists like Willie Nelson, Al Green, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Bon Jovi, Lauryn Hill, Jimmy Buffet and many more.
Take a look into the mysterious realm of voodoo at the Voodoo Spiritual Temple. The temple New Orleans' only formally established Spiritual Temple based on traditional West African spiritual and herbal healing practices. After you've familiarized yourself with the practice, get love potions, healing oils, evil-away incense, ju ju bags , voodoo dolls and more from the Cultural Center next door.