The New Orleans area is a great location for travel and sporting activities as well as hosting a wealth of popular tourist centers. The exciting French Quarter, first class museums, the Audobon Zoo and Audobon Aquarium, historic plantations, professional sporting facilities, and unparalleled special events and festivals make New Orleans one of the country’s favorite vacation destinations and a great place to live.

New Orleans Air Show

NAS JRB New Orleans and the Morale Welfare and Recreation Department sponsor the N'Awlins Air Show every other year. The show featuring the Navy Blue Angels brings nearly 90,000 visitors to the base for the two-day event. Check out www.neworleansairshow.com for details. 

Museums

With more than 40 museums in the greater New Orleans area, there are sites that will appeal to every visitor. Whether you enjoy art, history, or nature there is a museum to pique your interest. A few are listed below but check here for the full list.

Audubon Zoo

One of the country’s top-ranked zoos, Audubon Zoo blends the exotic excitement of animals from around the globe with the serenity of its lush gardens. With innovative natural habitat exhibits and an animal collection ranging from extraordinary white alligators to majestic Bengal Tigers, Audubon Zoo has become one of the Gulf South’s favorite family gathering spots.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas/Entergy IMAX® Theatre

Recognized as one of the nation’s leading aquariums, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is located along the banks of the Mississippi River in the historic French Quarter. A visit to the Aquarium spans the underwater world of the Caribbean Sea, the mysterious Amazon Rainforest and the waters that give New Orleans its lifeblood: the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.

New Orleans Museum of Art

Louisiana’s culture often seems to have sprung from its fertile soil. Out of the rich Louisiana sugar fields, New Orleans received a gift of lasting culture in early 1910, when sugar broker Isaac Delgado offered the city $150,000 to build a “temple of art for rich and poor alike” in City Park. The neo-classical, Beaux Arts-style Isaac Delgado Museum of Art opened in December 1911, and the 25,000-square-foot “temple” remains his legacy today.

The World War II Museum

Since its opening day in June 2000, more than one million visitors have toured the National World War II Museum. This four-story, 75,000-square-foot facility houses some of the most important artifacts relating to World War II and some of the war’s most haunting images. This museum is a must-see for history lovers. For more information, call (504) 528-1944 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org.

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve consists of six sites in Louisiana, and three of them are in the metropolitan New Orleans area: the historic French Quarter’s Laura C. Hudson Visitor Center, the Barataria Preserve, and the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery. For more information about the specific sites of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, please visit the Park headquarters at 419 Decatur Street or call (504) 589-3882. Additional information is available at www.nps.gov/jela.

Old U.S. Mint

Built in 1835, the Old U.S. Mint is the only building in America to have served both as a United States and a Confederate Mint. President Andrew Jackson advocated the Mint’s establishment in order to help finance development of the nation’s western frontier.

State Parks

Louisiana is a treasure trove for nature lovers as well as a sportsman's paradise. Natural beauty abounds and wildlife is plentiful just a short drive from downtown New Orleans. Many state parks preserve the natural beauty of Louisiana for all and here are a few of the closest to New Orleans. Visit https://www.lastateparks.com/ for the complete list.

Zephyrs Baseball

Join the New Orleans Zephyrs for their home games at the team's ball field on Airline Drive and experience great family fun. This is Triple-A baseball at its best! Spend an evening with thousands of other fans watching the New York Mets's affiliate slug it with the best of the Pacific Coast League.

New Orleans Hornets

The New Orleans Hornets provide city visitors and natives alike with an exciting basketball experience unlike any other in the country. Playing in the NBA's Southwest Division, the Hornets franchise has been in New Orleans since 2002 and play their home games at the New Orleans Arena located in the downtown area just a few minutes walk from the historic French Quarter.

Festivals

Additionally, New Orleans is famous for its wide diversity of cultures. Festivals are held throughout the year celebrating the best of New Orleans. Guests from across the country attend many of the large festivals such as: Jazzfest, the Essence Music Festival, the Satchmo Summerfest, and the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. Local communities also gather to celebrate their heritage through food and fun in locations all across the New Orleans area.