Fodor's New Orleans

Book excerpt: For a limited time, receive a free Fodor's Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel e-book with the purchase of this guidebook! Go to fodors.com for details. Written by local experts, Fodor's travel guides have been offering advice and professionally vetted recommendations for all tastes and budgets for 80 years. New Orleans is a vibrant, bursting-at-the-seams melting pot of a city that famously inspires indulgence. This is the place to eat, drink, listen to jazz or R&B, take part in a parade, and immerse yourself in the atmosphere. Whether you come for Mardi Gras or the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival or any other reason, a visit to this unique destination is never the same trip twice, but always memorable. Sugar-dusted beignets are a must, cocktail hour is anytime you want it, and the street musicians will have you dancing on the sidewalk. This travel guide includes: •ULTIMATE EXPERIENCES GUIDE contains a brief introduction and spectacular color photos that capture the ultimate experiences and attractions throughout New Orleans •EXPANDED COVERAGE: New hotel and restaurant recommendations have been added in up-and-coming neighborhoods throughout New Orleans. The “Under-the-Radar New Orleans” feature will help visitors live like a local and see the quirky not-for-tourists side of the city. •ILLUSTRATED FEATURES: A Mardi Gras feature, including a parade schedule, helps revelers plan their time. A colorful primer on New Orleans music provides basics about making the most of your Jazz Fest experience and how to best enjoy local music year-round. Features on New Orleans cuisine and cocktail culture identify the best eats and drinks. •INDISPENSABLE TRIP PLANNING TOOLS: Neighborhood orientation pages with maps, top reasons to go, and information for making the most of your time, make planning a snap. Easy to use, atlas-style dining and lodging maps makes finding everything easy. •SPECIAL EVENT COVERAGE: Mardi Gras in February or early March and Jazz Fest in April are two of the biggest annual events. •DISCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS: Fodor's New Orleans offers savvy advice and recommendations from local writers to help travelers make the most of their visit. Fodor's Choice designates our best picks in every category. •COVERS: New Orleans, Plantation Country, Cajun Country, the French Quarter, the Garden District, Fauborg Marigny, Bywater