Day 1: Tourist Attractions
As much as seasoned travelers like to say they want to travel like the locals, most tourist attractions are there for a reason. On day 1, we like to knock out as many touristy things as possible to have more flexibility to wander later on in the trip. I know this is a sizeable list for the first day, but many of these are close to each other and quick stops.
1. New Orleans School of Cooking Class
524 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130, map
Though I wouldn’t lump this with all the typical tourist attractions, doing this first will give you a greater appreciation for everything else you eat and do on your trip.
Oh, did we mention that you get bottomless drinks? They had wine, beer, mimosas, and bloody marys. It was a fun way to start the day but a bit dangerous for those of us (me!) with little to no self-control.
This was our first cooking class, and the instructor taught us new cooking skills and gave us insight into Cajun/Creole cuisine and history. You can also ask them for all the food recs.
We got a chance to make popular local dishes like Seafood and Okra Gumbo, Crawfish Pie, and Banana Foster Crepes. At the end of the class, you get to keep the recipes and aprons you cook in as souvenirs.
If you don’t have time for a hands-on cooking class, there are demonstration classes where you can watch the chefs cook and then eat what they make.
Pro Tip: You can watch them make fresh pralines at the front of the store, and they hand out samples. We picked up a couple of boxes as souvenirs for friends! You don’t need a class for these.
Alternative: If you don’t have time for a cooking class, grab lunch at Peche. We especially loved their Fried Bread and Spicy Ground Shrimp + Noodles.
See Related – 49 Best Places to Eat in New Orleans
