The PERFECT Weekend in New Orleans for Under $50

"Post - Pandemic" travels have resulted in the prices of all methods of travel sky rocketing! If you have Chronic Wanderlust like myself, this won't stop you from living your best life. New Orleans is the perfect budget-friendly place whether you're traveling from other southern states or flying in from the Northeast for West Coast. For Example, a drink at a lounge in Boston will cost $15-$17, but in New Orleans, that same drink will cost $10- $15. Below is how to have a PERFECT Weekend in New Orleans for Under $50.

RIDE THE STREET CAR

The Jazz Pass gets you unlimited public transit rides for the weekend for only 8 dollars! The "Day" doesn't start until you use the Jazz Pass. This is PERFECT for those who like to plan trips in advance! (Like Me lol). This saves a drastic amount of money considering the gas supplement fees charged on ride-sharing apps. The car runs 24 hours a day.

STUDIO B

If you love art. Studio Be is the place to Be (pun intended) Studio is home to local artist, Brandan 'Bmike' Odums' first solo project. The visual art housed in this 35,000 sq. ft. warehouse depicts the stories of revolutionaries, heroes, and everyday New Orleanians. Admission ranges from $10 -$15 for adults. All original works and pieces from the collection are available for purchase as prints, pins, apparel, and skateboards. Also, did I mention there are plenty of places for Instagram - worthy pictures inside?

THE FRENCH QUARTER

A mile and a half from Studio Be you'll find the French Quarter. Where you can explore the hustle and bustle of the city. There will be vendors that provide samples of their treats, like fudges and pecan candy! Get some beignets from Cafe Du Monde. There are plenty of lunch and brunch options in the area which you'll see soon in another post. While living in Massachusetts, for many years, I could never get my hands on a REAL daiquiri. The nearest daiquiri shop was in New York City and the flavors were limited. If you're over 21, get a daiquiri while you're in the French Quarter and bring it with you to the next location.

CITY PARK

The New Orleans City Park features 1,300 acres of beautiful pastures and sculpture gardens. It's the perfect place for a bike ride and picnic or a thoughtful romantic date. There are various bike options ranging from $12 an hour - to $50 for a day. You can also rent a swan boat (nighttime option available), kayak, or canoes for $16 - $30 per hour. You can spend hours at the park. There are activities and sections for people of all ages and idyllic sceneries for fantastic pictures.

NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART

Also known as NOMA, the New Orleans Museum of Art has an extensive collection that continues to grow, unite, inspire, and engage diverse communities and cultures. The cost ranges from $18 - $25. The Museum has art in the traditional sense such as pottery, film, painting and, sculptures, but also includes FREE demonstrations and how food can be used as medicine.

BOURBON STREET

For any of my friends who have wanted to visit New Orleans and ask for my advice on what to do at night, I always ask "what kind of New Orleans experience do you want?" If you want a touristy party experience with a night full of hand grenades ( I recommend frozen, as opposed to on the rocks) and random shenanigans occurring throughout the night, then Bourbon is where you want to be. Every time I went to Bourbon Street, it was an eventful, but fun night. Bourbon Street is a strip of bars, clubs, and, restaurants. The bars are completely FREE. The only thing you'd have to pay for are your drinks. The shots in New Orleans are more like a double at one bar off of Bourbon Street and I'm sure you'll find many of the bars to be similar. ( I don't remember the name of the specific bar that I went to but, I could walk you to the location over facetime though lol.) For the Karaoke girls like myself, you'd LOVE the Kats Meow! For Travelers that prefer a more local experience, you'll LOVE the next destination.

FRENCHMEN STREET

Once again, for any of my friends who have wanted to visit New Orleans and ask for my advice on what to do at night, I always ask "what kind of New Orleans experience do you want?" If you want a local, artsy, chill, but lit vibe, you want to be on Frenchmen Street. There is NO COVER FEE for the bars. The artists performing on the street are free, but tips are definitely encouraged. There's live music almost everywhere in New Orleans, and events on the streets, which you'll see throughout the day. However, on Frenchmen Street, you'll see local artists performing live, live art, and vendors selling their pieces. When I'm in New Orleans, you are most likely to see me on Frenchmen street, with a Daiquiri, dancing to live music as I watch an artist paint to the same music. And yes, you can drink and explore what the city has to offer on foot in case you didn't notice during the other activities, but you didn't hear that from me lol. It's one of the most well-known secrets lol. If you're in New Orleans, for a weekend go to Bourbon Street Friday night and Frenchmen Street Saturday night to experience both, and tell me which one you prefer!

There's a PERFECT weekend in New Orleans for under $50! Come back next time for my favorite food spots in New Orleans.