New Orleans may not seem like an obvious destination for tourists but since the terrible Hurricane Katrina disaster a few years ago, the city has made an astonishing comeback and made Travel & Leisure Magazine's destination of the year in 2007. The city has it all; history, nightlife, great restaurants, good music and is packed full of things to do. You will simply fall in love with this old city on the Mississippi River. Tourism is the main source of income for the city so you will be entertained from morning to night.

The city is divided into distinct sections namely; the French Quarter, the Convention Center, The Arts District, the Garden District and the Business District. There is something for tourists to do in each of these districts so you won't have any problems finding something to do. The city also lends itself to the tourist industry as its layout makes walking easy in comparison to some of its other US counterparts. You can get up close and intimate with this city so forget about your rental car for a while and get walking!

Founded as the first port city for trade along the Mississippi in the mid to late 1700s, New Orleans has a rich and varied history. The city went on to become known as the Paris of the New World in the 1800s, with a strong mix of cultures and people making for an unusual ambience. The 1900s saw the birth of jazz music and the city became known as one of the prime tourist destinations around the globe. The city is home to several events and festivals, perhaps none more famous than Mardi Gras.

The city was the birthplace of jazz music and you will be constantly reminded of this during your trip to New Orleans! Once in the city you shouldn't ever be far from experiencing the local flavour of New Orelans jazz music. You can see everyone playing, from the youngest musicians on the street corners to the professionals playing inside the famous Preservation Hall. Once a year there is an annual event known as Jazzfest that draws large numbers to the city to hear the unique sounds of New Orleans jazz music.

Those interested in architecture will be kept happy walking the streets in New Orelans. There is an eclectic mix of house style in the city including the shotgun house, whcih originatied from New Orleans and the bungalow style. Throughout the city, there are many other historic housing styles such as Creole cottages, American townhouses, double-gallery houses, and Raised Center-Hall Cottages. New Orleans is also noted for its large, European-style Catholic cemeteries. Take a walk around the city and view this diverse architecture for yourself!

The climate of New Orleans is humid subtropical with short, generally mild winters and hot, humid summers. In January, morning lows average around 43 °F (6 °C), and daily highs around 62 °F (17 °C). In July, lows average 74 °F (23 °C), and highs average 91 °F (33 °C).