New Orleans offers a round-the-clock festive spirit 12 months a year. Live music, particularly jazz, rings through streets lined with buildings dating back to the early 1800s. That’s when the city’s trademark Creole architecture, a mix of influences from the French, Spanish, and Caribbean was developed, adding a distinctly New Orleans touch. While the lively French Quarter gets all the attention, also explore the Marigny and Bywater, which have a more artsy vibe, and Audubon — surrounding Audubon Park — which is known as the University District thanks to Tulane and Loyola Universities. If you’re looking to visit more of the New Orleans metro area, Metairie is just to the northwest, Chalmette about 10 miles east, and Slidell about 34 miles northeast.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is a rare airport where you’ll actually want to spend extra time because of the live entertainment on offer for passengers awaiting flights. Over a dozen airlines servicing numerous domestic destinations and some international cities land here, so finding a flight to New Orleans should be easy. Taxis, shuttles, rental cars, rideshares, and buses are available for the 14-mile trip into the city. Alternatively, this Mississippi River city has a cruise port, as well as long-haul bus and train service from select cities. Once in town, the transportation options are plentiful, including streetcars, ferries, pedicabs, bikeshares, taxis, and rideshares, but if you’re staying in the city center, you may not need any of these options, as many essential sites are within walking distance.

February through May is prime time to visit NoLA, when highs are in the mid-60s to mid-80s Fahrenheit and lows hover between the 50s to 70s — it’s also perfectly timed to celebrations such as Mardi Gras and the French Quarter Festival. December and January are also pleasant months — with the bonus of fewer crowds — when highs are in the 60s and lows typically don't fall below the mid-40s. Summer and fall can be more challenging, as stifling heat, mixed with humidity, reaches the 90s. June usually has the highest precipitation, and hurricane season lasts from June through November.

French Quarter

The legendary Bourbon Street is the most popular street in this historic neighborhood, and indulgence is a way of life here. But the district is also known for its majestic Jackson Square (where local artisans often display their work in an open-air market), jazz clubs, steamboat cruises, and fresh beignets with chicory coffee.

Garden District

A streetcar ride away from the French Quarter is a visual juxtaposition to the French Quarter — a chill suburban neighborhood dominated by grand mansions. Also stop at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, which houses the tombs of early settlers from Ireland and Germany, or opt for one of the city’s cemetery tours to learn more about the history of this great city.

Mardi Gras World

Experience New Orleans’ most famous festival any time of year at this facility, where 80 percent of the Mardi Gras floats are built.