Off the Beaten Path

New Orleans getaway: How to have a grown-up good time in America's favorite fun city

A shortish drive and an even shorter direct flight away, New Orleans is a popular spot for Houstonians to spend a wild weekend. Filled with bars that never close and booze sold in practically every corner store, it’s a city that brings out college-style benders in even the most mature visitors.

But there’s a lot more to New Orleans than plastic beads and drinking in the street — not that we don’t love all of that, too. Here are some of our tips for having a grown-up(ish), culturally rich time in New Orleans.

Drink fancy — not frozen — drinks

A French Quarter cocktail crawl
Spending some time in the famous French Quarter is still a must-do, especially for NOLA novices, for its quirkiness, people watching and quintessential pastel houses overflowing with greenery. Plus, tucked away between all those neon bars lined with spinning frozen drink machines is where you will find the city's best craft cocktails. For a “proper” daiquiri, hit up Latitude 29 (321 N. Peters St.), a rum bar making some of the most inventive tiki drinks in the country right now, served over impressively crafted ice vessels. Next, take a seat at the whimsical Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone (214 Royal St.), the city’s only revolving bar, where you circle around on a 25-seat merry-go-round. Yes, it really does spin — it’s not that Sazerac going straight to your head.

Cain & Table (1113 Decatur St.) is perfect for grabbing a bite. Grab a spot on the fern-covered patio and chow down on goat dirty rice or fried octopus salad paired with a well-crafted drink. At Sazerac, inside the Grand Roosevelt Hotel (123 Baronne St.), order a Ramos Gin Fizz from the gorgeous walnut bar and gaze upon the impressive pieces of history behind the bar. And of course, don’t forget to stop at the iconic Arnaud’s French 75 (813 Rue Bienville). We’re not promising you’ll be any more sober than the frat boys stumbling around Bourbon Street after your tour de craft cocktail (come on, you’re in New Orleans after all) but at least you’ll have gotten sloshed with class.

Pro-tip: Pace yourself with a muffaletta from Central Grocery & Deli (923 Decatur St.) or if it's late, head to Verti Marte (1201 Royal St.), an incredible 24-hour bodega with ridiculously good sandwiches.

Stay off of Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street can be overwhelming, so get yourself the obligatory frozen “Hand Grenade” or “Hurricane” (to-go!) and make a beeline for one of these areas.

Frenchmen Street
In the Marigny, a (relatively) quieter neighborhood just outside the French Quarter, Frenchmen Street is full of live music every night — and most of it for free. There are many comprehensive lists of music clubs if you want to plan ahead, but we suggest just heading over and wandering into whatever sounds good. Head to Three Muses (536 Frenchmen St.) if you’re looking for delicious small bites, like a roasted root veggie salad or house-made pickle chips, alongside your jazz. For a (very) full-sized meal, start at Adolfo’s (611 Frenchmen St.), a romantic little no-frills Italian joint above the Apple Barrel.

The Bywater
Devote an afternoon to wandering around this hip neighborhood full of art collectives and dive bars. If you’re staying near the French Quarter, the Bywater is a 30- to 45-minute walk away. Start by grabbing one of the best Bloody Marys in town at the Golden Lantern (1239 Royal St.) and take your time heading towards the Bywater — the colorful houses and street art along the way are the stuff of an Instagramer’s dreams. Grab brunch (and don't forget the praline bacon!) at Elizabeth’s (601 Gallier St.) and then end your trek at Bacchanal (600 Poland Ave.) where you can grab a great, affordable bottle of wine and enjoy it outside under lush trees and string lights. Locals call it “the end of the world” because it’s nestled right in a nook between two sides of the Mississippi River — and there’s maybe no place that captures the relaxed, communal spirit of this town better than the vibes radiating from Bacchanal on a warm afternoon. Sit here long enough and it’s easy to imagine never leaving.

The Garden District
Lined with stunning old trees and Victorian architecture, the Garden District is a lovely escape from the bustle of the French Quarter and downtown. Take a streetcar down St. Charles Avenue and hop off for a drink at The Columns Hotel (3811 St. Charles Ave.) patio before heading a few blocks over to Magazine Street for some serious shopping at any number of boutiques and galleries. For dinner, it’s hard to go wrong with any of Chef Donald Link’s concepts, and there are a couple to chose from nearby. (Go here for a full list.) We recommend the house-made spaghetti (it comes with a fried-poached egg) and butter-poached Gulf tuna at Herbsaint (701 Saint Charles Ave). From there, head out to The Howlin’ Wolf — one of the best music venues in town.

Take a Tour

Is there anything that screams adult vacation more than waking up in time for breakfast, strapping your camera and sneakers on, and heading out on a guided tour? Probably not. Skip the double-decker buses and opt for an off-the-beaten path tour that will give you intimate, informative look at the city.

Bike tour through the Lower Ninth Ward
Though this neighborhood is famous for the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, the Lower Ninth has roots and culture that go far beyond the flooding. Nearly a decade after the storm, this community and culture is still working on a long road to rebirth. The four-hour tour goes at a leisurely pace, and along the way tells the history of this community and why its efforts to rebuild have been so fraught, inspiring and important. You will pass the famous Fats Domino house, stop for some of the best po' boys in town, and visit the House of Dance and Feathers (1317 Tupelo St.), a museum behind the incredible Ronald Lewis' house. Lewis' house is a can't-miss, filled with his personal collection of Mardi Gras Indian suits, beadwork, photographs and more. If you’re interested in visiting the museum without the bike tour, you can call Mr. Lewis ahead of time at 504-957-2678 to make an appointment. (Ninth Ward Rebirth Bike Tours, $60 per person.)

Swamp Tour
About 45 minutes outside of town is the Honey Island Cypress Swamp, where gators, snakes and wild boars hang around the cypress trees and muddy waters. There’s an eerie sense of Louisiana lore slinking around these waters (think True Detective), and even if you don’t spot a gator — they tend to be most active in summer months — it’s worth it to spend some time out of town and surrounded by nature. Honey Island Swamp Tours has been around forever, and they know every nook of the swamp. The company offers a boat tour with hotel pickup and drop-off for $48. Call 504-242-5877 for reservations.

Kayak Tour
If you’re looking for some time on the water, but would rather stay in town, try a kayak tour through one of New Orleans' various water sources. Kayak-Iti-Yat tours has several options, including a two-hour tour through the Bayou focused on seeing some of New Orleans’ most stunning architecture and a tour that’s about double the distance for all y’all athletic types. Prices vary based on tour, so go here to make reservations.

House of Dance and Feathers in the Lower Ninth Ward.

Photo by Sofia Sokolove

House of Dance and Feathers in the Lower Ninth Ward.

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Now hear this

New Texas museum shines spotlight on Tejano music history

Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum, San Antonio, tejano music

Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Roger Hernandez serves as board president of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a city that proudly calls itself the capital of Tejano music, San Antonio has long been missing a permanent place to honor the genre’s pioneers and preserve its history. That gap officially closed In December with the opening of the Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum at 1414 Fredericksburg Rd.

The music couldn’t have found a better steward than its founder and board president. Roger Hernandez has had his finger on the pulse of Tejano music for decades. His company, En Caliente Productions, has provided a platform for countless performing artists and songwriters in Tejano, conjunto, and regional Mexican music since 1982.

Hernandez says his wife, who ran a shop at Market Square years ago, would often get questions from visitors about the location of a physical Tejano music museum, a thing that simply did not exist. In 2022, he banded together with friends, family, and other local Tejano music supporters to make the nonprofit Hall of Fame a reality.

“I decided I've been in the music scene for over 40 years, it's time to do a museum,” Hernandez recalls.

Hernandez says a brick-and-mortar Tejano music museum has long been needed to remember musical acts and other individuals who grew the genre across Texas and northern Mexico, especially those who are aging. Recently, the community lost famed Tejano music producer Manny Guerra and Abraham Quintanilla, the renowned Tejano singer/songwriter and father of the late superstar Selena Quintanilla-Perez. Both deaths occurred roughly one week after the Totally Tejano museum opened to the public.

“They're all dying. They're all getting older, and we need to acknowledge all these people,” Hernandez says.

The Totally Tejano Museum — named after Hernandez’s Totally Tejano Television Roku streaming — has 5,000 square feet of space packed with plaques, photos, promotional posters, musical instruments, and other memorabilia honoring the pioneers and stars of the beloved genre. Mannequins wear stage outfits from icons like Laura Canales and Flaco Jimenez, and a wall of photos remembers late greats. Totally Tejano Television plays legendary performances on a loop, bringing the exhibits to life.

The newly opened Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum includes a growing collection of memorabilia. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

Hernandez says the museum will soon welcome permanent and rotating exhibits, including traveling shows, a Hall of Fame section, and an area paying homage to Chicano music crossovers, such as the late Johnny Rodriguez, the South Texas singer-songwriter who blended country with Tex-Mex music. Plans call for the organization to hold its inaugural Hall of Fame induction in February 2026.

Eventually, a 2,000 square feet back room will be converted into additional display space and host industry gatherings, community symposiums, and record and video release parties. The museum also plans to add a gift and record shop and a music learning room where visitors can listen to early Tejano music and browse archival photos. Hernandez is already talking with local school districts about educational field trips.

Much like Tejano itself, the museum is a grassroots production. Hernandez and fellow board members have used their own money to rent, renovate, develop, and maintain the museum space. The board also leads the selection of the Hall of Fame honorees and curates the exhibits.

Hernandez has been heartened by the museum’s reception, both from media outlets and music fans around Texas and beyond.

“We had a radio station come in this morning from Houston to interview us,” he says. “People have come in from Lubbock, Texas. We have had people from Midland, Texas. We have another person who emailed us who’s coming in from New York. People are learning all about us.”

That includes many of the musicians who helped shape the genre. Johnny Hernandez, Sunny Ozuna, Elida Reyna, and Danny Martinez from Danny and The Tejanos are among the luminaries who have already graced the halls.

The Totally Tejano Hall of Fame and Museum is now open 10 am-6 pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and closed Monday. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Fans can call 210-314-1310 for more information.

san antonio tejano music museums hall of fame music openings