New Orleans Off the Beaten Path: 35 Unique and Fun Things To Do

new orleans itinerary guide

There’s so much more to do in New Orleans than just partying on Bourbon Street. To get the most out of your visit to the Big Easy, you’ve got to experience New Orleans off the beaten path.

See unique and unusual attractions like alligator-infested swamplands, the Pharmacy Museum, the grave of a local voodoo legend, and haunted historic buildings.

This article groups the city’s under-the-radar spots under six headings: museums, tours, neighborhoods, hotels, and food, and other non-touristy attractions.

Of course you should do the regular tourist stuff like grabbing beignets at Café du Monde, visiting Mardi Gras World, and seeing live jazz music on Frenchmen Street. But once you’ve done those, add some of these more adventurous suggestions to your New Orleans itinerary!

new orleans street car

Quick Summary: The 5 Best Off the Beaten Path Activities in New Orleans
-Voodoo Museum
-Louisiana Bayou Swamp Tour
-Faubourg Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods
-St. Louis Cemetery #1
-Pharmacy Museum

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Quirky and Unique New Orleans Museums

The Pharmacy Museum

new orleans pharmacy museum

The Pharmacy Museum is a slightly creepy but fascinating little establishment. It’s right in the French Quarter, but tourists often overlook it.

Go inside and you’ll see all sorts of wacky exhibits, such as: Old bottles of heroin that were legally sold as a painkiller in 1898; a tank of leeches and text explaining how they’re used to treat diseases; and a chloroform inhaler, which was used during childbirth.

Basically, anything that falls into the “strange but true” realm of medical history can be found here. It’s a satisfyingly weird way to spend an hour!

Museum of the American Cocktail

Foodies take note: The Southern Food & Beverage Museum and the Museum of the American Cocktail can be found together on Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

For $12, you can explore both museums, checking out displays about the culinary history of the region, and food and drink-related artifacts.

The museums are opem Thursday through Sunday. Visitors can dine on-site at Toups South, a restaurant run by a former Top Chef contestant.

National World War II Museum

plane world war ii museum

The National World War II Museum is an incredibly informative and in-depth recap of the second great war.

But the museum is still very much off the beaten path when it comes to New Orleans attractions. A lot of people don’t even know it’s there.

That’s a shame, because the exhibits are expertly done. They have actual planes and tanks from the conflict, and interactive multimedia displays to teach you everything about this critical part of world history.

Museum of Death

This one seemed a little too dark for me, so I didn’t stop in. But if you’re interested in coroners’ medical instruments, Manson family artifacts, and crime scene photographs, you may want to give this museum a shot.

It’s the sister location for the Museum of Death in Hollywood. Photography is not allowed.

Historic Voodoo Museum

voodoo museum new orleans

The tiny little Voodoo Museum has been open nearly 50 years now in the French Quarter. The facility captures the history of voodoo culture in New Orleans, with skeletons, masks, beads, and other memorabilia.

They pack a ton of stuff into a few small rooms. For just $10, why not make a quick stop inside?

Offbeat and Unique New Orleans Tours

Those interested in walking tours or more in-depth guided tours have a large number of options in New Orleans. Tour subjects range from voodoo to alligators to local food.

Most of these tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance.

Louisiana Bayou Swamp Tour

You can find lots of swamp tours in the New Orleans area. The Louisiana Bayou Swamp Tour from Cajun Pride Swamp Tours is one of the more affordable tours available, while still providing plenty of chances to see alligators.

Have your camera, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent ready, and enjoy the journey through the swamp!

Ziplining Over Alligators

If regular ziplining isn’t enough of an adrenaline rush, how about zipping over live gators?

Yes, friend, you may have this chance on the Swamp Zipline Tour over a Louisiana swamp where you may encounter gators, boar, armadillos, turtles, and more.

Note: It costs extra to book a shuttle to the zipline location from New Orleans, so be sure to schedule that if you don’t have a rental car.

Ghosts & Vampires Walking Tour

If you’re looking for unique things to do in New Orleans, this one has to rank at the top of the list. The Ghosts & Vampires Walking Tour takes guests on a 2-hour walking tour through the French Quarter.

Your guide will tell stories about the mysteries of the city, involving ghosts, vampires, and hauntings.

Day Cruise on the Mississippi River

mississippi river cruise steamboat natchez

Here’s a fun one: Spend two hours aboard the Steamboat Natchez on a Mississippi River Day Cruise! Learn about the history of the city and the river on the relaxing voyage.

Definitely pay the few bucks extra to include the Creole lunch with your booking. For something more unique and musical, consider also the Evening Jazz Boat Cruise.

Whitney Plantation Tour

The Whitney Plantation Tour does a great job of providing historical perspective on the unfortunate history of slavery in Louisiana. The tour presents first-person accounts from people who lived and worked at this 262-year-old plantation.

As New Orleans plantation tours go, this is one of the best, because they provide round-trip transportation from the city, and the tour lasts 5 hours, as opposed to some others which take up almost 8 hours.

Hurricane Katrina Recovery Tour

It’s hard to believe that so many years have passed since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August 2005. The storm flooded 80% of the city and killed more than 1000 people. It especially hit the Lower Ninth Ward hard.

This Hurricane Katrina Tour takes visitors to some of the areas hit by the storm to see how they have recovered in the years since the hurricane, including Lakeview, Gentilly, and St. Bernard.

The educational tour gives guests a closer look at how the city was able to bounce back from the disaster.

French Quarter Food History Tour

new orleans food tour - gumbo

New Orleans has more unique local foods than just about anywhere in America. How can you possibly sample them all? A food tour is a good place to start!

The 2.5-hour French Quarter Food History Tour gives you a chance to try dishes like seafood gumbo, brisket with Creole sauce, read beans & rice, and turtle soup (specific food offerings may change daily.)

Voodoo & Cemetery Tour

Haunted tours and voodoo tours are a big thing in the Big Easy. The Voodoo & Cemetery Tour takes guests to St. Louis Cemetery #1 and a local voodoo shop, providing context on the history of voodoo practice in the city.

More Under the Radar Attractions in New Orleans

Carousel Bar

Carousel Bar is just what it sounds like. It’s a merry-go-round style bar that rotates while you sip your cocktail. How cool!

The piano bar holds 25 people and it’s quite popular, so you may want to visit during weekdays to avoid the crowds.

If you’re only here for a weekend trip in New Orleans, come before 4 pm for the best chance of grabbing a seat.

St. Louis Cemetery #1

st louis cemetery 1 - new orleans off the beaten path

New Orleans is known for its above-ground cemeteries. The water table is so high here that burying someone underground is difficult, so 90% of burials in the city are above ground.

Among the many famous cemeteries is St. Louis Cemetery #1. It’s especially noteworthy because that’s where you’ll find the tomb of voodoo queen Marie Laveau.

People often leave trinkets at the spot where this notorious “Voodoo Priestess” was laid to rest.

New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park

Did you know there are two national historical parks right in the heart of New Orleans? One, Jean Lafitte National Park & Preserve, describes the history of the Mississippi River Delta.

The other is New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, which covers four acres in Louis Armstrong Park in the Treme neighborhood.

Stop by the visitor center to learn about how jazz music shaped New Orleans. You may also catch a performance, as the park brings in musicians several days a week.

LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop

lafittes blacksmith shop

This place wins the prize for “most deceptive business name ever.” It’s not a blacksmith shop – it’s a bar. In fact, it claims to be the oldest bar in the country, though no one has been able to verify that claim.

Built in the 1770s, the structure is one of the oldest in New Orleans, and it’s a National Historic Landmark. The place gets busy, so if you actually want a drink here, come earlier in the day.

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

This one’s just for the loonies like me who love anything with the title “world’s largest…” In this case, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest bridge that continuously stretches over water in the world.

The 24-mile-long bridge connects New Orleans with the other side of Lake Pontchartrain.

There’s no compelling reason to drive on this bridge, except to say that you drove on a Guinness World Record-holding bridge. The cash toll for those without a toll tag is $5.

Simon Bolivar Monument

simon bolivar statue monument

This is a weirdly unexpected find in New Orleans – a monument to former Venezuelan president and military leader Simon Bolivar.

Though Bolivar never visited New Orleans, his work in helping to free several Latin American countries from Spanish rule in the early 1800s inspired subsequent generations.

The 7-ton granite statue was gifted to New Orleans by Venezuela in 1957. Find the 12-foot monument at Canal and Basin Streets.

Dos Jefes Cigar Bar

If you’re searching for a place to hear live music away from the French Quarter or Frenchmen Street, Dos Jefes is a solid non-touristy option.

The cozy Uptown bar offers live music each night with no cover charge. Expect to hear something in the jazz, folk, or blues realm.

Keep in mind that it’s a cigar bar, so smoke will be in the air, along with good music and good vibes.

Off the Beaten Path New Orleans Neighborhoods

Faubourg Marigny and Bywater

I really believe that you haven’t fully experienced New Orleans unless you’ve spent some time in the Faubourg Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods.

This is where you’ll find blocks and blocks of brightly-colored, adorably cute houses.

faubourg marigny neighborhood

There’s an area of Frenchmen Street located within the Marigny that is known for its live jazz music. You’ll definitely want to stop by there!

If you’re traveling by yourself, book the Frenchmen Street Live Music Pub Crawl to go with a small group.

Aside from that little section, the rest of these neighborhoods are farther away from the hustle of bustle of the tourist district, which is nice.

If you have at least 3 days in New Orleans, this is a great place to consider booking an Airbnb.

Garden District

magazine street garden district
Magazine Street is a popular destination for folks who want to escape the French Quarter.

Ok, the Garden District isn’t as much of a secret as it once was. Many visitors now make a detour here to see the mansions from the 1800s and the funky shops and eateries on Magazine Street.

Hop on the St. Charles streetcar and spend a couple hours here. Or stay all night and do some bar hopping once you’ve tired of the French Quarter.

Algiers Point

Algiers is extremely overlooked by tourists, but if you want an off the beaten path neighborhood in New Orleans, this is it.

It’s right across the river from the French Quarter. All you have to do is take a short ferry ride over there.

algiers point jazz walk of fame
In Algiers Point, you’ll find the Jazz Walk of Fame.

The ‘hood is mostly quiet and residential, so it’s a good spot for a relaxing stroll and perhaps a nice lunch. This place is not the slightest bit touristy.

Architecture lovers will enjoy the abundance of old houses. There’s also a Jazz Walk of Fame with a statue of Louis Armstrong.

City Park

A surprising number of tourists skip City Park, which at 1300 acres is far bigger than New York’s famed Central Park. City Park has been a New Orleans institution since 1854.

This park is so old that there’s a section that used to be known for its frequent dueling around 200 years ago. Duels!

In addition to lakes, picnic areas, and 600-year-old oak trees, City Park is home to a miniature golf course, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, the New Orleans Botanical Garden, and the Carousel Gardens amusement park.

Quirky and Cool New Orleans Hotels

Ace Hotel

ace hotel quirky cool

It didn’t take long for the Ace Hotel to become the coolest hotel chain in the U.S. Ace has roughly a dozen locations, including one in New Orleans’ Warehouse District.

The hip factor is through the roof on this property, which resides in a 1928 Art Deco building.

In addition to its funky rooms, the Ace Hotel has six places on site to eat or drink, as well as the Three Keys music venue. Check Ace Hotel prices and availability.

Haunted Hotel

Yes, it’s really called Haunted Hotel. New Orleans is home to a number of supposedly haunted hotels, and the one on the edge of the French Quarter called Haunted Hotel caters to travelers who are into ghost sightings.

The hotel’s own website brags that it’s the “home of many murders dating back hundreds of years… many guests can’t stomach staying an entire night.”

If that sort of thing is up your alley, click to check Haunted Hotel prices and availability.

India House Hostel

india house hostel
The exterior of India House, an off the beaten path hostel in New Orleans.

For the budget traveler, India House Hostel is a good option. It’s located in Mid-City, one of the city’s emerging fun neighborhoods. You can get dorm beds for as little as $17/night and private rooms for around $45.

I stayed at India House a few years back and enjoyed the hostel and its location. It’s far enough away from the French Quarter to avoid the craziness, but close enough that you can get there via a 10-minute streetcar ride. Click to check India House Hotel prices and availabilty.

Hotel Monteleone

If you want to go upscale, then don’t even research any further – just book a room at Hotel Monteleone right now!

This huge 570-room property was built in 1886, and has hosted legends like Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and Truman Capote.

The aforementioned Carousel Bar is inside this hotel, so you don’t even have to leave the property to visit one of the coolest bars in the city. Check Hotel Monteleone prices and availability.

Magazine Mansion

Why just drive past old New Orleans mansions when you could stay at one? Magazine Mansion has six different offerings for all budgets, ranging from a king suite with a spa bath to a studio room with a sofa bed.

Book early and you could stay here for less than $100! Check Magazine Mansion prices and availability.

Off the Beaten Path Food Options

You can’t talk about New Orleans without talking about food! It’s tough to write about, though, because there are literally hundreds of places to eat in New Orleans. I certainly haven’t tried them all – no one has!

Of course, there are a million places in the city to try gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, po’ boy sandwiches, fried chicken, shrimp, oysters Rockefeller, and various Cajun and Creole foods.

Most of the cuisine I ate in New Orleans was in this vein. You can’t walk 10 feet without bumping into a place to try these foods.

I strongly recommend trying those foods, since they encapsulate so much of the culture and spirit of New Orleans. But since this is an off the beaten path article, I’ll offer a couple of other modest suggestions.

In the Garden District, try District Donuts & Sliders. Their food is creative and delicious, like the fried chicken slider and waffle fries.

But make sure to try the desserts! Their cinnamon rolls and donuts were amazing. I could eat here everyday!

district donuts new orleans

District now has multiple locations around the city. So does Dat Dog, which offers unusual hot dogs. That should be your destination if you’re craving an alligator hot dog or a duck sausage.

There’s an acclaimed place called Jacques-Imo’s that serves up Creole soul food. I didn’t get a chance to visit, but I will definitely stop by now that I know they offer one of the quirkiest dishes in New Orleans: a shrimp and alligator sausage cheesecake!

I’m an ice cream junkie, so I made sure to visit Angelo Brocato in Mid-City. They’ve been serving up scoops since 1905!

How many ice cream shops can say they’ve been around that long? They make tasty gelato and ice cream of numerous different flavors.

angelo brocato ice cream - food of new orleans

And finally, I’ll mention Muriel’s, which some call one of the most haunted restaurants in America.

The place is said to be haunted by the ghost of the former owner, who committed suicide in 1814 rather than give up the building, which he had lost in a game of poker.

Some theorize the place is also haunted by the ghosts of slaves who were held on the property three centuries ago. If you can still eat a nice meal with those thoughts in your head… go for it.

Got any other tips for how to explore New Orleans off the beaten path? Leave a comment with your suggestions!

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3 thoughts on “New Orleans Off the Beaten Path: 35 Unique and Fun Things To Do”

  1. Nobody has mentioned Mardi Gras World. Fun and colorful tour or self guided in a huge warehouse where the Mardi Gras floats are made, and pieces from previous floats stored and reused and if lucky watch ate artists at work.

    1. Hi Teri, we mentioned Mardi Gras World briefly in the intro, since it’s an obvious attraction and not really “off the beaten path.” I agree most tourists should check it out!

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