Dental News - In town for the AAO? Get lost in everything New Orleans has to offer

Aaron Rothkopf, Dental Tribune USA

Sat. 4 May 2024

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It’s easy to get lost in the excitement that the Big Easy has to offer. From Mardi Gras to beignets, New Orleans has something new to explore while attending AAO24. This great Southern city is home to a variety of Southern foods to fill anyone’s palate, as well as the soft sounds of jazz to sway to while enjoying a cool beer in one of the city’s many breweries. With 21 National Registered Historical Districts, history is tied to the DNA of New Orleans.

First stop on anyone’s list while visiting New Orleans is the French Quarter and the famous Bourbon Street. The neighborhood is the heart and soul of the city and is also a National Historic Landmark. You’ll find cobblestone lanes and street names still listed in French.

Bourbon Street is the French Quarter’s main draw, and you’ll find street performers and fortune tellers as well as a wide assortment of bars and restaurants. If you want some excitement, join one of the main ghost tours that exist around the French Quarter. You’ll hear tales of famous hauntings and see some of the city’s famous architecture. Ghost tours range from $20 to $30 and last about one to three hours depending on the tour.

After a day of haunting, watch the living come to life at night. That’s when Bourbon Street really comes alive and is best appreciated by adult travelers due to the late-night noise.

Go back in time to the Greatest Generation when you step inside the National World War II Museum. Exhibits are housed in four separate buildings and are meant for visitors to experience what it was like for those fighting in the war. The galleries showcase artifacts from the war, as well as stories from those who battled it out in Europe and Asia. Prices are $33 to $35 for adults, $30 to $32 for seniors, $25 for children ages 5 through 18 and military are up to $25. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Looking for some fresh air? Head to City Park. Right in the heart of New Orleans, the park has playgrounds for kids and a sculpture garden as well as a botanical garden. Stroll around the moss-covered oak trees and take a ride on the carousel at the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. There are also several nearby restaurants to grab a bite to eat. tings from your local guide

For art lovers, head over to the New Orleans Museum of Art. The museum houses more than 40,000 objects spanning 5,000 years. It has artwork from some of the most famous artists of our time, including Monet, Picasso, Rodin and Georgia O’Keefe.

There are also a wide variety of work done by Louisiana artists on display. Other objects in the museum include Chinese ceramics, Japanese paintings and Native American Art. The New Orleans Museum of Art is open Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket prices are $15 to $20 for adults and for seniors they are $10 to $15.

You’ll hear the smooth sounds of jazz coming from nearly any doorway, and the city has a museum dedicated just to this genre of music. Through interactive exhibits and educational programming, you can learn about the background of the music New Orleans made famous. The New Orleans Jazz Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and tickets cost $8 for adults, students and senior citizens while military members pay just $6.

New Orleans and Mardi Gras are synonymous, and you can see the excitement of Mardi Gras any time of the year. Step inside the World of Mardi Gras and get a behind the scenes look at the Mardi Gras experience. At the Mardi Gras World Tours, you can see firsthand what it takes to get the floats up and running for the more than 40 parades each year.

You’ll wander through the studio and meet the people who put on the show-stopping events. You can take photos in front of the floats and props. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and tickets cost $22 for adults, $14 for children ages 2 to 12, and $17 for seniors and those in the military.

Whether you want to catch a vibe to a splendid tune or enjoy a delicious and authentic meal, when you’re not in the exhibit hall at AAO24, come explore the great city of New Orleans.