So much fun to visit City Park in New Orleans on the first day of Spring. (It's actually one of the…read moreplaces that I visit almost every trip to New Orleans.) The park is sprawling. Covering 1300 acres, it is one of the largest urban parks in the US. Bike trails, walking trails, museums, restaurants, sculpture gardens, botanicals gardens and an amusement park for kids. What more could you want? Love art? Check out NOMA. This is often on my agenda. Love the rotating exhibits, Newcomb pottery and collection of impressionist paintings. I use my Graycliff annual pass for reciprocal admission fees. Bonus: One of my besties works here! Want art outdoors? The newly expanded sculpture garden is so beautiful and free to explore. Frank Stella. Yaacov Agam. Beverly Pepper. Take a photo with LOVE by Robert Indiana. Don't sit on Bear with Us by Frank Gehry. Feel free to walk across the Mississippi Meaders Bridge. Take a selfie in the Mirrors Labyrinth. Love to talk a walk here. Sorry, GiGi. No dogs allowed. Love flowers? If you are lucky, you may see tulips or wildflowers. Or visit the New Orleans Botanic Garden. It's also included on the Graycliff Martin annual reciprocal pass. The garden is filled with azaleas, camellias and beds of roses. Love the native Louisiana raised vegetable beds and the butterfly garden. Sit under the oaks on a park bench or a swing to take a rest. Like art? Explore the large collection of Enrique Alfarez sculptures spread throughout the garden. Hungry? Thirsty? This is the best place to visit Cafe du Monde. No lines and the parking is free and so much easier than the quarter. Order a cafe au lait or a hot chocolate with a plate of beignets. Then grab a table with a green umbrella outside to enjoy the sunshine and the famous oak trees in the park. City Park has one of the largest collections of Live Oak trees in the world. Have a kid? Or just feel like a kid? Storyland is so cute! Created by Mardi Gras float makers, it is a New Orleans classic full of whimsy. Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Mother Goose. It is filled with fairy tale and nursery rhyme classics. Fun fact: New Orleans City Park is one of the largest parks in the US. At 1,300 square acres it is almost twice as large as New York's Central Park which is just a little over 800 square acres and does not make the top twenty for size. (But Central Park is still amazing, too!) Parking is free. Or come by streetcar. It stops near NOMA. Thanks for the free flowers on the first day of spring.

I'd recommend City Park to anyone. It's a great spot for walking, running, photo shoots, picnics,…read moreand just enjoying some fresh air. It's very relaxing and a huge plus that you don't have to go far to feel surrounded by nature. There's always plenty of space and you can easily find a place to sit and unwind. I come out here a few times a week for walks and usually on Saturdays with my run club. It's one of my favorite places in the city to reset and stay active.

Water aerobics was great! Instructors are high energy, music is wonderful. Can't wait to come back!read more

This place is wonderful. Friendly staff and lovely spotlessly clean pool. My only complaint is…read morethat the locker area is FREEZING! Hard to come out of the wonderful pool and get a serious chill in the locker room. One of the staff members agreed with me but said the boss liked it that way,

Great place for a fun day with friends under the sun! The price is very reasonable : $25/person for…read more2hrs. The instructor was very nice. She even accepted to take some pictures of us. Highly recommend!

Went here for my birthday, great time, solid amenities, a really well thought out experience.read more

I like how big. And all of its indoor amenities like basketball courts, pool and indoor track. I…read morewish they would update their gym equipment is like from the early 2000's and falling apart. It takes forever when something breaks for them to fix it. And they need to clean the mold off their vents.

Love this gym! Nice pool. Nice facilities. The staff are super friendly and helpful. Day passes are…read more$13 , but they are doing a summer special for $100 for the summer.

First thing... schmokey. Not smokey... but schmokey! But that doesn't happen until almost game…read moretime at 8pm. The the low hanging cloud forms. Your eyes will burn, your hair will stink and you will develop a death rattle by end of the game but its fun! Just drive home with the windows down and strip in the garage and hit the shower immediately. Second, there is a non smoking section but that area is no fun. Avoid it seriously unless you have horrible allergies. But seriously, just suck it up and sit in the smoking section. This is why you are coming. Third, actually a decent restaurant inside with items up to prime rib. The tater tots are yum. They sell beer and some little wines but nothing to get excited about. Pro tip coming. Fourth, the people/ regulars watching is top notch prime 1000% awesome. I'm talking funny ass shit funny. Comedy club funny with occasional outburst when someone is getting close to a bingo or if someone just won. (F! or that bitch was lucky, or wtf was that sound? or F this S) all said by women in late 60s - 80s Fifth, the game itself. Bingo, but not just any bingo. I am talking fast paced bingo! But sooo fun. Its not good for anxiety at the beginning but after a few cards in, the hang of it comes. You will get comfy enough to actually look up and see the screen showing the next ball and keep up instead of trying to search for the last call on the giant lit bingo board. But its not that easy... the announcers , can sometimes make Mush Mouth from Fat Albert sound like James Earl Jones in comparison. B 70 sounds more like fee sebindy. O 23 like Mo beddie free. Awesome. Now mix in during the game of bingo, there is walking staff also selling pull card games like cherry bells at school fairs. IN the middle of the numbers being called, B 9, O 64, G 44, there will be a random outburst " Black Jack Picture Frames" ... it is sooo confusing but it also makes my group laugh every time because we get frazzled and the regulars are playing 3 games at once, talking and keeping up with no frazzle. No more counting. Getting hard to write like that. The staff is wonderful. So my group , not very familiar with the process... again this isn't grade school bingo, its grown up bingo, did not realize the game switched from fill in the regular bingo to simultaneously turned into Black Out or the correct Gretna Bingo Palace term is "Cover All" game. A employee walking around with her own dauber leaned in and started marking up our cards with the missed numbers (it moves fast fast!) and she told us to mark everything because they will switch to Cover All after Bingo is called. Man that was sooo cool of her. When you first walk in, the newbies are spotted immediately. Blood in the water if you will. There is a frequent player program like at casinos at this bingo hall, so when anyone new walks in, get ready to get approached by a old lady with her keys on a lanyard. She will want you to use her player card when you buy your bingo card. It cost nothing extra but making a old lady smile. My last old lady was sweet enough to see we had no daubers and she went to her Gretna police officer friend behind the counter doing detail, and had him provide us with 4 daubers for free. We had to return them to him after but it saved us a few bucks. So no outside food or drinks. Meh kinda. There is no one checking bags at the door so if you are discreet, have someone pack a big purse and bring your goodies in. I have a cruise ship clear flask I fill at home and I buy a big drink at the bingo hall and fill up. The beer selection is poor so unless you can sneak in a few cans, the flask option is easy. There is a slot machine room also, actually way less smokey than you would expect. They have games all day, there is a online calendar, but for example, the games we usually hit is the 8pm game. It may start on time, or 20 mins late. No matter what, it will be finished by 9pm. It seems like no way they are gonna call it that fast but it is fast fast and fun fun fun! Get there early too. Grab you a table with friend, order food , have some drinks and have some laughs and make friends before hand. Seriously a fun hidden gem. And the fun multiplies if you are drunk or loaded in anyway. Not to mention there is a chance you could win big money. Imagine that!

BEWARE..... Bingo is addictive as F@#! Always just one square away! Lol. Came here on a whim…read more There are rules that the novice can't understand, but fun all the same! Very smokey in here, and the staff is definitely friendly and very very helpful. "No food or outside drink" yeah right. Lol i brought a little something to drink to make it more interesting maybe a bad idea, but that's how i roll. Lol

My son goes here for swimming lessons and so far is been great!…read moreGood location and very clean pool.

My kids have grown up here. The members are our extended family, not just other members of the…read moreclub. The kids have enjoyed both the swim and dive teams, and 2 of my kids have moved onto coaching for the club while 2 are still participating. Turns out this is a tradition at Sunrise. Beautiful pools and there are 2 large pools with one reserved for adults only! The kids have a blast, but I have as much fun as them!

In the years after the original War of Independence ended in the 1780s, the young United States was…read morestill defining its borders, its alliances, and its sense of security, which made the British decision to launch a second major conflict all the more jarring. By the time the War of 1812 reached its final act, British forces were striking along multiple fronts, and the last of those pushes brought them to the river plain at Chalmette. This is where Jackson's mixed American force held the line in January 1815, and the battlefield today still feels open enough that you can picture the fog, the rampart, and the long rows of redcoats advancing across the field. The tall white monument rises from the center of the site, with simple ground markings around it that help you read where each side stood two centuries ago. The national cemetery sits just down the road, quiet and reflective, and together the two sites make the story feel immediate rather than distant. It's a quick run from New Orleans if you're a history buff and absolutely worth the trip, a place where the scale and stakes of that final battle come into focus the moment you step out of the car. [Review 317 of 2026 - 95 in Louisiana - 25505 overall]

This hidden gem just outside New Orleans is where Andrew Jackson, a ragtag group of militiamen,…read morepirates (yes, actual pirates), free men of color, and even some frontiersmen in raccoon hats defended the honor of the U.S. against the mighty British Empire in the Battle of New Orleans (1815). Spoiler alert: We won. And it's the reason you're not eating crumpets and calling your mom "mum." Why it's worth it: * You're literally walking on the same ground where history was made. The cannons? Still there. The field? Wide open for your "epic battle reenactment" TikToks. * Free admission. Yep. You can learn more in one hour here than you did all semester in 8th grade U.S. History, and it won't cost you a dime. * The visitor center has an immersive video that's actually GOOD. Plus exhibits with uniforms, muskets, and all the juicy behind-the-scenes stuff (like Lafitte the pirate's surprise guest appearance). * The vibe? Peaceful, eerie, patriotic, and kinda humbling. You can feel the weight of the past--but it somehow energizes you. Photo ops: The giant white obelisk monument. Mossy oaks draped like they're straight out of a ghost story. Sunsets over the battlefield? Absolute chef's kiss. Pro tips: * Wear comfy shoes and bring water--it's hot and there's a lot to explore. * Bonus points if you hum "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton while walking the grounds. * Great for kids, history nerds, or that one friend who "doesn't get why the past matters." They will. Trust me. So whether you're a proud patriot, a casual wanderer, or just here for the cannon selfies, Chalmette Battlefield is a must-do.

Audubon Park is truly one of the most beautiful and peaceful spots in New Orleans. I love walking…read moreand running on the track beneath the stunning oak trees with their hanging moss -- it's such a calming, picturesque experience. The exercise stations along the way are a great bonus for a full-body workout. Parking on Magazine Street or St. Charles Avenue is convenient, and the park's location near Loyola and Tulane Universities makes it easily accessible. There are water stations available, and the ponds and duck-watching areas are always a treat. The loop is about 1.67 miles, and I enjoy going around twice for a great workout. The park is always well maintained and kept in beautiful condition. A true NOLA gem!

Audubon Park is absolutely beautiful -- the kind of place that instantly makes you feel calm. The…read moregiant oak trees, the peaceful walking paths, and the open green spaces make it perfect for a morning walk, a family picnic, or just taking a break from the city. It's clean, relaxing, and so picturesque. You can walk, bike, or simply sit and enjoy the view. The park has such a welcoming vibe, and every corner feels like a little escape. If you want a quiet, gorgeous spot to unwind in New Orleans, this is it.

It is very good if you just want to go out of the house. They have a bar and also a bunch of…read moreleagues always going on!

Came to this place, when I heard it from a local. Didnt get the chance to workout during essence,…read moreso I needed to get a workout in. What better way to do that by playing sand volleyball and having fun at the same time. I'm glad I decided to come here and get about 4 to 5 games in. Now, the place opens at 6pm-12am(everyday). They opening during the evening instead due to the sand being to hot. You pay, $10hr to play. Sometimes during the week, they do have tournaments going on. But its impossible still not to play due to so many volleyball courts. Now if sand volleyball isnt for you. They have large decks for relaxing and watching if you're not playing. Music is always playing. The food at the bar is awesome, great deal and very tasty! They have plenty of TV's as well. Why not quence your thirst over some beer before you get a game in or two. I'll be back for sure Aceofspadesv