Overview

Step away from the bustling, boozy French Quarter to join us on a stroll through one of New Orleans’ most beautiful and tranquil neighborhoods - the Garden District. On this tour, your local guide will introduce you to the picturesque and colorful Antebellum homes and architecture that reflect stories of New Orleans through the years, from the enslaved to the working class to the very wealthy of early Louisiana history. In addition to houses that are celebrity-owned or appear in well-known films, we’ll also get a chance to peek into a historic cemetery with a unique burial practice and many notable tombs. Join us as we stroll under Spanish moss, past hanging beads, and through the Irish Channel as we discover the Garden District.

Description

Stop At: Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana

Our tour begins in the heart of the New Orleans Garden District – considered by many to be one of the best-preserved collections of historic mansions in the United States. Originally a family plantation, this area was divided into smaller (but still very large!) lots for private homes with beautiful gardens in the mid-1800’s, giving the district its name. The amazing Antebellum architecture in the Garden District continues to draw the eye, making the area a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Throughout the tour, we’ll stroll past numerous gorgeous homes, some with famous Hollywood connections. New Orleans is always a popular filming location for the movie industry and the homes in the Garden District have had starring roles in several films.

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Stop At: Lafayette Cemetery No.1, Washington Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130

We quickly arrive at the home of one of New Orleans’ oldest cemeteries – Lafayette Cemetery. Continually popular with travelers, New Orleans cemeteries have a unique approach to burials: namely, the above-ground, multiple-burial techniques used. Explore the grounds with your local guide, hear why these types of burials are iconic to New Orleans, and learn about some of the families buried in this particular square.

Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Commander's Palace, 1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA

We then continue on for a view of one of the most striking buildings in all of New Orleans: Commander’s Palace. Host to myriad wedding receptions and dinners throughout the year, this eye-catching, turreted Victorian building is one of the most well-respected upscale restaurants in the entire country. Admire this gorgeous, turreted restaurant and hear of the many events that have taken place there.

Stop At: Magazine Street, Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana

To reflect the full story of The Garden District, your guide will highlight the real history and the true backbone of this historic neighborhood. Across Magazine Street, we’ll find the working-class area known as the Irish Channel. Predominantly settled by Irish immigrants, this neighborhood developed in the early 1800’s when the city’s shipping, alcohol, and brewing industries drew workers from all over the world, especially from Ireland. In contrast to the palatial homes we saw earlier, your guide will take you past some of the iconic shotgun-style homes of New Orleans.

Duration: 15 minutes