Blame it on inflation. Or on that massive project due by the end of the summer. Or the need to tend to an aging parent…or pour money into the kids’ camp.
Whatever the reason, a big vacation is not in the cards. But that doesn’t mean you can’t think outside the travel box and rest, recharge and revitalize in your own geographic backyard.
As the story goes, the term “staycation” was first bandied about during the great recession of 2008, a time when even having a house to stay in was not a given. Since then, the notion of having fun at home can take the sting out of not making it to the Tetons or the south of France this summer.
Thankfully, New Orleans is loaded with ways to bemuse, amuse and exhilarate. More than 9.7 million people visited last year, and most of them had a blast. First order of the day, shake off the ‘been there, done that’ attitude that is the biggest stumbling block to rediscovering why we live here in the first place. Think about what you like to do when you’re on vacation. Is it shopping? Dipping into new cultures? Taking a history or architecture tour? Trying new restaurants and foods?
You can do all of those things here!
Give yourself a budget. How much would you spend on a vacation, total, and then break it down day by day. Parse out a number that you can afford and mull on a how to spend it. Whether you want to blow it all on a luxury resort-like experience, pamper yourself, learn something new, get social, experience a new restaurant or neighborhood or challenge both mind and body, this is going to be fun.
Laps of luxury
The best place to be when it’s swampy summer in New Orleans is in a pool. If there isn’t one in your backyard, why not get a day pass at one of the hotels that offer access to their deep, blue waters?
The Windsor Court
The Windsor Court just debuted its newly renovated pool, cabanas and pool bar. A $75 day pass gives you access to the 65-foot saltwater escape, a rooftop sanctuary with its own restrooms (so important) along with poolside food and drinks, complimentary Wi-Fi, towels and sunscreen. For a luxe treat, $750 gets a cabana for two, with a daybed or a lounge and TV, a dedicated server, complimentary bottle of Veuve Clicquot, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks and parking for two cars, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Don’t miss a second of it. Windsorcourthotel.com, 300 Gravier St., 800-262-2662.
Virgin Hotel New Orleans
At the Virgin Hotel New Orleans, the groovy action is usually non-stop, from special food and drink promos and DJs to fun and games by the pool. Speaking of budgets, a day pass is just $30 Monday through Thursday and $50 on the weekends. Nothing but the rooftop pool is included. But there are drinks and bites to be had. And the panoramic rooftop views are free of charge. Virginhotels.com, 550 Barrone St., 504-603-8000.
The Country Club
There’s usually a young, lively crowd at The Country Club in Bywater, a pool party that’s been going on behind the restaurant for years. Just $20 gets you into the lushly landscaped outdoor patio and bar area, where food is served too. Open until 11 p.m. every night. Thecountryclubneworleans.com, 634 Louisa St., 504-945-0742.
NORD
For a real neighborhood experience, swim for free at one of the New Orleans Recreation Department (NORD) pools, which usually designate adult lap swimming and family times, if you check the website. There are indoor and outdoor options, although a shortage of lifeguards is keeping some outdoor pools closed – in case your kid still needs a summer job. Nordc.org.
Pool Deals
Check resortpass.com for more day pass pool deals. The Roosevelt’s starts at $65, NOPSI, $50 and for the especially budget minded, $10 on Tuesdays only (starts at $25 on weekdays and $30 on weekends for a day pass; a little more $$ to reserve a lounge chair). If you’ve never checked out swimply.com, it’s like the Airbnb of pools. Owners rent out their pools all over town by the hour, with larger groups and landscaped spaces in the mix.
Say spaaaaaaahhhh
Indulging in a swank spa experience can transport both mind and body.
Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans
The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans is the newest game in town, a fifth-floor inner sanctum that boasts exclusive to Louisiana product lines including Biologique Recherche and the organic Seed to Skin Tuscany.
Prices are as expected, but remember, you’re not flying to get here; this show-stopping hotel is just across town. Book a “triple lift facial,” an intensive face upgrade that promises to plump up your collagen and leave you glowing. Or try the “equilibrium body ritual,” which includes body brushing, a plaster of warm thermal mud and a full body massage, an 80-minute transforming experience that delivers blissful well-being and, like all the services, a glass of bubbles to celebrate. Fourseasons.com, 2 Canal St., 504-434-5100; Na.spatime.com, 504-434-5108.
Have lunch before at Chemin a la Mer, located within the Four Seasons, for views of the river. Sample summer specials like a spinach salad with poached chicken and warm sherry and bacon vinaigrette or the spectacular blue crab and creole tomatoes dish, best paired with a glass of Grüner. Cheminalamer.com, 504-434-5898.
Windsor Court Hotel and Spa
Locals get a 20% discount off the impressive array of services at the Windsor Court Spa every Monday and Thursday, a savings that can really add up. Guests can enjoy the steam room and sauna and settle into one of the “whisper rooms” for quiet contemplation. Try an “align massage” with assisted stretching, or the warmth option that uses hot stones to diffuse heat through your muscles. The “Method Augustinus Bader facial” is a bespoke, science-backed treatment that combines award-winning skincare technology with customized fascia massage to stimulate cell rejuvenation. The $28 gourmet meat and three plate lunch is also a great bargain at the Grill Room. Windsorcourthotel.com, 300 Gravier St., 504-523-6000.
Remember to pack some reading material to peruse while you spend the day unwinding — make it a vacation for the mind and body. And be sure to leave your cell phone in the locker.
Confederacy of Cruisers
When was the last time you took a food tour? The Confederacy of Cruisers is one of the best – a cycling and eating adventure that combines easy biking with stops for chow and commentary at local restaurants. Expect lots of seafood and pork, so folks with dietary issues should move along. For everybody else, the chance to see neighborhood restaurants with a fresh eye is swell. Confederacyofcruisers.com, 634 Elysian Fields Avenue, 504-400-5468.
Book a luxury overnight stay
A five-star resort specializes in pampering, doting service and upscale amenities. Check into a luxury property like the Four Seasons, Windsor Court, the Roosevelt New Orleans or The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, and you’re not far from home, and yet worlds away. On a boutique scale, get pampered at the Hotel Peter and Paul in the Marigny, The Chloe Uptown or the exclusive Audubon Cottages in the Quarter. The point of a staycation is to feel as if you got away, and staying at a high-end hotel is a good way to do that. Rates for these stellar hotel experiences will never be less expensive than a Sunday through Thursday stay in the middle of the hot, sleepy summer. Fourseasons.com; Windsorcourthotel.com; Therooseveltneworleans.com; Theritzcarlton.com; Ash.world/hotels/peter-and-paul/; Thechloenola.com; Auduboncottages.com.
Channel your inner foodie
NOCHI
Consider upping your cooking skills at the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) our own world class culinary school where the course work comes from esteemed Culinary Institute of America (CIA).
There are two ways to go: private three-hour classes for eight to 16 participants, or public enthusiast classes for couples or smaller groups. Prices start around $115 and go up, depending on the topic. Private classes offer a more immersive, hands-on experience, with wine and the ingredients and equipment needed to prepare a themed three-course meal that caps the experience.
NOCHI’s public enthusiast classes, taught by local experts, might explore cheese mongering, take a deep dive into a wine region or specific style of cuisine. Does pie making intimidate you? The pros at Windowsill Pies can help. Always wanted to know how to make classic Latin American cuisine? Chef Adolfo Garcia (High Hat Cafe, La Boca Steakhouse, Ancora) might teach the ins and outs of empanada making. Is baking your thing? Chicory House chef Martha Gilreath can inspire her way around a king cake. Bring a pal with, invite your sweetie, get the kids involved. Best of all, everybody gets to eat their work. Nochi.org, 725 Howard Avenue, 504-891-4060.
SoFAB
The Deelightful Roux School of Cooking in the fascinating Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SoFAB) is the city’s only Black-owned cooking school taught by a New Orleans native. Dee Lavigne, a CIA grad who founded the school in 2022, offers a hands-on deep dive into local lore, gastronomy and culture as part of the experience. From simple kitchen habits that will make your cooking better to the history of iconic New Orleans dishes, this 2 1/2 hour class serves a delicious interactive treat. Southernfood.org; 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 504-569-0405.
Drink & Learn
What’s food without drinks? Elizabeth Pearce, a Bywater-based author, drinks historian and cocktail guru (plus a New Orleans Magazine contributor), leads themed, interactive “Drink & Learn” tours that use famous drinks and ingredients to tell the rich history of New Orleans. She usually keeps to the French Quarter, regaling the group with yarns about rum, rebellion, whiskey and prohibition. Highly entertaining, heartily recommended. Drinkandlearn.com.
Distilleries, Tours and Tastings
Speaking of drinking, have you geeked out at all the New Orleans breweries and distilleries? Likely, not. The Sazerac House is always a “wow.” It’s a museum and distillery with all kinds of fancy exhibits and of course, a signature drink. There’s the woman-owned Happy Raptor for rum in Central City, and a private tour of Roulaison Distilling on Broad Street for more rum lore. At Seven Three Distillery on Claiborne Avenue, spirits are named for neighborhoods, like St. Roch Vodka, Gentilly Gin and Bywater Bourbon. Private tours with the distiller, premium tasting and cocktail classes are offered. Beyond handcrafted spirits, Nola Distillery offers tours, tastings, or you can rent that whole space out for a party. Lulu Restaurant Distillery is one of a kind. It’s the only place you can taste their house-made rum, vodka and gin while munching on the likes of boudin eggrolls and shrimp and grits. 504rum.com (Happy Raptor); Roulaison.com; Seventhreedistiling.com; Nola-distillery.com; Lulanola.com.
Wine Time
For wine drinkers, a private tasting at Ole’ Orleans Winery behind Jefferson Highway on Brooklyn Avenue is the ticket. Owned by New Orleans native Kim Lewis, the NOLA-themed wines are made in-house from grape to bottle. There are tastings from beginners to winemaker-hosted, along with tours of the facility. Oleorleans.com.
Want to get social with a private wine tasting with a few pals? Book a spot at Faubourg Wines or The Tasting Room, sit back and relax. Faubourgwines.com; Ttrneworleans.com.
Brews Cruise
A beer tour can easily turn into a beer crawl with at least a dozen microbreweries around town. Try the funky microbrew taproom Parleaux Beer Lab by the tracks in the Bywater, Urban South located on Tchoupitoulas Street has a brew-pub-meets-game-room vibe, and Second Line Brewing in Mid-City, which offers a large outdoor patio that is family- and dog-friendly. Parleauxbeerlab.com; Urbansouthbrewery.com; Secondlinebrewing.com.
Coolinary
Stepping outside your neighborhood to sample new and new-to-you restaurants is a tasty way to staycation. Save bucks by hitting hot spots during Coolinary, the August-long promo that offers discounted prix fixe menus all over town. Happy hours are robust and deeply discounted around town as well, another way to sample fare from the likes of Mister Mao, Sukeban, Gris-Gris (sit on the balcony!) and Le Chat Noir, with its swell oyster bar. Neworleans.com/coolinary/
Cross the Causeway
North shore fun
It takes less than an hour to cross the 24-mile Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, but there’s a big change of scenery waiting just on the other side. New Orleanians have been relaxing on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain since the antebellum years when the locals flocked to “l’autre cote du lac” (the other side of the lake) for fresh air and wholesome pursuits. Cross the causeway, with pelicans and jumping fish for company, and then spend a night or two on the north shore, where you can feed giraffes at Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, tour the local Abita Brewing Company in Abita Springs, visit a working alligator ranch at Insta-Gator Ranch near Covington, and shop and dine amidst Madisonville or Old Mandeville’s boutiques and small-town charm. Globalwildlife.com; Abita.com; Insta-gatorranch.com.
A tour of Covington
Stay overnight at the swanky Southern Hotel in Covington to be strolling distance to downtown shops, and dining at diverse restaurants including Del Porto Ristorante for authentic Italian, Cured. On Columbia, the city’s proudly queer-owned café for nibbles, wine, and charcuterie, and Tavi, an Israeli-cuisine inspired sister restaurant to Shaya, with Lebanese born chef Fariz Choumali leading both kitchens.
Book a room at the Southern Hotel from Sunday through Wednesday to save as much as $100 a night. Dine at The Gloriette while in residence for chef Steven Marsella’s local and French influenced cuisine. Southernhotel.com; Delportoristorante.com; facebook.com/curedoncolumbia/; Tavirestaurant.com; Thegloriette.com.
Stay and ride
Up the road, the Abita Springs Hotel is a five-room beautifully restored 1890s home in the heart of town. Rates start at $139 a night. Bring your bike along or rent some wheels to take an early morning or twilight ride on the rails-to-trails Tammany Trace. Abitaspringshotel.com; Tammanytrace.org.
Dig plants
From training to be a Louisiana master gardener to events like wildflower walks, orchid shows and native plant sales, Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans offers a wide range of gardening tips, events, community garden workshops and training. Private classes are offered at Longue Vue House and Gardens on topics like flower arranging and foraging for the botanically inclined. Mggno.com; Longuevue.com.
Think outside the box
Do some touristy things or surprise yourself with a day of shopping and ride the streetcar Uptown for lunch. No matter what you choose to do on your staycation, don’t overschedule. While it’s fine to have a loose itinerary, as with any vacation, don’t overbook. Leave room for spontaneous discoveries, time to walk a different neighborhood, have a moveable feast between bars and restaurants or best of all, relax under a tree in City Park with a book. When was the last time you did that?
You’ve always wanted to…
Are there a few personal enrichment goals simmering on the back burner? Now’s the time to turn up the heat.
Get creative
The New Orleans Academy of the Fine Arts (NOAFA) is one place to turn to jump start your inner creativity. Whether painting in watercolor or oil, sculpting in ceramics or shooting video or film, NOAFA instructors can lead the way. Classes generally range from four to six weeks, with lessons once a week. Noafa.com.
The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) in City Park is another source for arts programming, much of it free with museum admission, for families, kids and adults. From gallery tours and lectures, to yoga and tai chi in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, options abound. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art in the Warehouse District offers an equally robust calendar of workshops, gallery meditations and art talks. Noma.org; Ogdenmuseum.org.
Play music
What better place to be than New Orleans for an armchair singer, composer or musician? Support members of the local musician’s community with lessons at places like NOLA School of Music in Mid-City and Spreading the Music Uptown. The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in the Upper Ninth Ward is a community hub in Musicians’ Village that offers piano lessons and access to recording, rehearsal and performance space. Or just ask one of the musicians in the next band you hear if they or any of their fellow musicians offer lessons on the side. That’s keeping it real, and local. Nolaschoolofmusic.com; Spreadingthemusic.com; Ellismarsaliscenter.org.
Make a dress (or something else)
RicRACK is a gem in Central City, a nonprofit that offers affordable sewing classes for beginners, primers on sewing machines, sewing camps for kids and teens and amazingly helpful instructors just brimming with good ideas. From sewing your own bra and panty set (!) to making a caftan and working with felt, there’s a class for every pronoun. Ricracknola.com.
Climb the walls
The Boulder Lounge next to the Healing Center in the Marigny is the epicenter of the New Orleans climbing community. All skill levels are welcome, with classes like Bouldering 101 and ClimbFit workshops. There is even a boulder league that competes in a four-week climbing and non-climbing challenge. Climbnobl.com.
Kayak the bayou
Seeing Bayou St. John from the water is balm for the soul. Kayak-iti-yat is a local outfit offering scenic kayak tours, including custom group paddles, through lakes and bayous. Solo paddlers can rent a boat from Bayou Paddle Sports. Paddling lessons are also available. Kayakitiyat.com; Bayoupaddlesports.com.
Learn a language
It takes eight weekly classes to get the fundamentals in Spanish from Casa de España, with evening meet ups at the Healing Center and Uptown. Dreaming of Paris? Alliance Française offers month long, twice a week lessons ranging from beginner to brush up to intermediate and even private lessons. Casanola.com; Af-neworleans.org.
Art and A/C, and more
Thanks to The Helis Foundation, entrance to most city museums is free once a week: Sunday, Contemporary Arts Center; Wednesday, NOMA and the New Orleans Botanical Garden; and Thursday, the Ogden. Even the popular Louisiana Children’s Museum is free on the second Sunday of every other month. In the dog days of August, the Foundations’ “Art & A/C Program” helps Louisiana residents escape the heat with free admission to the Contemporary Arts Center, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and New Orleans Museum of Art. Thehelisfoundation.org.
The Historic New Orleans Collection
The Historic New Orleans Collection, always free, is an underappreciated gem in the French Quarter aimed squarely at lovers of New Orleans and history buffs. Located in a historic complex of buildings, the Collection connects the dots in more than three centuries of city lore. Tour the galleries, with their interactive exhibits, then head for the shop. The selection of New Orleans curated gifts is impressive. HNOC.org, 520 Royal St., 504-523-4662.
Community Hub
The newest cultural attraction, so new that you may not have visited yet, is the 6,000 square feet, John Scott Center at the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH), a community hub of interactive innovative exhibits, programs, and experiences inspired by the late artist, educator, and humanist John T. Scott, who won a MacArthur Fellows Genius Grant in 1992. The space is home to a collection of 51 works by Scott and offers educational opportunities and programs that draw upon his work and respond to pandemics, environmental humanities, poverty and justice. The eye-popping mural on the outside of the building was painted by his son, Ayo Scott. Leh.org/our-work/the-helis-foundation-john-scott-center/, 938 Lafayette St., 504-523-4352.
Blame it on inflation. Or on that massive project due by the end of the summer. Or the need to tend to an aging parent…or pour money into the kids’ camp.