Look inside to see at a glance the Crescent Citys best places to feast on Cajun and Creole cuisine, hear live jazz, and party heartyand of course, where to stay, shop and take the kids. If you only have a day in New Orleans, you dont ever have to leave the French Quarter: Morning Explore the French Quarter*** Visit the Historic New Orleans Collection** and the Cabildo** Take a Monde Creole Walking Tour* Afternoon Lunch in the French Quarter*** (youll be hard-pressed to choose!) Take the kids to the Aquarium of the Americas** Shop for fine antiques on Royal Street** Evening Dinner in the French Quarter*** (it would take you weeks to run out of restaurants) Fais-do-do (put the kids to bed and party) on Bourbon Street* and if you have a second day: Morning Have coffee and beignets at Café du MondeVisit Jackson Square** Explore the French Market* for souvenirs to take home Afternoon Ride the St. Getting Around New Orleans New Orleans is a very walkable city, particularly in the French Quarter, with its easy grid of streets. The French Quarter is generally safe, thanks to the sheer number of people usually milling about. Streets above Bourbon towards Rampart can be diceyif in doubt, take a cab. If you do drive, remember that the local police take the rules of the road very seriously; that includes the mandatory use of seat belts and strict observance of the speed limits. If youre driving in the Quarter, note that Royal Street is closed to cars between Jackson Square and Canal Street from 11am5pm. Bourbon Street closes to vehicles between Canal Street and St. Peter Street every evening from 6pm7am. Youll notice that traffic lights blink after dark in some neighborhoods; this is a signal to slow down and check for other cars in the intersection before continuing. Finding a parking spot on the street in the French Quarter and the Central Business District is a challenge, and parking rules are strictly enforced. Never park within three feet of a private driveway. Navigating New Orleans Sitting as it does on the bend of the Mississippi River, New Orleans has earned the nickname the "Crescent City." This unusual shape often causes confusion when youre trying to find your way around the city, as the cardinal directionsnorth, south, east and westdont apply. Directions in the Big Easy are given in terms of uptown (upriver toward the Garden District and beyond), downtown (beginning in the Central Business District and extending through the French Quarter), lakebound (toward Lake Ponchartrain) and riverbound (toward the Mississippi River).