Two Days in NOLA- Part 2

Last week, we published the first installment in our "Two Days in NOLA" series. These posts are made up of themed itineraries for you and your family to use while you come down to New Orleans and visit us at Tulane! We've seen the Frugal Foodie and the Health Nut, and this week we're on to two more ideas brought to you by our Admissions team.

The Outdoorsy Family- Neill Aguiluz, Admission Counselor & 2009 Tulane Grad

Although New Orleans may not boast the hiking trails of New Hampshire or Colorado, there are still many ways to enjoy the outdoors! Here are some activities that you can take advantage of to get outside and burn off some of those unavoidable New Orleans calories.

1. Big Easy Bayou Tour – 2 hour kayaking tour of Bayou St. John

Take a leisurely paddle through some New Orleans neighborhoods and take in the various architecture. Bayou St. John is also home to the Bayou Boogaloo music festival in May

Taking a paddle though the neighborhoods on Bayou St. John

Bayou Boogaloo!

2. Crescent Park

 This recently-opened park offers unparalleled views of the New Orleans skyline, and is very close to some amazing restaurants like Elizabeth's and The Joint. The Bywater is quickly becoming a hotspot for food and culture in New Orleans.

The view from Crescent Park!

3. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve – Barataria Preserve in Marrero

Jean Lafitte offers a taste of Louisiana's ecosystems and is a great place to check out the swamps, critters, and gators that make Louisiana unique. Over 200 species of birds can be found in the Preserve, along with alligators, nutria, and other wildlife.

 They also have an info center in the Quarter that you could visit before or after Crescent Park. \

The Sports Addict- Adam Griego- Operations Manager and 2014 Tulane Grad

If you are a sports addict like me, there is a lot to do in the city of New Orleans to subdue any cravings you may have. In two days, you can venture to a number of sports related places all around the city that has hosted 10 Super Bowls(including 3 on Tulane’s campus in the 1970s!) For me, I separated my two day sports excursion into Recreation and Food.

Recreation:

City Putt

City Putt is a 36-hole putt-putt complex in the heart of City Park. The two courses themes will teach you a little bit about New Orleans’ streets and their origins or about the history of various parishes around the state of Louisiana. The facility opened up less than 3 years ago and is a great place to spend a few hours participating in some friendly competition.

Fair Grounds

When in season, the Fair Grounds is a great place to spend some free time enjoying some horse racing while also people watching. One night a year, the track hosts a series of exotic animal races including ostriches, zebras, and some of New Orleans’ favorite mascots.

Professional Sports Games

Between the Saints (NFL), Pelicans (NBA), Zephyrs (MiLB AAA-Marlins affiliate), and VooDoo (Arena Football), there is most likely a professional sporting event going on around the city while you are in town. You cannot go wrong going out to support any of these four teams when they are playing at home. If visiting during the summer months, check out the Zephyrs promotion schedule, and you might go home with some nice takeaways or some memories of their incredible Friday night firework shows.

It's hard to beat the atmosphere at a Saints game.

Rock N Bowl

A Tulane student and alumni favorite is a night spent at Rock N Bowl. Rock N Bowl is an 18 lane bowling alley located minutes away from Tulane’s campus. In addition to some family bowling, Rock N Bowl offers live music on various nights ranging from Cajun/Zydeco, Swing, Jazz, Blues, and many others. If you are trying to do anything on this list, Rock N Bowl is a must.

Zydeco Night at Rock N Bowl!

TPC/Audubon/City Park

If you are a golfer at heart and need to get a few swings in while visiting campus, visit TPC(host of the Zurich Classic), Audubon Park (directly across the street), or the City Park driving range/golf course. After every finals week at Tulane and in high school, I would visit the driving range at City Park to transition out of my nocturnal study habits.

Food:

Bobby Hebert’s Cajun Cannon

Bobby Hebert(former Saints QB) has opened up a new restaurant in Metairie which is filled with sports memorabilia that he accumulated through his years in the NFL and the AFL. The menu has a number of items with a Cajun twist that will leave you wanting more.

Bruno’s

 Bruno’s Tavern is a 5 minute walk from campus and offers a great atmosphere to watch any sporting events going on around the country. If Tulane baseball is playing, you better believe Bruno’s will be playing it on the big screen. The tavern is popular among students and alumni, and students with meal plans can use their NolaBucks for some of the great food options. My go to is the Debris Fries. o

Domelise’s

This is not only one of the best po-boy shops in the city, but this is where Archie and Olivia Manning sent their boys for one of their first part-time jobs before making it big at Ole Miss, Tennessee, and the NFL. With a number of signed photos from Archie, Peyton, and Eli, Domelise’s is a great stop to enjoy a delicacy of our city while seeing some candid photos of the young Manning boys.

A delicious Domelise's po-boy

Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & RestaurantL

ucy’s is a favorite spot of students and their parents when visiting the city. There is limited outdoor seating available for those traveling with people under 18, but this is one of my go-to places because of the number of Saints players and coaches who stop in for a post-victory drink or bite to eat. From Drew Brees to Rob Ryan, you may have a chance at a run-in with one of our boys in the Black and Gold.