Top 10 Reasons to Visit The French Quarter

Walking tours are the ideal way to see the sights of many cities for first time visitors.  They provide a quick overview of the interesting sights and provide a familiar reference of the city’s layout setting the stage for further exploration on one’s own.  But some cities are much better suited for this activity than others.  New Orleans, particularly its historic French Quarter area, is an ideal location for a walking tour.  Here’s why.

1. The area has multiple fascinating themes. Three strong themes dominate the experiences of the French Quarter. These are its incredibly fascinating architecture; its food, exemplified by its many outstanding restaurants and famous chefs and its music, being recognized as the birthplace of the Blues and Jazz genres of music.  Grammy Award winning Blues artist Chris Thomas King hosts a musical walking SelfTour App of the Quarter.

2. The French Quarter is basically flat. In fact the entire “Quarter” is just inches above sea level.  This means it is ideal for people of all ages and physical conditions to explore the entire tour route.

3. Closeness of interesting sites. There are many things of interest within a very short walking distance.  For example, the SelfTour Audio Adventures App walking tour of this historic area includes Pirate’s Alley, French Market, Bourbon Street, incredibly beautiful and unique homes, Voodoo Queens, the Vieux Carre, for Jazz enthusiasts Preservation Hall, scary buildings inhabited by ghosts, incredibly famous restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner and many more fascinating sights all within a stone’s throw of each other.

4. Many options for taking a break. Along the tour route are both quick food and quality restaurants, many featuring Creole foods, to stop at to enjoy food and beverages to refresh one’s self for the rest of the tour.  Also there are interesting and quality retails shops to explore, including incredible antique stores along Royal Street.

5. The area is safe. At least as much as it can be these days, and security is adequate over the main tourist areas.

6. End where you began. The setting is ideal for a complete circle of the interesting sites.  This means a stranger to the city doesn’t end the tour someplace far from where it started and is obligated to find their way back.  The SelfTour Audio Adventures App is designed to make a complete circle tour ending where it started.   And it doesn’t matter where you start. If a person’s hotel is close to any one of the locations on the tour just start and end there. SelfTour eliminates the need to walk to and from a central location starting point.

7. Close in hotels. The French Quarter hosts many unique hotels within its hidden courtyards that offer a atmospheric hotel experience.  Additionally there are many classic brand hotels immediately next to the Quarter.

8. Long temperate periods. Summers in the French Quarter can be very hot, humid and rainy.   But the city does have long periods of very temperate climate, making these periods ideal for a walking tour.

9. A Wow factor. In the case of the French Quarter the “wow” is always happening with daily entertainment and nightly party hearty atmosphere. In addition the big Wow factor comes annually. It is called Mardi Gras.  Using the SelfTour Audio Adventure App no matter when you visit, you get a taste of this spectacular event experienced my millions.   And the SelfTour App users get a full explanation of the reason, traditions and history of Mardi Gras…  an event that is definitely a WOW factor!

10. A learning experience. The French Quarter is a historic area and a wonderful learning experience of the amazing Creole culture, foods and traditions.