New Orleans Luxury City Guide: New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the United States, straddling the Mississippi River and other waterways that once provided important trade routes for the area.

Because of its diverse Spanish and French heritage, the city of New Orleans hosts a wide array of ethnicities and cultures, which are reflected in the city’s stunning array of eateries, shops and entertainment venues.

New Orleans is a city that continually embraces the past even as it continues to move forward into the future.

City Scene:
New Orleans was originally built into a grid, after a hurricane devastated its streets early in the city’s history. Remnants of the grid layout can still be seen in some of the city’s neighborhoods, most notably the famous French Quarter, which is the oldest and most historic area of the city and is designated as a historic landmark. Because the Quarter was relatively unaffected by Hurricane Katrina, many of the famous historic buildings and landmarks still remain intact.

Within the Quarter are many of the city’s best attractions, like the artistic Jackson Square, filled with artists, live music and Café du Monde offering some of the city’s best pastries and coffee drinks 24 hours a day.

On Bourbon Street, one of the Quarter’s best-known attractions, enjoy a multitude of bars and special beverages. Also enjoy the area’s open-container policy, one of a very few in the entire country. Also visit Magazine Street and Canal Street, filled with antique shops, clothing boutiques, restaurants, and bars.

Must Sees and Do's:
If you get tired of people watching along the city’s historic boulevards, get in touch with nature at the city’s Audubon Nature Institute, which consists of the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium of the Americas, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Audubon Park, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Entergy IMAX Theatre, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES), Audubon Wilderness Park, and the Audubon Insectarium.

Just outside the city, visit the Chalmette National Cemetery, where veterans of the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War are interred.

Throughout the year, New Orleans also hosts a variety of festivals celebrating the food and music the city is known for. The most notable is the city’s unique way of celebrating Carnival, with the famous Mardi Gras celebration and parade. Th, with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival running a close second in terms of popularity.

Wining and Dining:
Bourbon Street is the place to go for drinks when you’re in New Orleans. Have a Hurricane at the bar that originated the cocktail or check out the scenes at Johnny White's, The Famous Door, Razzoo and The Cat's Meow. You can also stop in at Galatoire's, one of the city’s oldest restaurants, which has been in its current location since 1905 and is still run by fourth generation descendants.

The Commander’s Palace is another landmark New Orleans restaurant, and one of the most highly praised restaurants in the world. Found in New Orleans' Garden District, the Commander’s Palace serves exceptional food with exceptional service.

For a modern take on New Orleans Creole and Cajun cuisine, visit NOLA, one of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s visions. The casual dining establishment pairs Emeril’s roots in New Orleans flavors with a modern twist, right in the French Quarter.

For the VIP:
American Luxury Limousines provides guests with ground transportation all over the city. Choose from the company’s fleet of late-model luxury vehicles and enjoy their exceptional style and service as they ferry you about the city.

At The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, enjoy the rich ambiance and southern hospitality in one of the city’s most luxurious hotels, right in the excitement of the French Quarter.

To experience New Orleans without having to worry about the details, try VIP City Tours, New Orleans’ premiere concierge company. Small tour groups allow for personal service from New Orleans natives that know all the ins and outs of the exciting city.