Unusual Things to Do Around New Orleans
New Orleans – more fondly referred to as NOLA – is a haven for the adventurous, those who want to take a vacation during which they’ll never be bored.
Streets are lined with restaurants, shops, and live music venues. Historical sites are woven into the tapestry of modern amenities. There’s a little something for everyone, even those with odder proclivities.
As you consider New Orleans houses for sale, try out one of these off-the-beaten-path attractions.
Hang out with the Dead
Are you a fan of cemeteries? You’re in luck, as there are 42 in the area.
These resting places are a big attraction in The Big Easy. The care gone into each is evident, and above-ground tombs and mausoleums offer stunning designs for the passerby’s eye.
St. Louis Cemetery is the oldest-standing in the city, the resting place of the first mayor of New Orleans.
St. Roch Cemetery is one of the biggest in the city, but also the most deserted when it comes to visitors. Some attribute this to the fact that it’s known as one of the most haunted spots, keeping the living at bay.
Historic Voodoo Museum
Voodoo is a religion that had a major part in shaping New Orleans’ culture. This museum has artifacts and exhibits on display that highlight voodoo’s history, look at famed practitioner Marie Laveau, and offers special services like guidance on rituals and psychic readings.
The Pharmacy Museum
This building is in the highly trafficked French Quarter but is often dismissed – and it certainly shouldn’t be.
This odd mix of exhibits includes a tank of leeches with an explainer of how they treat disease, heroin bottles that were once legal, voodoo potions, and surgical instruments.
The best part is this was an actual pharmacy in 1830, so some of the objects you see have never moved from the days of the pharmacy’s operation.
Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop
There’s nothing unusual about a bar – unless it’s considered the oldest structure to be used as a bar in the country.
The building was built between 1722 and 1732, believed to be used by the Lafitte brothers for their Barataria smuggling operation.
The Singing Oak
You may be able to see this massive tree from a distance, but odds are you’ll hear it first.
Local artist Jim Hart hung an array of windchimes within the tree, giving way to a melodious performance every time the wind blows.
All the chimes are painted black to blend in with the tree’s shadows and vary in size, getting as big as 14 feet long. It sits in the middle of City Park, a great place to picnic and kayak.
Museum of Death
Not for the faint of heart, this museum deals in end-of-life fare like artwork from famed serial killers, crime scene photos, and medical instruments used by coroners.
Music Box Village
Self-named “musical architecture,” this village offers visitors an array of shacks made with recycled materials that have musical instruments built within their structures.
Visitors are invited to play these instruments, or stop in for a live musical performance.
