Pittsburgher’s Guide to a Weekend in New Orleans
New nonstop service offers chance to experience Big Easy’s many charms
By Allison Tibaldi
Published January 30, 2023
Read Time: 4 mins
Do you like food, live music and nightlife? Then New Orleans is a dream destination. It’s filled with attractions and activities, and the city’s invigorating energy and cultural diversity leave an equally lasting impression.
And the Big Easy is now easy to reach from Pittsburgh International Airport:
Breeze Airways will launch nonstop service to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport starting on Feb. 3. So from what to do to where to stay to which mouth-watering eats to savor, get ready to let the good times roll on a weekend getaway to New Orleans.
The French Quarter
No trip to New Orleans is complete without exploring the one-of-a-kind French Quarter. Soak in old-world architecture with its ornate wrought iron. This historic district’s vibrant street life and bohemian charm should be savored slowly, so allow unstructured time to be swept away by the sound of a spontaneous sidewalk zydeco trio and the scent of sugar-dusted beignets from Café du Monde wafting in the air.
The French Quarter loves to party, and its cocktail culture is robust. The potent Sazerac was invented here in 1838 and it remains the city’s official cocktail. Try one at Jewel of the South, located in a vintage Creole cottage with a leafy courtyard.
Known as the Crown Jewel of New Orleans, the French Quarter is one of the city’s most historic neighborhoods. (Image courtesy of New Orleans and Company)
Museums
Part of the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden’s three-dimensional works are displayed in the open air for a harmonious blend of art and nature. View imaginative creations as you walk along shady footpaths fringed by a canopy of live oaks and floral beds bursting with fragrant magnolias. It’s adjacent to City Park, a sprawling metropolitan oasis with a botanical garden and boating on the lake.
Explore the magnitude of the American experience during World War II at the immersive National World War II Museum. Ride a replica Union Pacific train, just as a young recruit would have on the way to boot camp. Artifacts, including dented helmets and a treasure trove of handwritten letters, highlight deeply personal stories.