Whether you recently purchased one of the New Orleans houses for sale, or you’re planning a trip and want to experience the city’s more unusual sites, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from. While you won’t want to miss the famous sites, like touring the French Quarter, strolling the charming cobbled streets, and listening to jazz in practically an endless list of venues, be sure to put some of these sites on your itinerary too.
Fort Proctor
Fort Proctor was built as a Civil War fort in 1856 and can only be accessed via watercraft. Also known as Beauregard’s Castle, it sits along the shores of Lake Borgne just north of the mouth of Bayou Yscloskey. One of the top things an active history buff should do is to rent a kayak (there are multiple outfitters available) and launch from the Frank Campo Marina. From there, you can paddle up the canals of Lake Borgne, stopping for breaks on land to wander through the interesting fort.
Honey Island Swamp Tour
Louisiana is famous for its swamps, and just a 30-minute drive from the city is one of the most unspoiled, least-altered river swamp, Honey Island. It covers 250 square miles and is one of the best for touring in the entire state. You’ll marvel at breathtaking scenery, flora, and fauna, with the swamp home to everything from toothy alligators to turtles, wild boar, mink, and a wide range of waterfowl. While the locals say there’s no need to worry about a gator attack, they do say the infamous Honey Island Swamp Monster is what you need to watch for. It’s Louisiana’s version of Bigfoot. Tours can be taken in airboats, by kayak, canoe, and both covered and uncovered swamp boats. In a smaller vessel, you’ll be able to get deep within the swamp’s interior and shallow backwater areas.
St. Louis Cemetery
In most cities, visiting a cemetery would only be something you’d do when you want to pay respects to a loved one, but in New Orleans, it’s a popular tourist attraction, particularly St. Louis Cemetery. In fact, you can only visit on a tour with a licensed guide. It’s the oldest cemetery in the city, established in the late 18th-century, holding elaborate tombs and vaults. The crumbling above-ground graves were made that way due to the city’s high water table. Early colonists quickly realized that below ground graves weren’t the best options as after heavy rains, the coffins would pop back up. They also provide a glimpse of the stories behind the personalities contained within, including Marie Laveau, infamous voodoo queen Marie Laveau.
The Voodoo Museum
If visiting the gravesite of Laveau gets you curious about Voodoo, don’t miss exploring the very unusual Voodoo Museum. Set within a rather eerie, tiny space, it’s made up of two rooms and a long corridor, displaying items like skulls, altars to famous priests and priestesses, and Voodoo dolls. Visitors often leave offerings for good fortune at the altar of Laveau, so if you’re looking for luck, don’t forget to bring your own.
