Louisiana

New Orleans at a Slower Pace: A City of History, Culture and Celebration

Program No. 1475RJ
Discover artistry and heritage in New Orleans as you explore the city’s historic districts, learn about Cajun cooking and visit the famed National World War II Museum.

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At a Glance

New Orleans beckons with three centuries of history and culture. Become immersed in this rich heritage as expert instructors lead you on an exploration of the city’s architectural styles, literary heroes, political figures, music and food. Learn about festivals that are both self-expression and a celebration of life, from Mardi Gras to Jazz Fest. Take field trips to Lake Pontchartrain, the French Quarter, the Garden District, the Mississippi River, Congo Square and the Treme area. Other highlights include the amazing Sculpture Garden in City Park and the world class National World War II Museum.
Activity Level
Easy Going
Moderate walking up to eight blocks, flat terrain.

What You'll Learn

  • Hear a live jazz performance, venture into the French Quarter, and visit the National World War II Museum.
  • Admire historic New Orleans homes as you ride along historic St. Charles Avenue and walk into the Garden District.
  • Learn the tricks of Cajun and Creole cooking at a popular culinary arts school, complete with recipes for you to take home.

General Notes

You may enjoy a more active program "Signature City New Orleans" (#2856) or a more active, small-group program "Jazz, Jambalaya and Joie de Vivre in New Orleans" (#21665); both based in the French Quarter.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Brian Altobello
Brian Altobello is a native of New Orleans with a Master’s in U.S. History and 29 years of experience teaching at the high school level. He is a U.S. Army veteran and author of two books: “New Orleans Goes to War” and “Into the Shadows Furious,” a narrative on the U.S. invasion of New Georgia Island. Brian is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Social Studies at Renew Schools, a five-school charter organization in New Orleans. He is married to a travel-writing English teacher.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Brian Altobello
Brian Altobello View biography
Brian Altobello is a native of New Orleans with a Master’s in U.S. History and 29 years of experience teaching at the high school level. He is a U.S. Army veteran and author of two books: “New Orleans Goes to War” and “Into the Shadows Furious,” a narrative on the U.S. invasion of New Georgia Island. Brian is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Social Studies at Renew Schools, a five-school charter organization in New Orleans. He is married to a travel-writing English teacher.
Profile Image of Angela Carll
Angela Carll View biography
Angela Mequet Carll is a native New Orleanian who was a writer for “The Times-Picayune” for 30 years. She holds a master’s degree in English with an emphasis on Southern Literature and is the author of “Where Writers Wrote,” a book about writers in New Orleans. She has taught at Tulane University, is a graduate of ITMI, and a licensed New Orleans exploration leader. Angela has been a group leader for Road Scholar since 2016 and brings a wide variety of experiences to her groups.
Profile Image of Robin Rocque
Robin Rocque View biography
Robin Rocque's favorite city to share with guests is her hometown of New Orleans. Its diversely unique culture and musical background provides a lovely backdrop during its introduction. Robin has happily led groups in many cities and several countries. Robin has been a licensed New Orleans tour guide since 2004, and a certified international tour manager since 2011. She is an alumna of Vassar College, and recently served as a board member of a nonprofit organization that provides community support in and around New Orleans.
Profile Image of Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts View biography
Dave Roberts was born in New Orleans and baptized in the same church as Louis Armstrong. He received his B.B.A. from Loyola University (New Orleans) and his M.B.A. from the University of New Orleans. For many years he worked at Loyola University as the director of student finance. Dave started working as a New Orleans group leader in 1997. His expeditions are a blend of history, architecture, food, music, writers, movies, and current events.
Profile Image of Ed Wise
Ed Wise is a professional musician with over 50 years of experience. He has toured with Al Hirt, Delbert McClinton, and the Smothers Brothers. He has performed with world-famous musicians and entertainers, including Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Vic Damone, Diahann Carroll, Don Rickles, and many more. He has worked as a staff musician for the Delta Queen Steamboat Company. In 2005, Ed Wise received New Orleans Magazine’s Jazz All-Star award. Ed is on the faculty of Loyola University, where he teaches bass and music theory.
Profile Image of Nellie Watson
Nellie Watson View biography
Nellie Watson, a native New Orleanian, has always had a deep passion for the local environment. She has enjoyed sharing stories with Road Scholar for over 20 years, and is also a provider for aerial flightseeing tours of the endangered wetlands. With a background in architecture and a B.F.A. in environmental design, she began her career at two large international architectural firms, had her own residential design firm, and is currently is a professional model maker for major film productions like Marvel and Disney.
Profile Image of Mary Lynn Scheinuk
Mary Lynn Scheinuk View biography
Mary Lynn Scheinuk has lived in New Orleans her entire life, graduating from Mount Carmel Academy and the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. She worked for 35 years in advertising sales for the Times-Picayune newspaper. During that period, she was part of the retail and commercial development of New Orleans landmarks. In addition to leading groups, Mary Lynn works numerous group events and fundraisers, and assists the American Queen Steamboat Company and Viking in hospitality and registration for Mississippi river cruises.
Profile Image of Barry Simon
Barry Simon View biography
Barry Simon is a New Orleans native. His work life was spent in pharmaceutical sales and as a surgical implant product specialist. He has extensive experience speaking before groups large and small including medical presentations as well as history presentations as a docent at the National World War II Museum. He has also been a speaker at Lunch Box lectures for the museum and in front of other groups including the American Legion, Kiwanis, and the local World War II history discussion group.
Profile Image of Clare Pierson
Clare Pierson View biography
Clare Pierson has taught literature and creative writing to all levels of students and teachers. She has been managing editor of the Tennessee Williams Journal, a periodical dedicated to works of and about America's premier playwright. She served on the editorial staff and wrote a regular column for The Double Dealer Redux, a quarterly dedicated to writers and their writings. She continues to serve on the executive committee of the Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5 B 4 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
New Orleans, LA
D
Hotel Monteleone

Activity note: Easy walking inside hotel; at your discretion if you’d like to go out.

Afternoon: Registration: At 4:00 PM, after you have your room assignment, please check in with your group leader to let them know you've arrived. If your arrival is delayed, please contact your group leader. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. As a special bonus, you will have vouchers to use at a popular jazz club, as well as the Louisiana State Museum. In order to be prepared for your upcoming program, we need to collect some additional information. Thank you for taking the time to provide this information in advance of the program. https://forms.office.com/r/FWkvVpimDD

Dinner: At the hotel, our plentiful dinner buffet includes coffee, tea, water; other beverages are available for purchase at the bar.

Evening: We’ll be joined by a guest speaker for an introduction to the French Quarter. We’ll learn about history, culture, traditions, celebrations, and people. The entertaining class is taught by a humorist who has lived here all her life. She exudes the “joie de vivre” that makes New Orleanians distinctively memorable.

DAY
2
New Orleans History, City Field Trip, Jazz Performance
New Orleans, LA
B,L,D
Hotel Monteleone

Activity note: Walking a few blocks in park and cemetery. Those who prefer may remain on motorcoach at these stops.

Breakfast: At the hotel, the breakfast buffet includes many choices.

Morning: We’ll begin with a lecture on the history of New Orleans, a virtual walk from the founding of the city in 1718 to the present day. Our instructor is a native New Orleanian who knows its past and present inside and out.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll order from a select menu.

Afternoon: We’ll take a field trip via motorcoach with expert commentary for an overview of the city. We’ll make stops at highlights such as Lake Pontchartrain, Bayou St. John, City Park with its magnificent oak trees and Sculpture Garden, and one of the famed and mysterious above-ground cemeteries where the departed — from pirates to voodoo queens — are interred.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we’ll order from a select menu.

Evening: Following dinner, we will return to the hotel to listen to a jazz performance.

DAY
3
New Orleans Authors, New Orleans Music, Cooking Class
New Orleans, LA
B,L,D
Hotel Monteleone

Activity note: Walking in museums.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: This morning, we will have a local professor who is also a musician will use vintage clips and soundtracks to introduce the music of New Orleans. We’ll learn about the many cultural influences that have gone into music that spread worldwide, including the roots of Jazz and its evolution. Following this lecture, we'll have a presentation on New Orleans' authors, past and present, who have written about the fictional and non-fictional city. We’ll get the scoop on their personal lives, where they gathered, what they ate and drank, as well as their literary personas — which were often one and the same!

Lunch: Lunch is provided at the hotel.

Afternoon: The remainder of the afternoon is for your personal independent exploration. You’ll have vouchers to explore the Cabildo and Presbytère flanking St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square. All were constructed during the Spanish period (1795-1799). The Cabildo was the center of government. The Presbytère, built on the site of what had been the residence of Capuchin monks, was used for commercial purposes. Both are now key components of the Louisiana State Museum. The Cabildo displays artifacts of American history as well as rarities such as Napoleon’s death mask. The Presbytère’s interactive exhibit on Mardi Gras traces our annual celebration from its origins to the present day with an exquisite collection of artifacts and memorabilia. Another exhibit expresses Louisiana’s saga of resilience in the face of disasters.

Dinner: At the world renowned New Orleans School of Cooking, an expert local chef will teach us how to cook Creole and Cajun, and explain the difference. We’ll see the preparation of a traditional dish, then have it for dinner. Recipes will be supplied so that you can take some New Orleans cuisine “home” with you.

Evening: At leisure. If you’re a music aficionado, there are lots of options. We have provided a voucher for Fritzel’s European Jazz Club, or you can go on your own to any of the other great choices. You might like to take a stroll along Bourbon Street to see some of the colorful locals and occasionally even more exotic tourists. Or feel free to just relax at the hotel. The French Quarter has something to offer for almost every interest and taste.

DAY
4
Architecture Lecture, Garden District Walking Tour
New Orleans, LA
B,L
Hotel Monteleone

Activity note: Walking 6 blocks through Garden District; broken sidewalks in some places due to tree roots. Those who prefer may remain on motorcoach.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll have an introduction to the architecture and diversity of New Orleans. Architecture is an expression of culture. We’ll learn how different nationalities and ethnicities — such as immigrants from Europe and the West Indies — influenced local architecture and contributed to the “gumbo” of our society. Next, we’ll set out on a walking field trip in the aptly named Garden District, one of the loveliest neighborhoods in the country. It was laid out in 1832 for incoming, well-to-do Americans who were not interested in mingling with native New Orleanians. The feeling was mutual! Grand houses were built on large lots that encouraged the development of beautiful gardens.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll order from a select menu.

Afternoon: This afternoon is left open for free time. Feel free to explore the Cabildo and Presbytère if you didn't have time to do it the prior day, or visit many of the other sites that New Orleans has to offer.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own this evening. We have left this meal free so you can try a restaurant of your choice. Your Group Leader can offer recommendations, if needed..

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
World War II Museum
New Orleans, LA
B,L,D
Hotel Monteleone

Activity note: Walking at your own pace through World War II Museum; benches available. Walking in the French Quarter according to personal preference.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Formerly known as the D-Day Museum, the National World War II Museum was founded by eminent historian Dr. Stephen Ambrose, author “Band of Brothers” and other best-sellers. A self directed exploration takes us through three buildings that house exhibits highlighting the role of participants from world leaders to the everyday men and women whose contributions helped to win the war, as well as those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Many items in the vast collection — such as uniforms, weaponry, vehicles, medals, diaries, letters, artwork, photographs, and other mementos — are on display while thousands of records and archives are available to scholars for ongoing research. See the film “Beyond All Boundaries” narrated by Tom Hanks. Through first person accounts and amazing special effects, we’ll take a journey through the war that changed the world.

Lunch: Lunch is offered at a restaurant located in the WW II Museum.

Afternoon: You may return to the hotel to freshen up or remain in the French Quarter for more exploration on your own.

Dinner: Dinner is provided at a local restaurant.

Evening: Returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening is free. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
All About Mardi Gras, Program Concludes
New Orleans, LA
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out 12:00 Noon.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: For our closing session, we’ll have a presentation on the “real” Mardi Gras by a native New Orleanian who will dispel the myths and misconceptions you’ve read and heard about. We expect to finish by 10:30 a.m. This concludes our program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Please join our Facebook page and share photos of your program. Visit us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures. Best wishes for all your journeys back home!






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