Jan 26 - Jan 31, 2025
Starting at
1,999
Louisiana
Independent New Orleans: Jazz, Jambalaya and Joie de Vivre
Program No. 21665RJ
Get to know New Orleans as you explore the French Quarter and Garden District, take in a jazz performance, learn to cook Cajun-style and enjoy plenty of time to explore on your own.
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Jan 26 - Jan 31, 2025
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6 days
5 nights
10 meals
4B 1BR 2L 3D
1
Check-in, Program Registration & Orientation, Welcome Dinner
New Orleans, LA
2
Architecture Lecture, Garden District, Sazerac House
New Orleans, LA
3
New Orleans History, City Tour, Sculpture Garden, Free time
New Orleans, LA
4
WWII Museum, Jazz Lecture, Free Time, Cooking School
New Orleans, LA
5
French Quarter, Hermann-Grima, Free Time, Farewell Dinner
New Orleans, LA
6
Jazz Brunch, Program Concludes
New Orleans, LA
At a Glance
It’s the New Orleans of your imagination: the sound of Jazz drifting up Bourbon Street, a nearly miraculous bowl of gumbo, the charm of a Garden District mansion. Join us for an unforgettable stay in the Crescent City as you hear, taste and see all that New Orleans is famous for and learn about the intriguing side of the city that few outsiders know. Discover the literary landmarks of Tennessee Williams, visit the World War II Museum, learn the secrets of creole cooking from a local chef and much more. You’ll have plenty of time on your own to stroll Bourbon Street, walk the levee, eat beignets and Muffaletta sandwiches or ride a streetcar named Desire.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Amount of walking and standing varies with your level of exploration. Walking is on city streets and uneven surfaces such as cobblestones.
Independent City Discoveries
Learn with a Group Leader and enjoy educational programming while also getting substantial independent time to explore on your own. Most Independent City Discoveries include lectures, self-guided excursions and passes for public transit and museums.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Walk with an expert through the Garden District, then delve deeper into locales of your choosing via streetcar.
- Enjoy a performance at a New Orleans jazz club as a primer on the city’s world-famous music scene.
- Watch a cooking demonstration as you dine at the New Orleans School of Cooking, and get recommendations for further culinary explorations from experts and longtime residents.
General Notes
Program includes independent time to explore the city. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials. You may enjoy a more inclusive, easier-paced "Signature City New Orleans" (#2856) or "New Orleans at a Slower Pace: A City of History, Culture and Celebration" (#1475).
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Brian Altobello
Brian Altobello is a native of New Orleans with a Master’s degree in U.S. History and 29 years of teaching experience. He is an Army veteran and author of three books, most recently “Whiskey, Women, and War: How World War I Shaped Jim Crow New Orleans” (University Press of Mississippi, 2021). Married to a travel writing teacher, Brian currently works as a curriculum specialist in the New Orleans area.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Brian Altobello
View biography
Brian Altobello is a native of New Orleans with a Master’s degree in U.S. History and 29 years of teaching experience. He is an Army veteran and author of three books, most recently “Whiskey, Women, and War: How World War I Shaped Jim Crow New Orleans” (University Press of Mississippi, 2021). Married to a travel writing teacher, Brian currently works as a curriculum specialist in the New Orleans area.
Milton J. Carr
View biography
Milton Carr was born in Tremé, a cultural center of New Orleans. After studying in San Diego, Milton returned home to New Orleans where he worked for Domino Sugars. During his 33 years at Domino, he became interested in sugar cane’s connections to slavery and the economic history of the city. Milton has been a licensed New Orleans guide since 2001, and is a one-of-a-kind expert on the city's unique music, history, culture and heritage.
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.
Doreen Ketchens
View biography
Doreen Ketchens is a musician whose primary interest lies in spreading the culture and traditional music of New Orleans all over the world through performances and education. As the leader of the jazz band Doreen’s Jazz New Orleans, she has been called "Queen Clarinet," "The Female Louis Armstrong," and “Lady Louie” by critics who have heard her perform. Doreen's Jazz New Orleans has represented New Orleans around the world, performing in Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, South America, Russia and the U.S.
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.
Suggested Reading List
(8 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Independent New Orleans: Jazz, Jambalaya and Joie de Vivre
Program Number: 21665
The French Quarter: An Informal History of the New Orleans Underworld
Home to the notorious "Blue Book," which listed the names and addresses of every prostitute living in the city, New Orleans's infamous red-light district gained a reputation as one of the most raucous in the world. But the New Orleans underworld consisted of much more than the local bordellos. It was also well known as the early gambling capital of the United States, and sported one of the most violent records of street crime in the country. In The French Quarter, Herbert Asbury, author of The Gangs of New York, chronicles this rather immense underbelly of "The Big Easy." From the murderous exploits of Mary Jane "Bricktop" Jackson and Bridget Fury, two prostitutes who became famous after murdering a number of their associates, to the faux-revolutionary "filibusters" who, backed by hundreds of thousands of dollars of public support—though without official governmental approval—undertook military missions to take over the bordering Spanish regions in Texas, the French Quarter had it all. Once again, Asbury takes the reader on an intriguing, photograph-filled journey through a unique version of the American underworld.
Louis Armstrong: An American Genius
Louis Armstrong. "Satchmo." To millions of fans, he was just a great entertainer. But to jazz aficionados, he was one of the most important musicians of our times--not only a key figure in the history of jazz but a formative influence on all of 20th-century popular music. Set against the backdrop of New Orleans, Chicago, and New York during the "jazz age", Collier re-creates the saga of an old-fashioned black man making it in a white world. He chronicles Armstrong's rise as a musician, his scrapes with the law, his relationships with four wives, and his frequent feuds with fellow musicians Earl Hines and Zutty Singleton. He also sheds new light on Armstrong's endless need for approval, his streak of jealousy, and perhaps most important, what some consider his betrayal of his gift as he opted for commercial success and stardom. A unique biography, knowledgeable, insightful, and packed with information, it ends with Armstrong's death in 1971 as one of the best-known figures in American entertainment.
Accidental City: Improvising New Orleans
"This is the story of a city that shouldn't exist. In the seventeenth century, what is now America's most beguiling metropolis was nothing more than a swamp: prone to flooding, infested with snakes, battered by hurricanes. But through the intense imperial rivalries of Spain, France, and England, and the ambitious, entrepreneurial merchants and settlers from four continents who risked their lives to succeed in colonial America, this unpromising site became a crossroads for the whole Atlantic world.
Lawrence N. Powell, a decades-long resident and observer of New Orleans, gives us the full sweep of the city's history from its founding through Louisiana statehood in 1812. We see the Crescent City evolve from a French village, to an African market town, to a Spanish fortress, and finally to an Anglo-American center of trade and commerce. We hear and feel the mix of peoples, religions, and languages from four continents that make the place electric-and always on the verge of unraveling. The Accidental City is the story of land-jobbing schemes, stock market crashes, and nonstop squabbles over status, power, and position, with enough rogues, smugglers, and self-fashioners to fill a picaresque novel.
Powell's tale underscores the fluidity and contingency of the past, revealing a place where people made their own history. This is a city, and a history, marked by challenges and perpetual shifts in shape and direction, like the sinuous river on which it is perched."
Confederacy of Dunces
A Confederacy of Dunces is a picaresque novel written by American novelist John Kennedy Toole, published by Louisiana State University Press in 1980, eleven years after the author's suicide. The book, published through the efforts of writer Walker Percy (who also contributed a revealing foreword) and Toole's mother Thelma Toole, quickly became a cult classic, and later a mainstream success. Toole posthumously won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981. It is now considered a canonical work of modern Southern literature, in the USA. The title derives from the epigraph by Jonathan Swift: "When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." The story is set in New Orleans in the early 1960s. The central character is Ignatius J. Reilly, an educated but slothful 30-year-old man still living with his mother in the city's Uptown neighborhood, who, due to an incident early in the book, must set out to get a job. In his quest for employment he has various adventures with colorful French Quarter characters.
The Haunted History of New Orleans: Ghosts of the French Quarter
This book chronicles one writer's journey to New Orleans, LA, and his quest to find the most haunted locations in the French Quarter. Tag along as he interviews eyewitnesses, historians, and tour guides in one of the most haunted cities in America, What mysterious secrets did he dig up in the dusty archives? Uncover some shocking facts about the Crescent City: how he encountered the wrath of a long-dead Voodoo Queen, had an amazing revelation about one of New Orleans' most famous haunted spots while standing at a Bourbon Street crossroads, and even got to experience his very own haunting, right in the middle of an interview. The Haunted History of New Orleans is not simply a collection of ghost stories, but instead is an experiential search for truth: a quest which will take you into the darker side of history. This book examines the amazing amounts of tragedy in the Crescent City, from the founding right up to present day. Over 35 photos and illustrations!
Creole New Orleans Race and Americanization
This collection of six original essays explores the peculiar ethnic composition and history of New Orleans, which the authors persuasively argue is unique among American cities. The focus of Creole New Orleans is on the development of a colonial Franco-African culture in the city, the ways that culture was influenced by the arrival of later immigrants, and the processes that led to the eventual dominance of the Anglo-American community.
Why New Orleans Matters
In the aftermath of Katrina and the disaster that followed, promises were made, forgotten, and renewed. Now what will become of New Orleans in the years ahead? What do this proud, battered city and its people mean to America and the world?
Award-winning author and longtime New Orleans resident Tom Piazza illuminates the storied culture and uncertain future of this great and neglected American metropolis by evoking the sensuous rapture of the city that gave us jazz music and Creole cooking; examining its deep undercurrents of corruption, racism, and injustice; and explaining how its people endure and transcend those conditions. And, perhaps most important, he asks us all to consider the spirit of this place and all the things it has shared with the world: its grace and beauty, resilience and soul.
A Streetcar Named Desire
This classic drama follows Blanche DuBois and the issues that arise when she moves to New Orleans to live with her sister and her husband.
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.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
10 meals (
4B, 1BR, 2L, 3D
)
4 expert-led lectures
7 expert-led field trips
2 performances
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Program Registration & Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Meals:
D
Stay:
Hotel Monteleone
Activity Note
Hotel check-in 4:00 p.m. Easy walking inside hotel; at your discretion if you’d like to go out.
Afternoon:
Program Registration & Orientation: 4:30 p.m. Check the message board for the location to register with the Road Scholar program staff, which is also where the Orientation session will take place. Prior to departure, you’ll receive a digital welcome packet in your account with an up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. 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. As a special bonus, we will provide a voucher to use at a popular jazz club as well as the Cabildo and Presbytère, part of the Louisiana State Museum. This is a Road Scholar INDEPENDENT program. It is designed for participants who want high-level Road Scholar instruction, a few group activities, and who are capable and comfortable setting out on their own for a significant part of the day/night. There will be several hours each day of educational content. Most meals will be on your own (excluded from the program cost) to have what you like, and there will be substantial free time for personal independent exploration. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
6:00 PM in the hotel, we will enjoy a plated and served welcome dinner with a complementary glass of wine/ beer/ cocktail; coffee, tea, and water. Additional beverages are available for purchase.
Evening:
At leisure. Live music fills the Carousel Bar & Lounge overlooking Royal Street right inside our historic hotel — a French Quarter landmark since 1886. The Carousel evokes a spirit of fun with the renowned Merry-Go-Round, the city’s only revolving bar. Live music continues on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
Day
2
Architecture Lecture, Garden District, Sazerac House
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Hotel Monteleone
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 6 blocks in the Garden District.
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be served at a buffet in the hotel.
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. We’ll then board the motorcoach and become immersed in New Orleans architecture. We’ll learn about various types of iron works, architecture, and historic homes with some stops along the way. Next, we will set out on a walking field trip with a local historian 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 in this lush setting.
Lunch:
Enjoy delicious New Orleans cuisine at a local restaurant and order from a select menu.
Afternoon:
Following lunch, we will make our way back to the French Quarter to visit the Sazerac House. Here, you are free to explore and learn about the history of the Sazerac cocktail and how spirits played an important role in New Orleans' culture. There will be a couple of hours of free time to relax before dinner.
Dinner:
Dinner is on your own this evening. We have left this meal free for you to experience whatever restaurant or cuisine you desire. Feel free to ask your Group Leader for restaurant suggestions. Reservations are strongly recommended if you plan on eating at one of the more popular restaurants in the French Quarter.
Evening:
At leisure. Experience nightlife in the French Quarter. If you’re a music aficionado, there are lots of options. We have provided a voucher (drink included) for Fritzel’s European Jazz Club. The French Quarter has something to offer for almost every interest and taste.
Day
3
New Orleans History, City Tour, Sculpture Garden, Free time
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Meals:
B
Stay:
Hotel Monteleone
Activity Note
Walking up to 6 blocks in Garden District.
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be served at a buffet in the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll begin the day 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. Next, we'll board a motorcoach and continue our delightful introduction to New Orleans as our instructor points out significant sites and reveals more about the city’s people, traditions, and unique culture. We’ll make stops at highlights along the way, including: 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.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Following the city overview, we will head back to the hotel. We have left this afternoon and evening free for you to explore the French Quarter and visit any museums or sites you desire.
Dinner:
Dinner is on your own this evening to experience any cuisine you desire.
Evening:
At leisure. Enjoy more of the New Orleans' night life, music and culture or have a night in and relax at the hotel. If you haven't used it yet, your voucher for Fritzel’s is good any night of the week.
Day
4
WWII Museum, Jazz Lecture, Free Time, Cooking School
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hotel Monteleone
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach, being able to stand and walk for a few hours in a museum, walking according to personal preference during free time, walking 5-6 blocks to get to dinner.
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be served at a buffet in the hotel.
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 will 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. We’ll also 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:
We will have lunch at the hotel this afternoon.
Afternoon:
Following lunch, we will have a lecture/ performance by a jazz clarinetist who performs Dixieland and Trad Jazz. We have left the rest of this afternoon free for you to visit more sites in the French Quarter or relax at the hotel before dinner.
Dinner:
We’ll dine at the world renowned New Orleans School of Cooking. Here an expert local chef will teach us how to cook Creole and Cajun cuisine, as they explain the difference. We’ll see the preparation of a traditional dish, then have it for dinner. For dessert, we’ll sample the best pralines in town!
Evening:
At leisure. Experience more New Orleans night life, music, and culture. The French Quarter really does have something to offer for almost every interest and taste.
Day
5
French Quarter, Hermann-Grima, Free Time, Farewell Dinner
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Hotel Monteleone
Activity Note
Being able to walk an hour through the French Quarter with stops along the way. The Hermann- Grima House has 4 steps to get inside through the back courtyard. If one wants to walk up to the enslaved quarters, one must walk up 20 steps.
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be served at a buffet in the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we will take a guided walk through the French Quarter to learn about the history of the area. The walk will end at the Hermann- Grima House. The Hermann- Grima House is a 19th Century fully furnished home that includes a courtyard garden, horse stable, open-hearth kitchen, and slave quarters. As we are guided through the house, we will learn about the lives of both the Hermann and Grima Families, as well as the enslaved people who resided there.
Lunch:
We have left this meal free for you to experience more of New Orleans' cuisine. Try a New Orleans Po-Boy, a famous Muffaletta, or have a picnic on the Moonwalk by the mighty Mississippi. The choice is yours.
Afternoon:
Free Time. If you haven’t done so already, we recommend using the vouchers we have provided 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. You could also spend your afternoon strolling along Royal Street with its antique shops, visit the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, go for a ride on the paddlewheeler “Natchez” — last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi — or any of the may other opportunities to experience our people, cultures, and celebrations.
Dinner:
At a fine New Orleans eatery, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner together. Share your favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.
Evening:
This evening, you will have one more opportunity to hit the town and enjoy New Orleans Jazz. Then prepare for check out and departure following our final event in the morning.
Day
6
Jazz Brunch, Program Concludes
Location:
New Orleans, LA
Meals:
BR
Activity Note
Walking 4 blocks to 9:00 a.m. brunch and back.
Brunch:
At the celebrated Court of Two Sisters, we’ll settle in for a true New Orleans delight, the Jazz brunch. The elaborate buffet offers tasty hot and cold New Orleans favorites from eggs any style to Creole jambalaya, grits and grillades, gumbo, classic desserts, and much more. Coffee, tea, and water are included, other beverages are available for purchase. Tap your toes to the music of the restaurant’s resident Jazz trio. Enjoy this final dining and musical experience with a broader and deeper understanding and appreciation of our city, the one and only New Orleans. Please note that the jazz brunch will occur between 9:00-10:30 AM. Our hotel check-out is at noon. Please plan you flights accordingly. 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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MEALS
10 Meals
4 Breakfasts
2 Lunches
1 Brunch
3 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Nov 08, 2026 - Nov 13, 2026
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Participant Reviews
Based on 69 Reviews
Sort By:
This is a wonderful program full of New Orleans life, history with plenty of time to explore on your own.
— Review left November 11, 2024
Did I think Road Scholar could top the last trip I went on? They did it again!. I fell in love with New Orleans because Road Scholar gave us the best of the best idiosyncrasies, museums, guides, and "cant miss" interesting places. I am still dreaming about the food I ate and that alone will bring me back!
— Review left November 11, 2024
What a fun, informative program. Just the right blend of structured time and independent time. Lyndel was our group leader and was an absolute delight!
— Review left November 9, 2024
What a wonderful way to experience New Orleans! We had the right amount of scheduled and free time so we could explore on our own. Our leader, Lyndel, was delightful and happily shared her knowledge as a native. The private music session with world-famous clarinetist, Doreen Ketchens, was a highlight of the trip. Although, we also enjoyed the walking tours of the French Quarter, the Garden District, and the cemetery very much. While the evening at the New Orleans Cooking School seemed a bit touristy, our chef, Ricardo, did a wonderful job of keeping us laughing and the dinner was very good. We learned so much about the history of the city and its people that I now want to go back and dig deeper into it. Lovely group of people on the tour, too!
— Review left November 3, 2024
This was a wonderful trip. for some reason I was not sent an evaluation form which I was interested in filling out. The World War II Museum was excellent. The tour of the architecture was amazing. The Sculpture Garden was a big surprise in the surprising delight of the sculptures. The best food was the gumbo at New Orleans school of cooking. At the restaurant the food was not always hot but warm when served. I guessed serving a large group is hard, yet we were only 22. Our guide was fantastic. Lyndel Brauninger. She was knowledgeable, kind and enthusiastic! The other guides were so friendly as well even if we were not in their group. I think the guides really tried to be inclusive of everyone with Road Scholar, you did not have to be in their group. I feel like I have such a better grasp of New Orleans, its history and its uniqueness.
— Review left October 28, 2024
A well-rounded program covering all the aspects of this fascinating city: history, architecture, art, music, food & drink! And with plenty of free time and suggestions to explore on your own!
— Review left May 27, 2024
This Road Scholar trip introduced me to and took me through the City of New Orleans. I enjoyed the people I met. We learned, with fascination, about the city's rich history, culture and the influence of all that jazz. My joie de vivre grew immeasurably!
— Review left May 26, 2024
Jazz, Jambalaya and Joie de Vivre in New Orleans was a WONDERFUL introduction to many aspects that make New Orleans such a unique and important city to visit. Participants can directly experience and learn from all manner of sights, sounds and savoury treats, which have developed through 350 years of history. It's fascinating to find out what an outsized impact New Orleans has made on the U.S.A. and beyond.
— Review left May 26, 2024
Road Scholar used Hotel Monteleone in the heart of the French Quarter. So convenient with only a short, safe walk to all the sites, restaurants and Jazz clubs.
— Review left May 11, 2024
I had good fun on this program and I learned a lot. The Hotel Monteleone is a great place to stay--good location, sumptuous decor and excellent guest services. I appreciated the free time to wander on our own. A friendly warning, though: I gained four pounds on this program, in spite of all the walking! Hard to resist the food and drink, so caveat emptor.
— Review left May 11, 2024
This tour was a wonderful introduction to New Orleans, its' history, development, architecture, and what has been done to help limit future flooding and to allow us to experience the amazing food and music scene. It was an amazing introduction to this City.
— Review left May 8, 2024
Wonderful city to visit with its history, great food, and great jazz.
— Review left April 28, 2024
Thank you to wonderful leader Mary Lynn for sharing your exciting city with us! The music, the food, the learning opportunities provided a well-rounded and tremendously fun experience.
— Review left April 20, 2024
I'd heard a lot of positive remarks about Road Scholar trips from friends so I joined them on the Jazz, Jambalaya and Joie de Vivre in New Orleans trip. The experience far exceeded my expectations! I can't wait to join another Roads Scholar adventure.
— Review left April 20, 2024
Fantastic time on Jazz, Jumbalaya & joie de vivre. Could have stayed longer
— Review left March 24, 2024
I learned much about New Orleans and its people. Prior to this trip, I considered it mainly a party destination and I wanted to learn more of what the city has to offer. The free time allowed me to visit music venues and restaurants, which were the reasons I chose this program. The bonus was learning about the history and the people who live there.
— Review left March 23, 2024
The Jazz, Jambalaya, and Joie de Vivre in New Orleans program combines history, architecture, music and food, with outstanding leaders and presenters, to make a fantastic and authentic Creole gumbo of experiences! A real gem!
— Review left February 28, 2024
This was a great experience, introducing New Orleans as a deeply rooted, northern Caribbean city! A great balance between structured and free time activities. A good value for the money.
— Review left February 28, 2024
This was a top notch program. It covered the most interesting, fun and important aspects of New Orleans. The food and drink, its music, its architecture, it culture, its history (good and negative parts). I can’t say enough about how incredible the presenters were and group leader. It was truly an experience we will be talking about for a very very long time. Thank you Road Scholar. Laissez les bons temps rouler.
— Review left February 23, 2024
My experience with Road Scholar in New Orleans has led to a greater appreciation of the diversity, culture and history of New Orleans. What a phenomenal city to experience cuisine, culture and jazz.
— Review left February 23, 2024
Not to be missed. The tour taught me so much about New Orleans & its history. The city has so much to offer. Wonderful people, music & food. It’s an historically significant US city.
— Review left January 28, 2024
What a great trip to New Orleans, and a great group of people to enjoy it with! Our Road Scholar guide, Wolf Kassmeier was kind, welcoming, funny and just a joy to be around. I'm looking forward to taking another Road Scholar trip in the future.
— Review left January 24, 2024
This was a great program full of interesting learning experiences, delicious food and moving music. I enjoyed every minute of it and would highly recommend it to others.
— Review left January 21, 2024
Overall the program was very good. Farewell dinner was a big disappointment. The venue was bland and in New Orleans! There were several tables widely spaced. No real opportunity to say goodbye. It did not feel like a farewell dinner.
— Review left January 13, 2024
Jazz, Jambalaya and Joie de Vivre in New Orleans is part of the "Independent City Discoveries" group of programs and it delivered a great balance of scheduled programming and free time. The group activities were led by highly qualified guides and quite informative. The Hotel Monteleone is lovely and perfectly situated for exploring the French Quarter. I do agree with prior reviewers who felt that the group meals could have incorporated more variety and been better, but I guess that's one of the few downsides of group travel. Overall, I highly recommend the program to anyone interested in a group trip to New Orleans.
— Review left November 20, 2023
I wonder if you could have found a hotel that was not so expensive. I would have been happy with a 3 or 4 star hotel. The Monteleone was beautiful, but...
it's a luxury for others, not for a retired teacher. Fortunately, I saved up for the holiday, and I didn't buy any clothes in New Orleans.
— Review left November 19, 2023
This trip has a lot to offer. History, architecture, cuisine, music, and culture. Great accommodations at a great location. Very fulfilling.
— Review left November 16, 2023
What a great way to experience our world; its people, cultures, and scenic beauty!
— Review left November 12, 2023
I did not think that this trip was up to Road scholar standards. I enjoy a busier schedule so perhaps I picked the wrong trip. Our trip also took place at the same time as other trips and the venues (meals, cooking classes etc.) were jam packed with people. Too noisy to have good conversations and too little elbow room for comfort.
Robin was fine, although we had minimal contact with her. The two city guides were extremely knowledgeable and interesting, so much so, that I felt compelled to give them an extra tip.
— Review left November 4, 2023
I learned things about New Orleans that I did not know. Very educational. New Orleans is a very resilient city.
— Review left October 22, 2023
Everything about my trip was great! I loved the hotel, Robin was a great group leader, and all of the trip experts were fun and knowledgeable. I was especially excited to see that Doreen Ketchens was our jazz performer and speaker after having seen her on CBS Sunday Morning!
The tours were informative and enjoyable. I enjoyed seeing the Garden District and having the opportunity to visit a cemetery. The meals were nice, too. Having a lot of free time was very welcome as I was able to go to some places I had long wanted to see.
My only quibble would be the breakfast being so early, but that just gave us more time to get more things in, so it isn't much of a quibble.
I met a lot of nice people and hope to take a Road Scholar trip sometime again soon.
— Review left October 16, 2023
Program was great. Survey's too long!
— Review left October 16, 2023
First, THE BEST--- ROBIN ROCQUE. A total rock star. I've gone on many guided trips, and Robin is as good as there is. Funny, helpful, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, good group leader, and just a fine human being. I would follow Robin anywhere.
--- NELLIE and MILTON were great local guides, informative and funny. I could listen and learn from these two for twice the time we had with them.
--- DOREEN KETCHENS is a treasure. I still think and tell others about what she said, sang, and played. Just a great experience. Location could be better; a fluorescent-lit hotel meeting room is a poor location for a musical session.
--- VIVIAN at the NOSOC was awesome. SUPERIOR SEAFOOD also very good.
Suprisingly, the only NEGATIVES in this program were THE FOOD. We looked forward to GALATOIRE'S, but being jammed into long tables with barely room to breathe, let alone move, was a terrible experience. The menu was fixed, shrimp or chicken. I can't handle shrimp, so I had to get the chicken, which was dry and disappointing. COURT OF TWO SISTERS is a lovely location, but the buffett was only okay, and the service was terrible. ---How many times do you have to serve chicken for this program?! At the welcome dinner, at the Doreen luncheon, at Galatoire's, etc. This program could have been called "Jazz, Rubber Chicken, and..." The MONTELEONE breakfast buffett was mediocre, though the service at breakfast, as it was all over the hotel, was great. We skipped the buffett a couple times in favor of way better food virtually anywhere in the neighborhood.
OVERALL -- a very good experience despite bad food and a couple of restaurant disappointments.
Mike F.
Program dates: May 14-19, 2023
— Review left June 5, 2023
This was an amazing trip. New Orleans was on my bucket list just prior to my retirement. I was so excited to hear from others who’ve been on many other Road Scholar trips. The activities were fabulous. The lodging was great and just enough free time to be able to explore.
— Review left May 20, 2023
This was my second Road Scholar trip and Len's first. It was a totally positive experience. Wolf was a well organized personable leader and he made sure that there were no problems or hitches. The events we did as a group were all entertaining, fulfilling and indicative of New Orleans. We also liked the fact that we had lots of free time to explore on our own. Our hotel was perfectly located in the heart of the French Quarter. The people in the group were educated, fun, well read and interesting and we made some new friends. This will not be our last Road Scholar trip.
— Review left May 5, 2023
Great experience exploring New Orleans for the first time! Great lectures and tours with just the right amount of free time. A great way to explore the country and world!
— Review left May 1, 2023
As a huge music buff, I found this program to be the perfect way to soak up the sounds and musical history of New Orleans. Came away with a deeper understanding and renewed appreciation for all the incredible music that originated here.
— Review left April 15, 2023
This program delivered just what it offered, I would definitely recommend it, especially for the first time to New Orleans!!
— Review left April 8, 2023
A delightful experience...first raw oyster! YAY!!!! Milton convinced me to try it!!! Friendly, entertaining....how could I go wrong!?! Ordered 6 'charred.' Tasty. It's always good to take some 'risks' when traveling with experts!
— Review left March 11, 2023
The expert way the program was handled made it very close to the extra cost relative to planning the trip without Road Scholar.
— Review left February 11, 2023
Enjoyed all parts of program
— Review left February 11, 2023
A wonderful program in an exciting city. You learn about a unique history and culture that values fun, food and entertainment. Guided tours are great.
— Review left January 14, 2023
Jazz, Jambalaya, and Joie de Viver in New Orleans is a joy, full of fun learning and delicious cuisine to introduce you to the Creole and Cajun cultures of NOLA! Bon Appitite!
— Review left October 17, 2022
Well done and informative, interesting and fun.
— Review left October 17, 2022
I just returned from my first Road Scholar trip. It was a valuable experience. I recommend Road Scholar to others.
— Review left April 17, 2022
Road Scholar is not honest about claims they make and fail to address problems. Would deter anyone form using their travel service. There are other services whihc I HAVE USED THAT ARE MUCH MORE ACCOMOXDATING.
— Review left March 28, 2022
Road Scholar opens many diverse doors. It is a good way to educate us about the history of the world.
— Review left November 22, 2021
Absolutely wonderful in every way! Leader Lyndel is a treasure and showed off the best parts of her lovely hometown! The hotel is perfect in every way and in the heart of the French Quarter. The lectures and tours gave a great overview of this vibrant city, and makes me want to come back!
— Review left November 21, 2021
The perfect program with every instructor a storyteller that drew us deeper into the rich history and culture of New Orleans.
— Review left March 24, 2020
Jazz as it should be....
— Review left February 25, 2020
A wonderful program that definitely gives you a feel for New Orleans, it’s music and people.
— Review left February 15, 2020
A great program conducted in the heart of the French Quarter. Very close to many varieties of music, food, museums, architecture, street performances, and scenery. A great city to visit and a nicely designed program to get introduced to what makes New Orleans New Orleans.
— Review left February 9, 2020
This was a fun and very educational trip! We learned a lot, and the pace was very manageable, with a good amount of free time to explore on our own.
— Review left February 7, 2020
New Orleans greets you with a smile on her face and heart on her sleeve. New Orleans is gracious and kind, irreverent and bawdy. It touches your soul and raises your spirits. New Orleans rises from the early morning mist to greet you and puts you to bed with the sound of foot tapping jazz. New Orleans embraces one and all.
— Review left February 3, 2020
All of our instructors were first rate, and the "flex" trip was perfectly planned and organized. I really liked having the opportunity to "linger longer" and enjoy the joie de vivre of NOLA.
As a foodie, I appreciated the opportunity to experience the city's wonderful, and notable cuisine. Drago's char-broiled oysters are to die for! I took myself to Commander's Palace for a "special" luncheon and it lived up to its world-wide reputation.
— Review left May 21, 2019
Our first Roads Scholar trip and first time in New Orleans. Wonderful all around-best hotel, great food, tours and wonderful guides!
— Review left April 4, 2019
The program exceeded my expectations. I am used to researching and planning my own trips here and abroad. New Orleans was a great destination for my first Road Scholar Program. I enjoyed the program and liked having someone else do the planning.
— Review left April 1, 2019
This 'Joie de Vivre' New Orleans tour was possibly the best Road Scholar tour I have attended. Everything about this five day experience was outstanding. Bonnie Carter of Ukiah CA.
— Review left March 30, 2019
Great review of the New Orleans history and culture, including jazz.
— Review left March 30, 2019
Program was exactly as described in book and on line. Perfect way to visit New Orleans and have the complete experience. Perfect weather in late March.
— Review left March 29, 2019
This was a wonderful introduction to one of our most interesting cities. It was done with the excellent care and educational values that we have always been impressed with on Road Scholar programs.
— Review left March 23, 2019
My first time in New Orleans. Loved combo of learning and being on our own. Guides were fabulous. Great way to introduce yourself to New Orleans and Road Scholar.
— Review left March 16, 2019
We have been to New Orleans many times, but during this program we learned many new things about the area, culture and architecture. The WW II museum is an amazing experience and the cooking class was lots of fun! All of the presenters were very knowledgeable and made everything interesting with some humor added. Overall, a great program.
— Review left February 21, 2019
THIS PROGRAM IS WONDERFUL FOR COUPLES WHO LIKE TO HAVE THE FLEX TIME TO EXPLORE SOME OF THEIR INTERESTS MORE IN DEPTH. THE INSTRUCTORS AND TOUR GUIDES ARE ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL AND YOU WILL COME HOME IN A HAPPY MOOD FROM HAVING SO MANY LAUGHS!
— Review left February 19, 2019
Road Scholar always offers interesting and informative tours, but the "Out and About in New Orleans - Flex" tour was truly outstanding. If you enjoy good music, good food, good accommodations, and like to laugh while you learn this is a tour well worth taking. The "flex" part means you get to choose some of your activities either on your own or with others on the tour, a great idea in a city with as much to offer as New Orleans.
— Review left February 18, 2019
A well organized and informative overview of New Orleans.
— Review left February 18, 2019
Out and about in New Orleans was so much fun. I learned so much I didn't know about New Orleans; I tried a few new drinks; ate the most divine food and listened to music everywhere. The Road Scholar presenters, and tour leader were great. I highly recommend this program!
— Review left February 16, 2019
I thought NOLA was the French Quarter and Mardi Gras. I learned that it is sooo much more and quite a history to understand and appreciate. I will definitely think differently when I hear New Orleans from now on.
— Review left February 1, 2019
The group leader, the lecturers, the musicians! The hotel, the field trips, the food! Everything you expect from the Crescent City and more! I highly recommend this Road Scholar experience. Just be aware you will want to add more Road Scholar experiences in this region to your bucket list.
— Review left January 19, 2019
