This month, we’re featuring two top picks for holiday destinations, New York City and New Orleans. Read on to discover what each city has to offer for your next trip!
Visit one of our historic cemeteries and learn about New Orleans’ fascinating past
Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
Peerless Quartet and Freddy Cannon had it right: you’ll definitely want to linger a little while when you’re in the Big Easy. While those performers had their own reasons for visiting, we’re recommending a trip to the Cajun capital for a few reasons:
Great Weather
The shoulder season is an ideal time to visit New Orleans, with plenty of incredible events without the crowds and average temperatures that range from the mid 60s to the high 70s.
Les Bon Temps
There’s always a lot happening in New Orleans, but we’ve asked our team there for their top picks:
Krewe of BOO! Halloween Parade (October 19) – the official Halloween parade of NOLA and a fabulous celebration of the macabre.
LUNA Fête (November 14–17) – a festival of light, art, and technology, this year highlighting the themes of melody and mythology.
If you’re a big foodie, you might want to plan your visit around one of New Orleans’ food festivals, including Beignet Fest, Po-Boy Festival, Tremé Creole Gumbo Festival, and the 2024 Nola Food Fest!
Amazing Tours
If we may say so ourselves. Fall is the perfect time for gumbo: join a local guide who will take you around the historic French Quarter to discover the best gumbo dishes on our New Orleans Taste of Gumbo Food Tour.
Or get spooked on our New Orleans Haunted Legends and Scandals and hear tales of voodoo, murder, and the macabre.
During our cooler months, you’ll want to cozy up to a good cocktail. Book our pay-as-you-go New Orleans Private Cocktail Walking Tour, where your guide will take you to storied cocktail bars and introduce you to the city classics on the way!
Grand Central Terminal is a popular place to visit during the holiday season in New York
Start Singin’ the Blues
Melt away those small town blues and head to New York City, where the city never sleeps and there’s no shortage of fun during the fall and winter months. Check out what our NYC team has recommended for your visit:
Fall Vibes
Central Park bursts into color, offering breathtaking views ideal for leisurely strolls or picnics. Rent a bike or take a Central Park walking tour with a knowledgeable local guide! NYC goes all out for Halloween, with spooky decorations and themed events, so be sure to be in town for the electrifying annual Village Halloween Parade on October 31st!
Must-See and -Do
Witness the magic of the iconic Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in person on November 23, featuring giant balloons and floats. And while it may seem cliché, we recommend renting some skates and hitting the rink – what’s more NYC than ice skating in front of illuminated Rockefeller Center?
Visit the Union Square Holiday Market or Bryant Park’s Winter Village for unique gifts and delicious treats. Or if experiences are more your thing, catch a festive performance on Broadway and then head over to the New York Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train Show, great for all ages!
More Amazing Tours
The West Village will put you in a holiday New York state of mind, with its handsome brownstones, cozy intimate restaurants and bars, and cobblestone streets. Discover its ties to the Revolutionary War, American counterculture movement, and more on our Private Greenwich Village: Music, Culture, Cuisine Walking Tour!
Be sure to stop for a photo op at the iconic Washington Square Arch in Greenwich Village
