My noxer (but indulgent) hubby and I will be visiting New Orleans next week for just a few days. I would love suggestions on boxes as well as restaurants, bars, tours, etc.

Looking forward to visiting such an intriguing city!

Mama Stork
Cincinnati OH

I visited New Orleans last year and did a little boxing while there. If you're up for some sightseeing while boxing, I would recommend Six Feet Above and Southern Sweets in the Garden District. Both fun plants! I took the street car down to the Garden District, great option!

Off the beaten path, I suggest Jacques Imo's (http://jacques-imos.com/). Drago's in Metarie is quite good as well.

And maybe there is a Gumbo Nightmare nearby...

LB

I second the Jacques-Imos suggestion. It’s my favorite restaurant in Nola (and we lived there for five years.)

Drago's -- especially the oyster bar -- is a favorite stop of ours.

Red Fish Grill, Deanie's, and Mr. B's Bistro are also wonderful.

~MC

The double chocolate bread pudding at Red Fish Grill (first block of Bourbon off Canal) is a MUST. My husband and I get it once a year.

If you are interested in learning about Mardi Gras at all, a visit to Mardi Gras World is fun and informative (and you'll get a piece of king cake out of season!). They have free shuttle pickups several places in town.

Shopping on Royal Street in the French Quarter is fun- antiques, art, kitchy stores, pralines, not super touristy.

Ghost tours/cemetery tours/historic tours of all kinds are available, even at the last minute. Well worth the price. Competition to be a tour guide is fierce, so you have to be on your game to get that gig.

New Orleans is home of the cocktail, and the best place (imo) is the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone (Royal Street, 2 blocks off Canal). Their signature cocktails are delicious and creative, and the bar rotates (one full rotation every 15 minutes). If you're lucky, Marvin will be serving- he's my favorite bartender.

Enjoy! It's a magical city!

Thanks--we are actually staying in the Garden District, so that makes it easy!

Thank you all--will add your suggestions to my list. Trying to have options without overplanning; a true challenge for me.

Can't wait to explore!

Can't wait to explore!

When will y'all be in NOLA? The Crabby Ol' Man and I are currently here. I've been here since the first of Nov, on a 13 week assignment but he only just got here a few days ago so we haven't had a chance to get out and box or explore yet.

2CoolCats and I will also be there next week. I've made note of the suggestions.

My daughter (also a 'boxer) has an opportunity to spend the summer doing undergrad sciency-stuff at the University of New Orleans. I may be visiting to help her get "settled in" (read: I've never been to NOLA so this is a great opportunity to have some fun), the first weekend of June.

Any local boxers still active? Suggestions for great boxes, and (in general) places to visit? Daughter will be there 2 months (and will want to do some boxing of course), but I only have a few days. Thanks!!!

Knock knock...
*peeking onto room*
Anybody here?
Any Letterboxy-type folks around in New Orleans?

Looking for contacts, box suggestions, and friendly faces... any and all info greatly appreciated!!

Hi wassamatta u,

I am not from NOLA, but went letterboxing there last year just as Covid was kicking off. I enjoyed letterboxing in the cemeteries there. They have interesting and beautiful cemeteries there. I avoided the touristy areas--too crowded for me.

For massive stamping pleasure, check out Godzilla's Treasure Box: https://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?boxId=223871

Cheers, Mosaic Butterfly

I'm here! *smile*

I'm actually a couple hours away from New Orleans, but I'd be willing to make an extra effort to do some box maintenance here if you wanted head this way. Baton Rouge has some interesting boxes -- at least there used to be several fun ones.

I'll do a little digging and get back with you.

MC ;-)

Praying all of you are safe and sound, high and dry.

We are as prepared as we can get. I know that some of you have likely evacuated. Hope all goes well with you.

~MC

Post-storm update:

Family and friends are safe and sound. So thankful.

~MC

We're just North of you in Mississippi, I think we were the lucky ones, only lost power for a couple of days. We hope everyone is staying safe.

Glad to know you are moving forward.

I am going to be taking a quick trip from Little Rock, through Jackson and down to New Orleans. Anything that you all would suggest CAN'T BE MISSED? I only have 4 days total.

https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?boxId=231082
If you're passing Hazlehurst MS, I55 just south of Jackson, and your a Doctor Who fan this box is on our front porch. We also have a table top event box we can put out there (14 stamps). Let us know and we'll send you the address.

Awesome, thank you so much. I will email you once I know what day I'll be there.

Oh! You should definitely do this one! Amazing carves and a one of a kind box.

If it is still there, the Gumbo Nightmare could give you a taste of eevil. Between NOLA and Baton Rouge...

Ue

A simple google search seems to suggest that a permit is needed for caches. I found this link as a starting point.

Thank you. I guess I need to figure this out now.

KJ

Hi Kurious Jo,
I don't live in Louisiana, but I have boxed there. I know that JBanana has this box planted in a State park https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?boxId=273186 and I am pretty sure she did not have a permit. Unfortunately, JBanana now lives in another state and does not log onto AQ very often, so contacting her would not be very promising. I would be very careful and not let anyone know you are placing a box.
I know here in Texas, some State Park are very friendly toward Letterboxing, while others are very much against it. We have had Rangers contact us about them.
I hope you figure out a way to plant your box and not have to worry about it.
Happy Boxing!
Blue Butterfly

Hi BB,
That letterbox went missing after one find. Hmmm.
I think our plants in Texas are safe.
Thank you for the information. :-)
Appreciate it!
kj

Several years ago, we had state park rangers searching clues for boxes in Fairfield SP. That ranger found and pulled every letterbox in that park, and sent “ugly” messages to the owners. That’s not the only one that has issues with Letterboxing. We have been asked a time or two to get permits for them also. For now, things have been pretty calm, but we are always careful not to be too public about what we are doing at events there or when we are on the trails. I hope you enjoy Louisiana!
Take care!
BB

What's funny is that most of my letterboxes are educational, historical, or include natural science, something about local lore, or what have you. I'm not a teacher, but I love science.

We've had issues with some state parks but they are usually resolved once the head ranger of the park understands what we do, usually by someone reaching out and explaining that we don't tear up the place burying boxes.

Annual permits aren't feasible to maintain. Between us we have almost 400 letterboxes and they are across many states. I'd rather plant elsewhere and that is what I do.

I can't imagine holding an event a a park that wasn't box-friendly but then events vary quite a bit.

Gosh you've been helpful.

Thank you

Those are the kind of boxes I love to find! You are so right, permits are difficult to maintain, especially if you don’t live in the area where the boxes are planted. I am so glad you have been able to resolve issues with the Rangers, that keeps our hobby alive!
I live near two State parks, but boxes don’t last long here because of floods/hurricanes. Lake Charles, La. Has been hit hard the last several years with hurricanes that destroyed everything. They are still trying to recovering from Hurricane Laura (the strongest Hurricane to ever hit there) and Hurricane Delta.
Sorry this is so long, but people that don’t live near the Gulf Coast aren’t aware of all the flooding that takes place, and that boxes may not last too long.
I hope you are able to find a safe place for your box, and it last a long time.
Wishing you safe travels and may you continue to collect those wonderful images!
BB