A Weekend in New Orleans' Warehouse District

For an immediate immersion into Cajun culture, head to Mulate's for dinner. Known as "the original Cajun restaurant," Mulate's serves classic regional fare like gumbo, jambalaya and etouffee. At night, the dance floor opens up as a zydeco band takes the stage. Centrally located on Julia Street, it's an easy walk from Mulate's back to hotels like the Cambria, Four Seasons and Kimpton Hotel Fontenot.

Breakfast

Begin your first full day in New Orleans with a stop at Ironworks Coffee & Crepes, where you'll find made-to-order crepes with names like sylvester, bounty hunter and tiramisu bomb. If you're like me and have a less than adventurous palette, not to fear — they also offer classic options like plain crepes, muffins and scones.

The riverfront: A good orientation to the city, the riverfront features walking paths that connect the Warehouse District to the French Quarter, providing an overview of New Orleans' history and present-day offerings. On the Warehouse District side, it's hard to miss the Riverwalk Outlets, home to over 70 well-known retailers and local chains, including the legendary Cafe du Monde.

Vue Orleans: While on the riverwalk, swing by Vue Orleans to take in the sights from the city's tallest observation deck. Far from being just an in-and-out experience, Vue Orleans features a plethora of interactive exhibits celebrating the city's music, recipes and larger-than-life characters. Even the elevators have a story to tell!

Lunch

There are a variety of lunch spots within steps of the riverfront. Two that I always make time to visit are St. James Cheese Company and Ernst Café. As the name suggests, the former features a variety of cheese-based meals (think charcuterie boards, muffulettas and parmigiano reggiano salads), alongside a retail store. The latter - Ernst Cafe — has the distinction of being the oldest bar in the Warehouse District, now serving traditional pub fare alongside New Orleans specialties.

Mardi Gras World: At the end of the riverwalk lies Mardi Gras World, the 300,000-square-foot warehouse where Mardi Gras parade floats are made. From floats past, present and future to artists building the next carnival wonder, there is always something new to discover here. The slice of king cake you receive during the tour doesn't hurt, either!

Dinner

After taking some time to unwind at the hotel, head to Meril, Emeril Lagasse's contemporary American restaurant where casual dishes are served with a global twist. Make sure to save room for dessert, as an ever-changing menu means you can have seasonal creations like berry cake in the summer and Mexican hot chocolate cookies in the winter.

Tip: Although you can usually snag a last-minute seat or two at the bar, I highly recommend making reservations if you'd prefer to eat in the main dining room.

The National WWII Museum: After breakfast at the hotel, head to the other end of the Warehouse District, where you'll find the National WWII Museum. Spread across four blocks, the National WWII Museum could easily fill an entire day. The experience starts when you receive a "dog tag" introducing you to a servicemember or civilian whose story you'll follow via interactive kiosks throughout the exhibits. The museum further immerses you in the era with nostalgia-inducing restaurants, canteen concerts and an entire gift shop dedicated to vintage-inspired clothes and accessories.

Tip: You will have to go through a brief security check to enter the National WWII Museum, so I recommend traveling lightly for this excursion.

Lunch and afternoon

There are two lunch spots within the National WWII Museum: The American Sector, where diner classics meet New Orleans fare and Jeri Nims Soda Shop, a throwback cafe serving soups, sandwiches and ice cream.

After lunch, if you’ve finished exploring the National WWII Museum, there are several nearby museums, including the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience and the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.

Creole Queen Jazz Cruise: Your last day in New Orleans ends where the city began: the Mississippi River. Departing from the riverwalk at 7 pm, the Creole Queen is an authentic paddlewheeler whose nighttime river cruises combine Cajun food, jazz music and the sights for which New Orleans is famous. After enjoying a buffet-style meal in the dining room, head up to the open-air promenade deck for a sunset salute to your weekend in the Warehouse District.