Highlights

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Itinerary

Day 1 – New Orleans – Dinner & Dancing at Mulates

Arrive in New Orleans, LA. Check into your French Quarter hotel for a four-night stay.

Tonight, enjoy a fun evening at Mulates, the King of Cajun Dine & Dance Halls. Featuring live Cajun Music and Dancing, Mulates is where Cajuns come to celebrate their heritage, and the world comes to help them celebrate. (D)

Day 2 – New Orleans Guided Tour – National WWII Museum – Cooking Demonstration & Dinner at the New Orleans School of Cooking – (Performance Options Available)

After breakfast, meet a local guide for a tour of New Orleans. You will travel by the historic parts of the French Quarter, where you see some of the oldest sections of the city: Jackson Square, the towering St. Louis Cathedral, the infamous Bourbon Street, and the bustling French Market. No visit to New Orleans would be complete without a tour in one of the historic cemeteries, where you will find the above ground tombs that inhabit these “cities of the dead.”

Lunch will be included today at a local restaurant.

The afternoon features a visit to the National World War II Museum. From the beaches of Normandy to the sands of Iwo Jima, The National WWII Museum’s exhibits are a blend of personal accounts, artifacts, documents, photographs and original film footage. The stories of the dozens of amphibious landings and the thousands of men and women who made Allied victory in World War II possible are told through three floors of exhibit space. In addition, special exhibits draw on the Museum’s own collections, as well as relevant traveling exhibits to further illustrate and explore the war that changed the world.

There will also be time today to schedule a student performance.  New Orleans offers several performance opportunities.  From the National WWII Museum, the Louisiana Children’s Museum, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, to several local theatres and venues, there a plenty of options for your student group.

This evening, enjoy a Cooking Demonstration & Dinner at the New Orleans School of Cooking. It’s entertaining classes and the Louisiana General Store are located in a renovated molasses warehouse built in the early 1800s in the Heart of the French Quarter. Fun is a primary ingredient in this kitchen! A Creole/Cajun experts teach New Orleans specialties such as Gumbo, Jambalaya and Pralines, and season them with history, trivia, and tall tales. It’s a “ga-ron-teed” good time for all. (B,L,D)

Day 3 – Destrehan Plantation Tour – Swamp Tour – Ghosts Tour or Pirates Tour of French Quarter

This morning, you will enjoy a guided tour of Destrehan Plantation, a majestic antebellum home that overlooks the banks of the Mississippi River.  Established in 1787 and listed on the National register of Historic Places, Destrehan Plantation remains the oldest documented plantation home in the lower Mississippi Valley.

Costumed interpreters will intrigue you with the legacy of the Destrehan family, historic events that occurred at this site, and the unique architectural features of the plantation. Here, visitors can gaze upon an original document signed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.  The Plantation also offers daily demonstrations based on life on the plantation.

Next, enjoy a Swamp Tour.  As your boat drifts through the waterways, you will learn about the Louisiana Wetlands, the inhabitants of the swamp, particularly the life and habits of the American Alligator, as well as the unique history of the Cajun town of Frenier within the Manchac Swamp.

Returning to New Orleans this evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant followed by an evening tour. Groups can choose from a Ghosts Tour or a Pirates Tour of the French Quarter. (B,L,D)

Ghosts & Legends Tour – Known for its mystique-laden history, New Orleans is a city where spooky stories lurk around every corner — and you can experience them yourself on this remarkable Ghosts and Legends Tour. Come discover New Orleans’ dark side on this two‐hour haunted history ghost tour, filled with incredible storytelling about paranormal and haunted places.

Pirates Tour – Discover the Pirate history of New Orleans! This French Quarter walking tour takes you through Jackson Square and Pirates Alley where you’ll hear about how the Lafitte brothers came to New Orleans and crafted their smuggling empire. Then wander down historic Royal Street to discover how they evolved from smugglers to saviors during the Battle of New Orleans. Ramble the streets with your salty guide and hear the real stories of Pirates turned protectors! Learn about the Pirates Pierre and Jean Lafitte, their smuggling operation, the Battle of New Orleans, and a Pirate’s life in the French Quarter in the early 1800s.

Day 4 – Mardi Gras World – Mask Making w/lunch – New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park – JAMNOLA – Dinner Cruise 

Start the day with a visit to Mardi Gras World, where you can learn about New Orleans’ history and culture through the wonder of Mardi Gras. Stand in awe as you watch the artists painting and sculpting right before your eyes. This tour highlights the history of Mardi Gras and highlights the art, giving a unique glimpse into the past and present of this incredible tradition. Come witness the process that makes Mardi Gras the greatest free show on Earth. Get an insider’s view of how Mardi Gras props and floats are built for next year’s parades.

Your visit to Mardi Gras World also included a Mask Making Class. Explore the artistic side of Mardi Gras! This one-hour activity allows your students the opportunity to create a Mardi Gras mask to take home. Each participant will be given one mask, glitter, and anything else needed to decorate their one-of-a-kind Carnival creation. Lunch will also be included with your visit to Mardi Gras World.

This afternoon, discover the roots of jazz at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Located in the heart of the French Quarter, the park offers live performances, exhibits, and programs that celebrate the legacy of America’s unique musical art form.

Also included today is a visit to JAMNOLA (Joy Art Music – New Orleans). Take an immersive joy ride through the heart and soul of New Orleans. This one-of-a-kind cultural funhouse features 29 exhibits that celebrate the city’s iconic art, music, food, and theatrics — all brought to life by over 100 visionary local artists and creative partners.

Tonight, enjoy a Dinner Cruise that includes Dixieland Jazz as you cruise the Mississippi on the Steamboat Natchez. Boarding in the French Quarter, you head downriver past the historic Riverfront while The Dukes of Dixieland performing for those happy, brassy tunes for which this city is so well known. (B,L,D)

Day 5 – Depart New Orleans

After breakfast, depart for home.  A stop will be made enroute for lunch on own. (B,D)

Tour Map