NYC to NOLA Road Trip Finale: Biking New Orleans' Hidden Gems
Our three-week road trip from New York City to New Orleans (NYC2NOLA) has been an unforgettable adventure, with the Crescent City as the ideal grand finale. Time flew amid the excitement, leaving us with a packed list of must-see spots. To maximize our final day, we rented bikes from the American Bicycle Rental Company and set off under brilliant blue skies.
We powered through the 90°F heat and humidity to our first stop: St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, home to the tomb of legendary Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau. Voodoo enthusiasts from around the world visit daily, leaving offerings like liquor, flowers—and curiously, lip balm.
Next, we pedaled across town to City Park, cooling off in the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)'s expansive sculpture garden featuring over 60 works by renowned contemporary artists. Refreshed, we cycled back to Woldenberg Riverfront Park, stretching along the majestic Mississippi River.
No New Orleans visit is complete without beignets—pillowy fried dough dusted with powdered sugar, introduced by Acadian settlers. We headed to Café du Monde, established in 1862 and famed for these treats alongside its signature chicory coffee, a French tradition blending roasted coffee with chicory root for a smoother flavor. Touristy? Absolutely. Delicious? Undeniably!
Fueled up, we explored the vibrant Faubourg Marigny neighborhood. Locals sipped Abita and Guinness outside cozy pubs, with colorful shotgun houses evoking Panama's Bocas del Toro or Nicaragua's Big Corn Island more than typical U.S. locales.
We capped our ride in Tremé, America's oldest African American neighborhood. Amid starter homes and weathered structures, it exudes raw urban energy. Unlike the tourist-packed cemetery earlier, we were the only visitors here—despite the fame from HBO's Tremé.
New Orleans demands weeks to fully explore, but biking proved the perfect way to cover its highlights in our limited time.
What's Next?
Our NYC-to-NOLA journey was so thrilling, we're extending the road trip! Next: heading north to Chicago via Memphis. Stay tuned for more adventures.
Thanks to the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau for trip planning assistance and InterContinental New Orleans for our comfortable stay.
