New Orleans with the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans
Itinerary
March 3-9, 2026
DAY 1: TUESDAY, MARCH 3 | WELCOME TO NEW ORLEANS!
Meet at Louis Armstrong New Orleans Intl. Airport
When you arrive in New Orleans, you will collect your luggage and proceed to the arrivals area of Louis Armstrong International Airport. Look for our local guide and U.S.-based tour leader holding a PRC sign to greet you. Depending on flight schedules, we will gather travelers into groups according to arrival times. From there, you’ll be escorted to your private transportation for the transfer into the city and onward to our New Orleans hotel to begin the adventure.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans Airport
Check into Hotel St. Vincent
Check in to the historic Hotel St. Vincent, a thoughtfully restored 19th-century landmark located in New Orleans’ vibrant Lower Garden District. Once a children’s asylum, this striking red-brick property has been transformed into a stylish boutique hotel blending old-world architecture with modern design. With lush courtyards, inviting common spaces, and a lively mix of bars and restaurants on-site, Hotel St. Vincent offers both comfort and character. Its central location makes it easy to explore nearby Magazine Street, the Garden District, and the city’s lively music and food scenes.
Hotel St. Vincent
Welcome Cocktail and Introductions
Meet & greet each other as we begin our tour. We will have a welcome and orientation over cocktails at the Chapel Club at Hotel St. Vincent (or non-alcoholic refreshments).
Introductions at Chapel Club
Dinner at Brennan’s
Enjoy a welcome dinner at Brennan’s, a New Orleans institution located in the heart of the French Quarter. Known for its elegant Creole cuisine and lively dining rooms, Brennan’s has been delighting guests since 1946. Savor classic New Orleans dishes such as turtle soup, Gulf seafood, and their world-famous Bananas Foster—flambéed tableside where the dessert was first created. This is the perfect introduction to the flavors, charm, and hospitality of New Orleans.
Brennan’s Restaurant
Music Experience at Preservation Hall
After dinner, we’ll head to Preservation Hall, one of New Orleans’ most iconic music venues. Tucked into the heart of the French Quarter, this intimate hall has been the home of traditional New Orleans jazz since 1961. Step inside the historic space and experience an unforgettable live performance by local legends who keep the city’s jazz tradition alive. With its close quarters and pure focus on the music, Preservation Hall offers one of the most authentic cultural experiences in New Orleans.
Preservation Hall Jazz
DAY 2: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 | FRENCH QUARTER
Breakfast at our Hotel
Each morning, enjoy a freshly prepared, cooked-to-order breakfast at the hotel, served daily from 7:00–11:00 am.
St. Vincent breakfast
10:00 am ~ Private tour of M.S. Rau
Discover the wonders of M.S. Rau Antiques, a world-renowned gallery in the heart of the French Quarter. Behind its Royal Street façade lies an extraordinary collection of fine art, rare antiques, and exquisite jewelry—featuring works by Monet, Tiffany & Co., and Chippendale. Wander through beautifully curated rooms, step into a hidden “secret room,” and uncover treasures with stories as rich as the city itself.
MS. Rau Antiques
11:15 am ~ HNOC French Quarter Galleries tour
Take a 35-minute guided tour of New Orleans Mosaic at the Historic New Orleans Collection, where history comes alive through vibrant objects, images, and stories. This tour explores the city’s rich cultural tapestry, highlighting immigrant communities, artists, musicians, and the enduring legacies of slavery and civil rights activism. Experience the many layers of New Orleans’ oldest neighborhood in a dynamic and engaging way.
Historic New Orleans Collection
12:00 pm ~ Lunch and behind the scenes at Napoleon House
Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Napoleon House, featuring classic New Orleans flavors like muffalettas and refreshing Pimm’s cups, accompanied by the lively sounds of a solo banjo player. Afterward, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the building’s second floor and hear a brief history of this historic French Quarter landmark, from its 18th-century origins to its storied role in the city’s cultural life.
Napoleon’s House
1:30 pm ~ St. Louis Cathedral Tour
Explore the iconic St. Louis Cathedral in the heart of the French Quarter, one of the oldest cathedrals in the United States. Step inside to admire its striking architecture, historic artwork, and grand altars, and learn about its central role in New Orleans’ spiritual and cultural life. Discover the stories, traditions, and history that have shaped this landmark over centuries.
2:30 pm ~ Free time and evening on your own in the French Quarter
Enjoy some free time to explore the French Quarter at your own pace. Stroll along historic streets, browse unique shops and galleries, or simply soak in the lively atmosphere. For a taste of New Orleans, grab a beignet and café au lait at Café du Monde, try a muffaletta at Central Grocery, or enjoy classic Creole dishes at Arnaud’s. For dinner, consider the elegant dining at Antoine’s or the cozy, welcoming atmosphere of Irene’s. In the evening, experience live music at 21st Amendment, or relax at a café and take in the energy of the Quarter.
St. Louis Cathedral
Free time in the French Quarter
DAY 3: THURSDAY, MARCH 5 | ST. ROCH CEMETERY & CARROLLTON
Breakfast at our Hotel
Each morning, enjoy a freshly prepared, cooked-to-order breakfast at the hotel, served daily from 7:00–11:00 am.
St. Vincent breakfast
10:00 am ~ Lecture with Richard Campanella
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Richard Campanella
11:30 am ~ Lunch at St. Roch Market
description (each person gets a credit?)
St. Roch Market
1:00 pm ~ St. Roch Cemetery Tour
Step into the storied past of New Orleans with a guided tour of St. Roch Cemetery, one of the city’s historic “cities of the dead.” Explore the unique above-ground tombs, ornate sculptures, and private family vaults that reflect centuries of culture, faith, and tradition. Hear the fascinating stories behind the cemetery’s residents, its role in local history, and the customs that make New Orleans’ cemeteries unlike anywhere else in the world.
Napoleon’s House
2:00 pm ~ Time at leisure
After your visit, enjoy some time at leisure. You can either take the bus back to the hotel for a relaxed return or request a stop in the French Quarter to continue exploring before heading back.
2:30 pm ~ Free time and evening on your own in the French Quarter
Enjoy some free time to explore the French Quarter at your own pace. Stroll along historic streets, browse unique shops and galleries, or simply soak in the lively atmosphere. For a taste of New Orleans, grab a beignet and café au lait at Café du Monde, try a muffaletta at Central Grocery, or enjoy classic Creole dishes at Arnaud’s. For dinner, consider the elegant dining at Antoine’s or the cozy, welcoming atmosphere of Irene’s. In the evening, experience live music at 21st Amendment, or relax at a café and take in the energy of the Quarter.
Time at leisure
Free time in the French Quarter
4:30 pm ~ Carrollton Walking Tour
Discover the charm and history of the Oak Street shopping corridor on this guided tour. Stroll along the eight-block stretch and learn about its evolution from early beginnings to the vibrant hub it is today. Cross the levee to see the rare batture homes at the head of Oak Street—unique houses built within the Mississippi River and the last of their kind. Experience the area’s distinctive architecture, local shops, and rich cultural stories along the way.
Carrollton walking tour
6:15 pm ~ Depart for Mosca’s
7:15 pm ~ Dinner at Mosca’s
Step just outside New Orleans to Mosca’s in Westwego, a wood-paneled time capsule serving Creole-Italian classics since 1946. Enjoy family-style favorites like Oysters Mosca, Chicken a la Grande, and Spaghetti Bordelaise, all made the same way they’ve been for generations. No trends, no frills, just great food and a welcoming, timeless atmosphere.
Mosca’s
10:00 pm ~ Live music on Frenchmen or Maple Leaf
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Live music
DAY 4: FRIDAY, MARCH 6 | BAYOU ST. JOHN
Breakfast at our Hotel
Each morning, enjoy a freshly prepared, cooked-to-order breakfast at the hotel, served daily from 7:00–11:00 am.
St. Vincent breakfast
10:00 am ~ Lecture with Richard Campanella
description
Richard Campanella
11:30 am ~ Lunch at St. Roch Market
description (each person gets a credit?)
St. Roch Market
1:00 pm ~ St. Roch Cemetery Tour
Step into the storied past of New Orleans with a guided tour of St. Roch Cemetery, one of the city’s historic “cities of the dead.” Explore the unique above-ground tombs, ornate sculptures, and private family vaults that reflect centuries of culture, faith, and tradition. Hear the fascinating stories behind the cemetery’s residents, its role in local history, and the customs that make New Orleans’ cemeteries unlike anywhere else in the world.
Napoleon’s House
2:00 pm ~ Time at leisure
After your visit, enjoy some time at leisure. You can either take the bus back to the hotel for a relaxed return or request a stop in the French Quarter to continue exploring before heading back.
2:30 pm ~ Free time and evening on your own in the French Quarter
Enjoy some free time to explore the French Quarter at your own pace. Stroll along historic streets, browse unique shops and galleries, or simply soak in the lively atmosphere. For a taste of New Orleans, grab a beignet and café au lait at Café du Monde, try a muffaletta at Central Grocery, or enjoy classic Creole dishes at Arnaud’s. For dinner, consider the elegant dining at Antoine’s or the cozy, welcoming atmosphere of Irene’s. In the evening, experience live music at 21st Amendment, or relax at a café and take in the energy of the Quarter.
Time at leisure
Free time in the French Quarter
4:30 pm ~ Carrollton Walking Tour
Discover the charm and history of the Oak Street shopping corridor on this guided tour. Stroll along the eight-block stretch and learn about its evolution from early beginnings to the vibrant hub it is today. Cross the levee to see the rare batture homes at the head of Oak Street—unique houses built within the Mississippi River and the last of their kind. Experience the area’s distinctive architecture, local shops, and rich cultural stories along the way.
Carrollton walking tour
6:15 pm ~ Depart for Mosca’s
7:15 pm ~ Dinner at Mosca’s
Step just outside New Orleans to Mosca’s in Westwego, a wood-paneled time capsule serving Creole-Italian classics since 1946. Enjoy family-style favorites like Oysters Mosca, Chicken a la Grande, and Spaghetti Bordelaise, all made the same way they’ve been for generations. No trends, no frills, just great food and a welcoming, timeless atmosphere.
Mosca’s
10:00 pm ~ Live music on Frenchmen or Maple Leaf
description
Live music