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Streets can also be closed to vehicles depending on time of day or special events (like French Quarter Fest). Other than 6 blocks of Decatur St (by Jackson Square), every street is a one-way and there are many stop signs.
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If you do drive within the Quarter, motoring around can be a very slow process. Walking into the Quarter from the river or Rampart, Canal has panhandlers and pickpockets so take Bienville.
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Late at night and into the wee morning hours, Decatur is the best choice as you'll still find someone on foot there regardless of the hour. To avoid the crush, take Dauphine it runs parallel to the above streets, is just 1 block from Bourbon, is more beautiful and is family friendly.
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Walking in the Quarter, Bourbon Street's clubs, Royal's antique shops/art galleries and Decatur's proximity to the river make these sidewalks crowded with throngs of people. To get from Dauphine to Decatur, some cyclists ride Canal St but Gravier is just 2 blocks further, has a fraction of the vehicular traffic and a dedicated bike lane. Riding bikes in the Quarter, Dauphine St, Esplanade Ave, Royal St and sections of Decatur St all are bike routes and have been repaved with bicycle arrows. Depending on how hot and humid it is during your stay, this could be brutal. If you walked every block, you'd travel about 10 miles. Once you reach the French Quarter, the best ways to get around are by rental bike, pedicab, mule drawn carriage or on foot. The heart of the Quarter is Jackson Square (listed below), which is on the river side of the Quarter, not in the neighborhood's physical center. From the Mississippi River to Rampart St., the Quarter is about a mile deep. to Esplanade Ave., the Quarter is 1 mile wide. From the airport, take a shuttle bus (there's also a mass transit bus but it takes longer and does not run as often).įrom Canal St. Via Greyhound or Amtrak, walk a mile up Loyola Ave or take the streetcar. From Uptown or Mid City, the streetcar is typically the easiest way to the Quarter. Jackson Square is the historic heart of the French Quarter Get in, get around ĭriving in on Interstate 10, take the Orleans Avenue or Vieux Carre exit. The "Upper Quarter" (between Canal Street and Jackson Square) is the area most patronized by visitors, but the "Lower Quarter" (between Jackson Square and Esplanade Avenue) also has shops and restaurants sprinkled amongst the residences. If you've been drinking, a cab is advisable. Take care walking at night, particularly on dark or deserted streets. Occasional trips to other parts of town can be made by streetcar or cab. Parking is difficult, expensive, or both. If the French Quarter is your headquarters, consider leaving your car behind and not bothering to rent one if your health permits a few blocks walk. One can spend an enjoyable vacation here without leaving it for several days. The French Quarter or "Vieux Carre" ("old square" in French) stretches along the Mississippi River from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue (13 blocks long) and back from the Mississippi to Rampart Street (6 blocks wide). While it has many hotels, restaurants, and businesses catering to visitors, it is best appreciated when you recall that it is still a functioning mixed-use residential/commercial neighborhood where locals live. It was laid out in French and Spanish colonial times in the 18th century. The French Quarter is the oldest and most famous and visited neighborhood of New Orleans.