You can expect 100% humidity and mid 90 temps. Fortunately, the AC should be really good. So I definitely recommend dresses. I haven't been to NO in a really long time, so I can't recommend specific restaurants, but definitely have beignets with cafe au lait, a muffaletta (that's two separate meals), some sort of po-boy like shrimp and raw oysters if that's your thing. (Okay, I'm assuming you're not vegetarian.) I don't think you can go wrong with the food, but I find it to be very rich. Things to do include the market at the end of the French Quarter (I can't remember what it's called but there are cool shops in that area too) and Magazine Street which also has some great shops. (Like I said, it's been years since I was in NO, long before Katrina.)

I completely agree with the heat & the humidity ... dresses like Patience recommended would allow you to keep cool and still look nice. You'll need comfortable shoes because of all the walking.

I haven't been there in years either, but we enjoyed dinner cruise on a riverboat & toured the Superdome. My in-laws had a good time touring historic homes. And my SIL says they have an awesome zoo.

Thanks gals!

Melody brought up a great point about comfortable shoes because you *can* walk a lot in NO. However, you may not want to since it's so hot and muggy. :(

I forgot to mention my favorite-- gumbo. If you are vegetarian, I can ask my sister for restaurant recommendations. She is vegetarian and lived in NO for a few years after Katrina.

I also thought of the New Orleans Museum of Art. It's not that big, but in the past they've had some good exhibits. I'm sure they've got a website. Also the aquarium is good too, I think.

Happy 30th, Christie! Have a wonderful time :0)

Thanks, Angie!

Patience, I'm not a vegetarian, but I usually eat vegetarian (and fish, but not shellfish). Vegetarian suggestions would be lovely.

For gumbo, search for "gumbo z'herbes". Traditionally we eat it during Lent (specifically Good Friday). Dooky Chase was previously one of the few places to get it, but I believe that it's been closed (I left the country a few days after Katrina hit [a planned leave, as I was moving for work] and only go back once a year so don't get to check out all but my favorite restaurants then).

Some restaurants to definitely check out (all of these are downtown):
Herbsaint (don't forget to try its namesake, herbsaint, New Orleans' own pastis): 701 St Charles Ave (by Girod)
Galatoire's (make sure that your husband brings a jacket, but keep in mind that you may have to wait in line): 209 Bourbon St (by Iberville) -- try their turtle soup and the NOLA traditional cafe brulot
Brennan's: 417 Royal St (by Conti) -- try their seafood and okra gumbo, as well as the NOLA milk punch (but perhaps they're best known for bananas Foster ;)

If you're going to head toward City Park/the Museum, you could instead check out Ralph's on the Park (900 City Park Ave), another of the Brennan family restaurants. (My friends in the neighborhood would want me to preface this by asking you to please not sit on their front steps.)

Most of these have been Creole food (being a Creole myself, I'm partial ;P), but for Cajun food, if you're not going to head into Acadiana, you could always try out Mulate's (not my favorite for Cajun food, as it is a more middle Acadiana style than the Acadiana Coast style of my Cajun relatives that I prefer, but it is decent), located at 201 Julia St (by Convention Center Blvd). Their gumbo is very different, with a dark roux and poultry and seafood together, characteristic of the area. That said, their ecrevisses (crawfish) a l'etouffee is quite decent, as are their cuisses de grenouille. ;)

It's good that you'll be down there after August, as that's when most of the city restaurants close for the summer. It's far too miserable to be in NOLA in August (and, oh, how I hated waiting tables then!). Dresses are best, as are comfortable sandals. However, if you wish to go to nicer restaurants, a cardigan for yourself and trousers + jacket for your husband may be necessary.

My sister sent these links:

http://www.neworleansrestauran.....rants.html

http://www.frommers.com/destin.....nddin.html

She says NO isn't really a vegetarian kind of town, but if you eat fish, you'll be fine anywhere you go. Specifically, for vegetarian she suggested Old Dog, New Trick (I think I'm remembering this correctly) and Nirvana (Indian), but it seems like you really want Creole or Cajun when you're in NO. (I also prefer Creole, Therese.) Another famous one to add to Therese's list is Commander's Palace-- say yes to bread pudding.