Visit the Big Easy

New Orleans has had more than its share of struggles in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but the good news is that the city has steadily been getting back on in its feet and it remains one of the preeminent vacation destinations in America.

New Orleans has so much to offer it almost isn’t fair to everyone else. It starts with the rich culture that is evident everywhere you look, and like all great cities, there is a certain indescribable vibrancy present in the very air around you that makes every minute of your stay in the Big Easy buzzing with excitement.

This year is a particularly memorable one for the citizens of New Orleans, because their beloved Saints were able to capture their first Super Bowl Championship, and given all that the city has been through you have to feel good for them. Besides the Who Dat bunch, New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz, and you can hear the sounds of southern fried music seeping out of the clubs day and night. In fact, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival is coming up on April 23 through May 3, and here are a few of the artists who will be there: Pearl Jam, Simon & Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, The Neville Brothers, Lionel Richie, Anita Baker, The Allman Brothers Band, My Morning Jacket, Widespread Panic, and the list goes on and on.

It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to attend special events in New Orleans like Jazzfest and the Mardi Gras, but indeed, this incredibly diverse and unique city is a great place to visit any time, and the lesser crowds during “ordinary” times of the year offer appeal as well. The food is absolutely unbelievable, the music is legendary, and the vibe is stellar, so make your plans and tap into the essence of New Orleans, Louisiana, a true American