Local Guide
The first things to know about New Orleans.
A quick read before you go deeper. Everyday life, eating out, staying social, and the planning piece worth watching. Each one links to a source.
Everyday life
Walk the oaks at City Park
It is a shady, flat place to walk every day without paying a dime.
Source: New Orleans City Park
Eating out and guests
Antoine's in the French Quarter
It is the kind of special-occasion room where people have been bringing family for generations.
Source: Antoine's Restaurant
Staying social
City Park Pickleball Courts
These are real dedicated courts in a central park, not lined-over tennis.
Source: City Park Pickleball Courts
Worth watching
Free Medicare help from Louisiana SHIIP
Free, unbiased Medicare help means you do not have to sort the plans alone.
Source: Louisiana SHIIP Medicare counseling
Move tools
Thinking about moving to New Orleans? Run the rough math first.
Use these quick checks to test New Orleans as a retirement move. They are not the full map; they help you decide what deserves a deeper look.
Tax and Medicare
Check the New Orleans income picture.
Estimate how Louisiana treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Not taxed
Pension
Check exemptions
IRA / 401(k)
Generally taxed
Mortgage
Test the payment or refi
Compare a current mortgage against a new rate, closing costs, and break-even timing.
Open mortgage checkWeather fit
Mild most of the year
New Orleans has a weather profile that can support outdoor routines without making the best week the whole story.
Avg
67°
Sun
216
Rain
102
Snow
0
Things to do
Things to do in New Orleans
Parks, trails, classes, and easy outings for an ordinary week.
New Orleans City Park
Walk the oaks at City Park
City Park is one of the largest urban parks in the country, with ancient live oaks, lagoons, and walking paths. It is free to wander and bigger than New York's Central Park.
Why it matters
It is a shady, flat place to walk every day without paying a dime.
New Orleans Museum of Art & Besthoff Sculpture Garden
NOMA and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden
The New Orleans Museum of Art sits inside City Park, and right beside it the free Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden winds through the oaks with modern sculpture.
Why it matters
The sculpture garden is free and an easy, calm stroll any afternoon.
New Orleans Botanical Garden
New Orleans Botanical Garden
Also inside City Park, the Botanical Garden mixes formal beds, a conservatory, and the old WPA-era stonework. It is a quiet break from the bustle.
Why it matters
It is a gentle, well-kept garden for an unhurried morning outdoors.
Audubon Zoo & Audubon Park
Audubon Zoo and Audubon Park Uptown
Uptown's Audubon Park has an oak-lined loop for walking right outside the zoo gates. The Audubon Zoo's Louisiana Swamp exhibit shows off local gators and wildlife.
Why it matters
The park loop is free and shaded, and the zoo is an easy outing with visiting grandkids.
Frenchmen Street live music (Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, d.b.a.)
Live music on Frenchmen Street
Just past the Quarter, Frenchmen Street is where locals go to hear jazz. The Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, and d.b.a. all have nightly live music, often with no cover.
Why it matters
You can hear top-notch jazz most nights without a ticket or a long drive.
Browse by activity
Mapped places near New Orleans. Tap a category to open the full list with directions.
Golf
Public, resort, and municipal courses near retirement towns.
10 places tracked
Fishing
Boat ramps, piers, lakes, and shore access.
28 places tracked
Hiking trails
Named trails, parks, and nature reserves for a real walk.
15 places tracked
Boating and water
Marinas, ramps, and launches for getting on the water.
33 places tracked
Pickleball
Courts and public places to play.
5 places tracked
Gardening
Community gardens, botanical gardens, and places to dig in.
3 places tracked
Arts and culture
Museums, galleries, theaters, and cultural stops.
94 places tracked
Community
Senior centers, community centers, and places to meet people.
12 places tracked
Birding
Top-rated birding hotspots from the eBird community.
162 places tracked
Where to eat
Where to eat
Local spots for an easy dinner or a visit from family. Rough prices included.
Antoine's Restaurant
Antoine's in the French Quarter
Antoine's has been run by the same family since 1840, which makes it the oldest restaurant in town. The French-Creole menu and the old dining rooms feel like stepping back a hundred years.
Approx. price
$$$
Known for
Oysters Rockefeller, which was invented here
Why it matters
It is the kind of special-occasion room where people have been bringing family for generations.
Commander's Palace
Commander's Palace in the Garden District
This bright blue-and-white landmark is famous for turtle soup and 25-cent martinis at lunch. The Garden District setting under the oaks is half the fun.
Approx. price
$$$
Known for
Turtle soup and bread pudding souffle
Why it matters
It is a dress-up lunch spot locals still treat as a celebration, decades on.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Parkway Bakery & Tavern for po-boys
Parkway near Bayou St. John is the go-to for a fried shrimp or roast beef po-boy dressed with gravy. Folks line up at the counter and eat on the patio.
Approx. price
$
Known for
Roast beef po-boy with extra gravy
Why it matters
It is a casual, cash-friendly neighborhood stop, not a tourist trap.
Li'l Dizzy's Cafe
Li'l Dizzy's Cafe in Treme
A Treme institution since 1947, Li'l Dizzy's is known for fried chicken, gumbo, and a buffet of Creole soul food. The Baquet family runs the room and knows the regulars.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Fried chicken and the gumbo
Why it matters
It is a warm, no-fuss lunch where you taste the city's everyday cooking.
Cafe du Monde
Cafe du Monde by the river
The original stand at the French Market has served beignets and chicory coffee around the clock for over 150 years. You get three hot beignets buried in powdered sugar.
Approx. price
$
Known for
Beignets with a cafe au lait
Why it matters
It is cheap, open late, and an easy morning ritual a few blocks from the river.
Galatoire's Restaurant
Galatoire's on Bourbon Street
Galatoire's has anchored a quiet stretch of Bourbon Street since 1905. The Friday lunch in the downstairs dining room is a long-standing New Orleans social tradition.
Approx. price
$$$
Known for
Shrimp remoulade and trout meuniere
Why it matters
It is old-school French-Creole where the long Friday lunch is the whole point.
Pickleball and rec
Pickleball in New Orleans
Where to play, drop in, and meet people. Court times, fees, and how busy it gets.
City Park Pickleball Courts
City Park Pickleball Courts
City Park has four dedicated outdoor hard courts with permanent lines and nets. You can reserve a court, and there are lockers and food nearby.
Why it matters
These are real dedicated courts in a central park, not lined-over tennis.
The Exchange Pickleball + Bar
The Exchange Pickleball + Bar
The Exchange is the area's dedicated pickleball spot, with air-conditioned indoor courts plus an outdoor court, all anchored by a full bar and food.
Why it matters
Indoor air conditioning means you can keep playing through the brutal summers.
NOLA PicklePlex
NOLA PicklePlex on Jefferson Highway
NOLA PicklePlex has seven indoor courts at 500 Jefferson Highway, with certified instructors and room for small or big groups. Good spot for lessons.
Why it matters
If you are just learning, the instructors here make it easy to start.
Mike Miley Playground (Metairie)
Mike Miley Playground in Metairie
A short drive from the city in Metairie, Mike Miley has newer covered outdoor courts. Players love it because the cover keeps the sun off and it is free.
Why it matters
Covered and free is a rare combination, well worth the short drive.
Morris Jeff / Pontchartrain Park public courts
Morris Jeff Recreation Center courts
The Morris Jeff Recreation Center on General Meyer Avenue has public courts for drop-in play, one of several city recreation centers offering pickleball.
Why it matters
It is a simple public option close in, no membership needed.
Pontchartrain Park free courts
Pontchartrain Park free courts
Pontchartrain Park at 6514 Congress Drive has free pickleball courts in a historic Gentilly neighborhood park, one of several no-cost spots around town.
Why it matters
It is free and in a neighborhood park, easy for a casual game.
Senior help and discounts
Help and discounts for New Orleans seniors
Programs, classes, free city services, seasonal help, and useful local deals.
New Orleans Council on Aging
New Orleans Council on Aging senior centers
NOCOA runs several senior centers across town, including Carrollton Hollygrove on Hamilton Street and Pontchartrain Park on Congress Drive, open weekdays for meals, classes, and social time. There is even a 70-plus member community choir.
Why it matters
These centers are an easy first stop for meals, friends, and free activities.
What’s coming up
What’s coming up in New Orleans
Local events worth putting on the calendar. Check the host page for dates and parking before you go.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
April 23 to May 3, 2026
Daytime, gates around 11 a.m.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
When
Jazz Fest fills the Fair Grounds Race Course with music across many stages plus food and crafts. It runs over two long weekends each spring.
Why it matters
It is the city's signature festival, and daytime sets are easy to enjoy at your own pace.
Mardi Gras (Carnival season)
Fat Tuesday is February 9, 2027
Parades day and evening
Mardi Gras and Carnival season
When
Carnival builds for weeks with parades rolling through the neighborhoods before Fat Tuesday. The next Fat Tuesday lands on February 9, 2027.
Why it matters
Many parade routes are family-friendly and far calmer than Bourbon Street.
French Quarter Festival
April 16 to 19, 2026
Daytime into evening
French Quarter Festival
When
French Quarter Fest is billed as the largest free showcase of Louisiana music and food, spread across stages all over the Quarter and the riverfront.
Why it matters
It is free, walkable, and a relaxed way to hear local music in spring.
ESSENCE Festival of Culture
July 3 to 5, 2026
Daytime expo, evening concerts
ESSENCE Festival of Culture
When
Every Fourth of July weekend, Essence Fest fills the Caesars Superdome with concerts plus daytime panels and a free expo celebrating Black culture.
Why it matters
The daytime expo is free and a big draw for a holiday-weekend crowd.
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
October 9 to 11, 2026
Daytime into evening
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
When
This free fall festival packs Lafayette Square with blues bands across two stages and plenty of barbecue. Admission is free for all three days.
Why it matters
Free admission and easy seating make it a low-key fall weekend out.
YLC Wednesday at the Square
Wednesdays, March 11 to May 6, 2026
5 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday at the Square free concerts
When
Each spring, YLC Wednesday at the Square brings free live music to Lafayette Square downtown on Wednesday evenings, with local acts and food vendors.
Why it matters
A free standing weeknight concert downtown is an easy regular outing.
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
Sunday, November 1, 2026
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
When
The Oak Street Po-Boy Festival takes over several blocks of Oak Street in Carrollton with po-boy vendors, music, and a big neighborhood crowd. The 18th annual is set for November 1, 2026.
Why it matters
It is a one-day, walkable street fair built entirely around the city's favorite sandwich.
Crescent City Farmers Market
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays year round
Tue and Sun 8 a.m. to noon, Thu 3 to 7 p.m.
Crescent City Farmers Market
When
The Crescent City Farmers Market runs three weekly markets: Uptown at the Batture on Tuesdays, Mid-City on the Lafitte Greenway on Thursdays, and City Park on Sundays.
Why it matters
Three days a week means a regular spot for local produce and a stroll.
Worth knowing
Worth knowing about the area
City services, neighborhood updates, seasonal notes, and the everyday details that matter.
Louisiana SHIIP Medicare counseling
Free Medicare help from Louisiana SHIIP
The Louisiana Department of Insurance runs SHIIP, which gives free and unbiased Medicare counseling by phone or in person. They help with plan choices during open enrollment.
Why it matters
Free, unbiased Medicare help means you do not have to sort the plans alone.
City decisions
City decisions to watch
Council agendas, hearings, and public meetings that can change access, housing, services, or costs.
Orleans Parish Assessor's Office
How property taxes work in Orleans Parish
The Orleans Parish Assessor handles home values and exemptions. Every homeowner gets a homestead exemption on the first $75,000 of market value, and seniors who qualify can lock in a Special Assessment Level that freezes their assessed value.
Why it matters
The senior assessment freeze can keep your tax bill steady as values rise around you.
Health and Medicare
Health and Medicare
Care, Medicare counseling, caregiver help, transportation, and the local senior support to line up.
Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans
Ochsner Medical Center anchors local care
Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans is the flagship of Ochsner Health, the largest health system in the region, with specialty care and a wide network of clinics across the metro.
Why it matters
Having a large hospital system nearby matters for specialists and ongoing care.
Upcoming events in New Orleans
See all eventsMusic & concerts
7:30 PM
Jefferson Perf Arts Center · New Orleans, LA
2026 New Orleans Beatles Fest
Jefferson Perf Arts Center
WCA Entertainment and The Legacy Tribute Series present - For twenty-three years, The New Orleans Beatles Festival has served as one of the world's most anticipated Beatles celebrations in North America. Founded by Chuck Credo IV, "Beatles Fest" has brought together local, regional, and national...
Music & concerts
8:30 PM
The Porch at The Howlin Wolf · New Orleans, LA
Hidanny!! & Friends
The Porch at The Howlin Wolf
Hidanny!! is coming to The Howlin Wolf! Hidanny!! is a Haitian-American Indie artist whose sound has been described as Indie-Pop, Indie-Rock and Bedroom Pop! We have a couple of other bands joining the show! Grab your tickets and be on the lookout for updates!
Music & concerts
9 PM
NO DICE · New Orleans, LA
Assembly
NO DICE
consisting of members travis, trevor, and jaron, hey thanks. proves to consistently redefine their sonic landscape through each and every release.fascinated by the soundscapes of the late 70sreaching into the early 90s,the band has sought out to pull from everycorner of their influences.originall...
Tastings
4:30 PM
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro · New Orleans, LA
Teena May
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro
Teena May*Happy Hour Concert Series* featuring Teena MayTeena May, is an alt-Country, Folk, Americana, Neo Soul singer-songwriter based in New Orleans. Her band performs original acoustic guitar-led stories alongside fiddle, upright bass and percussion. She is also the co-founder of BlackAmerican...
Music & concerts
7:30 PM
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro · New Orleans, LA
Dr. Michael White's Original Liberty Jazz Band
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro
Dr. Michael White's Original Liberty Jazz BandDr. Michael White is a renowned clarinetist, bandleader, composer, historian, and educator regarded as a leading authority of traditional New Orleans jazz. In 2015 he produced and performed on New Orleans Brass Bands: Through the Streets of the City f...
Music & concerts
7:30 PM
Jefferson Perf Arts Center · New Orleans, LA
2026 New Orleans Beatles Fest
Jefferson Perf Arts Center
WCA Entertainment and The Legacy Tribute Series present - For twenty-three years, The New Orleans Beatles Festival has served as one of the world's most anticipated Beatles celebrations in North America. Founded by Chuck Credo IV, "Beatles Fest" has brought together local, regional, and national...
Common questions
What people ask before retiring in New Orleans
Short answers to the questions most people ask first. The full source trail sits in the guide above and the sources panel below.
Is New Orleans, LA a good place to retire?
Plenty of people do retire here, so it is a real option worth a look. What matters is whether the home costs, the health and senior support, the things to do, and the family side all fit your life. Not just how it ranks on a list somewhere.
Source: Antoine's RestaurantWhat costs should you check before moving to New Orleans?
Price the month, not the postcard. Keep separate lines for home, property taxes, insurance, utilities, getting around, health, and everyday spending. A low-tax headline can quietly hide a high insurance bill, or the other way around.
Source: Orleans Parish Assessor's OfficeWhere do you find things to do in New Orleans?
Start with parks and rec, the local event calendar, the visitor bureau, the senior center, and the restaurants people actually go to. The real question is whether they are close enough, and happen often enough, that you would use them all year. Not just visit once.
Source: Antoine's RestaurantWhat health and senior support matters in New Orleans?
Look at Medicare counseling, the nearby hospitals, pharmacies, ways to get around, caregiver help, and one emergency contact. These can decide whether the move works, even when the rest of life looks great on paper.
Source: New Orleans Council on AgingWhat should your family ask before you move to New Orleans?
Talk through driving, airport access, local services, who to call in an emergency, care backup, home upkeep, and how often someone would be needed. The point is to see the move as a real support plan, not just a nice address.
Source: Orleans Parish Assessor's OfficeRetirement Life Score
A quick read on the life you would actually live.
New Orleans scored across eight things that decide whether a move feels good: monthly affordability, home costs, restaurants and outings, activities, parks, health and senior support, weather, and getting around. The full numbers are below.
New Orleans Retirement Life Score
80
Strong fit with tradeoffs / 75-84
Outdoors is the strongest daily-life fit. Home costs is the piece to verify before treating the move as settled.
A city looks livable and useful for many retirees, but one or two planning areas need a closer look.
Strongest fit: Parks & outdoor life
Verify first: Home, taxes & insurance
Everyday affordability
Counts a lot77/100
How the ordinary monthly life could feel once taxes, insurance, fees, utilities, meals, and errands are in view.
What’s good: Lower-tax signals, visible discounts or free programs, ordinary-cost dining and errands, and practical transportation backup.
What to check: High housing pressure, insurance or storm costs, HOA or assessment friction, resort pricing, and thin cost evidence.
Price the month, not the postcard.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Walk the oaks at City Park · Watch: New Orleans City Park
Evidence weighed: Tax, housing, insurance, senior-service, transportation, and local deal sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Home, taxes & insurance
Counts a lot48/100
Property taxes, assessments, homeowners insurance, storm exposure, maintenance, and local housing friction.
What’s good: Clear assessor or property-appraiser sources, homestead or senior relief signals, and plain-language housing-cost context.
What to check: Coastal or wildfire exposure, insurance pressure, high home prices, amenity fees, HOA or district assessments, and missing local tax sources.
Separate the house from the lifestyle.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Free Medicare help from Louisiana SHIIP · Watch: Orleans Parish Assessor's Office
Evidence weighed: County assessor, property appraiser, tax collector, insurance, emergency management, and housing sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Restaurants & outings
89/100
Restaurants, coffee, arts, downtown meals, family visits, and low-friction places to go without over-planning.
What’s good: Specific restaurants, coffee shops, arts districts, downtown routines, visitor-hosting ideas, and source links that feel repeatable.
What to check: Only generic visitor copy, heavy seasonal crowds, hard parking, expensive dining signals, or no specific local outing ideas.
Look for repeatable evenings, not only famous spots.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Antoine's in the French Quarter · Watch: Antoine's Restaurant
Evidence weighed: Restaurant sites, tourism boards, chambers, downtown groups, event venues, and local dining guides.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Activities & social calendar
92/100
Events, clubs, classes, pickleball, senior programs, volunteer options, and the weekly social rhythm.
What’s good: Dated events, parks and rec classes, senior-center programming, clubs, pickleball options, volunteer leads, and repeatable weekly activities.
What to check: Undated or stale calendars, few senior-friendly programs, heat or traffic timing issues, and no clear way to register or show up.
Make sure the week has more than errands.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Walk the oaks at City Park · Watch: Galatoire's Restaurant
Evidence weighed: City calendars, recreation departments, senior centers, libraries, clubs, parks districts, and community event pages.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Parks & outdoor life
94/100
Parks, trails, beaches, gardens, preserves, water access, golf, and everyday outdoor routines.
What’s good: Specific parks, trails, beaches, gardens, water access, golf, outdoor classes, and low-friction places to be outside often.
What to check: Extreme heat, smoke, flooding, storm seasons, winter driving, crowding, parking friction, or thin park-level detail.
Check whether outdoor life works in the season you will actually live there.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Commander's Palace in the Garden District · Watch: Commander's Palace
Evidence weighed: Parks departments, park districts, conservancies, recreation sources, tourism sources, and trail or beach authorities.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Health & support access
Counts a lot74/100
Medicare help, aging agencies, caregiver backup, transportation support, pharmacies, and local service depth.
What’s good: Area Agency on Aging, SHIP or SHINE counseling, senior services, caregiver support, transportation help, and credible health-resource depth.
What to check: Weak care-radius evidence, no benefits counseling source, unclear transportation backup, or hints that specialist access requires long drives.
Do not let a fun town hide a weak care radius.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Morris Jeff Recreation Center courts · Watch: New Orleans Council on Aging
Evidence weighed: Area Agencies on Aging, county health and human services, senior services, Medicare counseling, transit, and hospital or clinic sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Weather comfort
79/100
Heat, storms, flooding, smoke, winter, seasonal swings, and how much resilience planning the move demands.
What’s good: Evidence that outdoor life works in ordinary seasons, plus clear planning sources for heat, storms, winter, smoke, or emergency readiness.
What to check: Sustained heat, hurricane or flood exposure, wildfire or smoke risk, winter driving, evacuation complexity, and missing resilience sources.
Plan the hard season, not the best week.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Commander's Palace in the Garden District · Watch: Commander's Palace · 67F annual average, 216 sunny days
Evidence weighed: Emergency management, weather-resilience, utility, health, parks, insurance, and local government sources.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Getting around & family visits
73/100
Driving, parking, airport access, golf-cart life, visitor logistics, medical trips, and family backup.
What’s good: Airport or transit access, shuttle or senior transportation, walkable routines, golf-cart usefulness, and simple family-visit logistics.
What to check: Traffic, parking scarcity, seasonal congestion, night-driving issues, long medical trips, or no car-light backup.
Test the drive on an ordinary Tuesday.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: New Orleans Council on Aging senior centers · Watch: Frenchmen Street live music (Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, d.b.a.)
Evidence weighed: Transit agencies, airports, city transportation pages, senior services, tourism access pages, and guide items with location detail.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
How we keep this current
Sources for New Orleans
A mix of city pages, community calendars, senior services, council agendas, official tourism, restaurant sites, and registration pages. Every claim above links to where it came from.
See the 29 sources behind this guideEvery claim above links to where it came from.ShowHide
community / weekly
Antoine's Restaurant
Best-of list naming Antoine's, the oldest family-run restaurant in the city, plus other Creole landmarks.
community / weekly
Commander's Palace
Local foodie group discussing the turtle soup and Garden District landmark.
community / weekly
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Yelp best po-boy list topped by Parkway Bakery & Tavern.
community / weekly
Li'l Dizzy's Cafe
Eater map calling Li'l Dizzy's a Treme institution since 1947.
community / weekly
Cafe du Monde
History and description of the beignets and chicory coffee at Cafe du Monde.
community / weekly
Galatoire's Restaurant
Best-of restaurant list including Galatoire's, the classic French Quarter Friday lunch spot.
institutional / weekly
New Orleans City Park
Official City Park site listing the gardens, oaks, and free activities.
institutional / weekly
New Orleans Museum of Art & Besthoff Sculpture Garden
Tripadvisor City Park list ranking NOMA and the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.
institutional / weekly
New Orleans Botanical Garden
City Park official site listing the Botanical Garden among its attractions.
institutional / weekly
Audubon Zoo & Audubon Park
Audubon Nature Institute site for the zoo, aquarium, and Uptown park trails.
community / weekly
Frenchmen Street live music (Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, d.b.a.)
Local guide naming the Spotted Cat, Snug Harbor, and d.b.a. as the best-known live music clubs.
community / weekly
City Park Pickleball Courts
Pickleheads listing four dedicated outdoor hard courts at City Park.
community / weekly
The Exchange Pickleball + Bar
Dedicated indoor and outdoor pickleball facility with a full-service bar.
community / weekly
NOLA PicklePlex
Seven indoor courts with certified instructors at 500 Jefferson Highway.
community / weekly
Mike Miley Playground (Metairie)
Reddit pickleball thread recommending the free covered courts at Mike Miley in Metairie.
local-media / weekly
Morris Jeff / Pontchartrain Park public courts
Nola.com roundup of public pickleball options including Morris Jeff and area recreation centers.
community / weekly
Pontchartrain Park free courts
Bounce list of free New Orleans courts including Pontchartrain Park.
institutional / weekly
New Orleans Council on Aging
NOCOA senior center locations and hours, including Carrollton Hollygrove and Pontchartrain Park.
institutional / weekly
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
JamBase festival page with the April 23 to May 3, 2026 dates.
institutional / weekly
Mardi Gras (Carnival season)
Official visitor site confirming Mardi Gras 2027 falls on Tuesday, February 9.
institutional / weekly
French Quarter Festival
Visitor bureau page listing French Quarter Fest April 16 to 19, 2026.
community / weekly
YLC Wednesday at the Square
Official lineup page with the March 11 through May 6 Wednesday concert dates.
institutional / weekly
ESSENCE Festival of Culture
Official Essence site with July 3 to 5, 2026 dates at the Caesars Superdome.
institutional / weekly
Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival
Jazz & Heritage Foundation page with the free October 9 to 11, 2026 festival in Lafayette Square.
community / weekly
Oak Street Po-Boy Festival
Official Po-Boy Fest site listing the 18th annual festival on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
community / weekly
Crescent City Farmers Market
Market Umbrella site with the Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday market days and hours.
official / weekly
Orleans Parish Assessor's Office
Assessor page explaining the homestead exemption and the senior Special Assessment Level freeze.
institutional / weekly
Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans
Ochsner's flagship New Orleans hospital and the region's largest health system.
official / weekly
Louisiana SHIIP Medicare counseling
Louisiana Department of Insurance free, unbiased Medicare counseling for seniors.
Activities & recreation in New Orleans
What there is to do here, with the sources.
The things people retire for, in New Orleans. Each links to the full activity guide and the states that fit it.
New Orleans City Park's lagoon system allows freshwater fishing with a valid Louisiana freshwater license from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; no fishing is permitted on golf course water features. Lake Pontchartrain, classified as a saltwater fishery, requires both a basic fishing license and a saltwater stamp for fishing from its shoreline and canals.
Published local price
Louisiana Basic Fishing License (freshwater), resident rate; includes all legal recreational freshwater gear; senior (born before June 1, 1940) free; senior (born June 1, 1940-May 31, 1962) $5
Published range: $5 to $17.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries - License and Permit Fee List · as of 2025The Barataria Preserve unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, about 20 miles southwest of the French Quarter, has nearly 9 miles of boardwalk and earthen trails through cypress-tupelo swamp, marsh, and upland forest. The National Park Service offers a free visitor center film and guided ranger walks; no admission fee is charged.
Published local price
Louisiana State Parks day-use entrance fee per person; free for seniors 62 and older and children 3 and under; $100 annual park pass covers all sites for 12 months
Louisiana State Parks - Fees and Facilities · as of 2025Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge on New Orleans' eastern edge provides non-motorized paddling access with launches near the south end of the Highway 11 bridge over Lake Pontchartrain. Jefferson Parish maintains coastal marina access on both Lake Pontchartrain and Bayou Segnette, with detailed marina listings on visitjeffersonparish.com.
Published local price
Louisiana vessel registration fee by length; Class A (under 16 ft) $36; Class I (16-25 ft 11 in) $57; Class II (26-39 ft 11 in) $78; Class III (40 ft+) $99; registration valid three years
Published range: $36 to $99.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries - Title or Register Your Boat · as of 2025The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) offers pickleball at multiple recreation center locations including Atkinson Stern Center, Gernon Brown Rec Center, and Joe W. Brown Memorial Park, with scheduled open-play times posted at nordc.org. The New Orleans JCC in Metairie also offers open pickleball during gym hours for members.
New Orleans Recreation Development CommissionThe New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) in City Park is the city's oldest fine arts institution, founded in 1911, and offers free outdoor access to its 5-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden seven days a week. The Ogden Museum of Southern Art on Camp Street specializes in the visual culture of the American South and hosts live music events on Thursday evenings.
New Orleans Museum of ArtThe New Orleans Council on Aging (nocoa.org) provides essential services including senior center programming, meals, and safety support for older residents across the city. NORDC operates dedicated senior activity programming for adults 55 and older, and the City's Senior Citizen Engagement initiative through the Mayor's Office connects adults 62 and older to resources and volunteer opportunities.
New Orleans Council on AgingBayou Oaks at City Park (1 Palm Dr.) is New Orleans' flagship public golf facility, featuring an 18-hole championship course redesigned in 2017 by Rees Jones with wide, forgiving fairways and challenging bunkering. Audubon Park Golf Course, a shorter par-62 layout in Uptown, offers a more accessible option with an annual membership available through Audubon Nature Institute.
Bayou Oaks at City ParkThe New Orleans Botanical Garden inside City Park spans 10 acres with more than 2,000 plant varieties and hosts regular Master Gardener talks presented by the Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans (mggno.com). The MGGNO program, started in 1998 through LSU AgCenter's Orleans Parish extension, coordinates educational garden projects and volunteer opportunities city-wide.
New Orleans City Park - Botanical GardenGolf
Golf near New Orleans
Courses around New Orleans worth a round, with how to book each one.
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,425 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Pete Dye bayou layout with water on five holes and deep bunkering · Pete Dye
This is the Pete Dye course that hosts the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic each spring in Avondale, just across the river. It plays long from the tips, but the forward tees and wide bayou corridors give you room to enjoy the day.
Opened 2004 · $$$$ · Slope 135
Photo: Spatms (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,078 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Jack Nicklaus design with water on 17 holes and a par 5 island green · Jack Nicklaus
A private Jack Nicklaus club on the West Bank with water on nearly every hole and a memorable island green at the 15th. If you can get on as a member's guest, it is one of the most polished tests in the area.
Opened 1988 · Slope 140
Photo: Spatms (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,297 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Wide forgiving fairways with bunkers and water hazards in historic City Park · Rees Jones
This is the city's flagship muni, redesigned by Rees Jones in 2017 right in the middle of City Park. The fairways are wide and friendly, so you can swing freely while the back tees still give you all the test you want.
Opened 2017 · $$ · Slope 128
Photo: Spatms (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)Course profile
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 6,665 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Flat parkland muni rebuilt after Katrina in historic Pontchartrain Park · Garrett Gill
A friendly city muni in Pontchartrain Park, rebuilt and reopened after Hurricane Katrina. The terrain is gentle and the rates stay easy, which makes it a comfortable place to walk a regular weekday round.
$
- Par
- 62
- Back tees
- 4,220 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Short par 62 set among century old oaks with four lagoons · Denis Griffiths
A short, walkable par 62 tucked under hundred year old oaks just minutes from downtown, first opened in 1898 and redesigned in 2001. It is easy on the legs and a lovely place to spend a relaxed morning.
Opened 1898 · $$
Photo: Spatms (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,031 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Links style layout with five sets of tees on the West Bank · John Robinson
Often called the best value on the West Bank, Stonebridge is an open links style course with five sets of tees in nearby Gretna. The variety of tees lets you pick a comfortable length and keep the round moving.
$$ · Slope 135
Photo: Stonebridge Golf Club of New Orleans (official site)