Garden District: New Orleans

After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, wealthy Americans began moving to New Orleans and building large, showy mansions along St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District. A stroll through the Garden District reveals some of the most beautiful and dramatic architecture in the city, from gigantic Greek Revival and Victorian mansions to candy-colored shotguns and Southern cottages. Stop in the restaurants, bars, shops, and cafes along Magazine Street, or enjoy a five-star meal at the famous Commander's Palace. In the middle of the Garden District sits the historic Lafayette Cemetery, but be sure to visit in the morning; the cemetery closes at two p.m. each day. © NileGuide