New Orleans is deservedly famous for its food. But the city鈥檚 many waterways, bike paths, and greenspaces are worthy, too鈥攁nd will help you earn those beignets.
6 a.m.听
Start your morning with a quick 1.8-mile run around the loop in Uptown鈥檚 Audubon Park, filled with herons, egrets, and centuries-old oaks.
8 a.m.听
Hit up on Jena Street for breakfast, where the menu is split between Good Cat (healthy) and Bad Cat (less so) options. Give in to sin and order the barbecue shrimp and grits.
10 a.m.听
Sign up with (from $37 for 75 minutes) to check out Bayou St. John in Mid-City. The canal is lined with historic homes and abuts 1,300-acre City Park.
12 p.m.听
Head to for a locals鈥-favorite po鈥檅oy. Top it off with a wedding-cake-flavored snowball鈥擭ew Orleans鈥檚 version of shaved ice鈥攁t nearby Pandora鈥檚.
1:30 p.m.听
It鈥檚 time to ride. Grab a Blue Bike from the city鈥檚 recently launched ($8 per hour) and hop on the Lafitte Greenway. The 2.6-mile converted rail corridor drops you in the French Quarter, but cycle on to explore Crescent Park, a 20-acre riverfront greenspace.
4 p.m.听
Drop your bags at the 听(from $143), reopened in 2016 after a $10 million face-lift. The Garden District property blends blue-blood style and New Orleans funk鈥攖he lounge features a portrait of native son Lil Wayne with a slice of the restaurant鈥檚 signature Mile High Pie.
7 p.m.听
Formerly a neighborhood market, serves up a distinctively New Orleans take on French bistro fare. Be sure to reserve a table in advance鈥攅xecutive chef and owner Justin Devillier has been nominated for the James Beard Award five times (and won it in 2016).
9 p.m.听
At , a wine-shop-cum-courtyard-hangout in the bohemian Bywater area, pick up a bottle on the way in and choose a spot close to the stage for live local music.
12 a.m.听
End the night with鈥攚hat else?鈥攂eignets from in the heart of the French Quarter. The 156-year-old landmark is open 24 hours, so we won鈥檛 judge if you count it as breakfast.