The Spanish moss can be quite haunting. Swamp tours are available, but you can take your own boat and go exploring through the shadows and mists if you dare. Hop on one of the steamboats gliding down the Mississippi River if you feel like letting someone else steer that day. You might even get in a little gambling. New Orleans definitely has a feeling of historic significance, but it's also a bustling city of today.
Modern conveniences are always nearby.
This is the home of Loyola University, the Aquarium of the Americas, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. For travelers who fancy flora and fauna, there is the Audubon Zoological Garden. Sports enthusiasts will definitely appreciate the Louisiana Superdome, home of the Sugar Bowl. The modern skyline is an obvious giveaway that this is no backwater burg. Just sit back and be amazed at how the people of New Orleans effortlessly make an art out of pleasure.