Sherman's Travel

With New Orleans’ party-hearty spirit, it comes as a surprise to some that the cocktail wasn’t invented in the city where the good times roll 24/7. Even so, cocktails were perfected in the Crescent City – home to some of the most beloved beverages in the country. Read more

Itching to get away before the summer crowds flock to the nation’s most popular destinations? We’ve rounded up the best last-minute deals to urban centers across the U.S. and Canada, so you can explore the continent’s most popular cities while saving big bucks this spring. Read more

The time has finally come. For too long we’ve stood on the sidelines, lungs filled with frigid air, pushing away the icy hands of doubt in hopes of reaching this moment. After months of preparation, with blood, sweat, and tears poured into the effort, the world will be watching with bated breath as, finally, Beyonce performs in New Orleans’ Mercedes-Benz Superdome for her Super Bowl half time spectacular. Oh, and there’s also some kind of game? That’s probably worth your attention, too.

The NFL season will reach its dramatic conclusion this Sunday at the biggest game of the year, and the match-up between the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers (and head coaches/brothers John and Jim Harbaugh) promises to be a barnburner. The Super Bowl is one of America’s most iconic, beloved events, and there is no better city to play host than New Orleans. But even the most ardent football fans can have a tough time justifying shelling out thousands for a single night of transcendent glory (or blistering defeat, depending on which side your team winds up). Tickets to the game can be hard to come by, and net a pretty penny – the lowest-priced tickets are still going for $1,600. Not to mention, you’ll have to account for the costs of hotel and travel, both of which are expected to spike.

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New Orleans is a city of legend, filled with a culture all its own, universally hailed food, and conventions galore. If you end up in the Big Easy for business, however, it’s easy to miss out on some of the city’s charm. In an effort to get you outside of the boardroom and into the real New Orleans, we’re offering up two restaurants, two attractions, and one bar that you can hit with just a few extra hours between meetings.

If you’re given the chance to pick an eatery for dinner, or you’re able to sneak out on your own for a meal, you shouldn’t leave New Orleans without visiting the Acme Oyster House. It’s planted squarely in the French Quarter, so the walk to its front door is just as enjoyable as the meal you’ll have inside. It’s a moderately priced seafood joint, serving up precisely the kind of grub you’d expect to find in the heart of Bayou Country. Seasoned shrimp and gigantic oysters flow like wine, and, while you could arguably find superior food for more money elsewhere, the communal atmosphere plays a huge part in the recommendation. For a few hours, you’ll be a local. Read more

The Monday after Thanksgiving – also known at Cyber Monday – is the biggest online shopping day of the year. This year, hotels and resorts are joining in on the shopping spree with one-day only online discounts. On November 28, 2011 only, book the New Orleans Marriott on Canal Street and pay only $79 per night – an incredible savings of 33% on the hotel’s seasonal rates.

This one-day sale is available for travel on select dates from December 8, 2011 through September 20, 2012.

The New Orleans Marriott sits at the center of the action, located in the middle of the historic French Quarter and overlooking lively Bourbon Street. Explore NoLa’s jazz culture, Cajun cuisine, and exciting mix of French sophistication and African-American energy. Take a riverboat down the Mississippi, or visit some of the sights only blocks from your hotel, including the Aquarium of the Americas and the boutiques and restaurants of Riverwalk Marketplace.

THE VALUE: Save up to 33% on stays through September of next year.

THE CATCH: Mark your calendars! This one-day sale is only live on November 28, 2011.

THE DETAILS: To book this deal, visit www.neworleansmarriott.com on November 28 only. No promotional code is required.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find low rates on flights to New Orleans. Then, check out our New Orleans Travel Guide to help plan your trip.

There’s never a bad time to visit New Orleans, but springtime, with Mardi Gras’ 40-day hangover almost over and summer’s heat not yet entrenched, is particularly splendid in the Crescent City. The magnolias are in bloom, Easter bonnets are being madly sewn, and the joie de vivre is coming back into play – especially when there’s money to be saved.

Now through May 31, the Bienville House is offering 20 percent savings on select mid-week dates. As one of the French Quarter’s grand dames and sister property of gay-managed Hotel Montelone, I found the hotel to be perfectly situated for whatever type of trip you were looking for: Culinary, party, culture, or, as is what makes NOLA truly great, a combo of the three. The offer isn’t valid for city-wide events – like Jazz Fest, from May 5 to 8 – but it’s those regular times when the ebb and flow is more manageable that the true soul of the city shines.

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As part of an ongoing effort to get Louisiana back on its feet post-Katrina, the state tourism board has crafted seven “culinary trails” to encourage visitors to taste their way through the diverse state. The suggested itineraries – each intended to fill a three-day visit – are not just lists of popular eateries but rather an eclectic collection of hole-in-the-wall cafés and upscale restaurants, food festivals and farm stands, bakeries and seafood joints. The Creole Fusion Trail reveals the best po’ boy in the Big Easy; Red River Riches offers a stop at a picturesque pecan orchard near Natchitoches; and Capital Cuisine recommends pairing a tasty crawfish pirogue (crawfish étouffée in a pastry crust) with a mint julep at a 149-year-old mansion outside Baton Rouge.

From the Feb/March 2009 issue of Sherman’s Travel magazine.