Bourbon Street, New Orleans (must see)

If you're feeling adventurous, set aside your reservations, take a deep breath, and wander down Bourbon Street — New Orleans’ famous carnival of bars, restaurants, music clubs, adult shops, novelty stores, and some decisions best discussed the next morning... This street has earned its reputation as the playground of the South — honestly, loudly, and probably with a drink in one hand...

After Hurricane Katrina, Bourbon’s bars were among the first businesses in town to reopen, helping bring life, noise, and cash flow back into the French Quarter. Today, the revelry is still very much alive. Crowds roll through, jazz spills from doorways, balconies lean into the action, and the street seems permanently set to “festive, but questionable.”

Some of the city’s most famous drinking spots are here. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, at the corner of Saint Philip Street, looks like it has seen three centuries of secrets and decided to keep most of them. The Old Absinthe House is known as the birthplace of the Absinthe House Frappe, a drink with enough history to sound educational and enough alcohol to make that history pleasantly blurry.

Lafitte in Exile, often described as the oldest gay bar in the United States, adds its own literary sparkle, having welcomed Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote among its regulars. For jazz, head to Fritzel’s European Jazz Pub, set in an almost 200-year-old building and still hosting live music every night of the week.

Still, Bourbon Street is not only about partying. Behind the neon, beads, and general mayhem, there are historic buildings and surprisingly refined addresses. The Royal Sonesta Hotel brings a touch of classic elegance, while Galatoire’s restaurant serves French Creole cuisine with old-school polish. Just remember: jackets are required, so maybe save the feather boa for later...

By day, Bourbon Street can be surprisingly manageable, with food stops, art shops, and historic façades waiting behind the party reputation. By night, all bets are off. Lights flash, music competes from every direction, mysterious aromas rise from the pavement, and the whole street becomes a sensory obstacle course with cocktails.

Once here, you may want to try the famous Hand Grenade drink — but do so carefully, because it didn't get its name for being subtle... And one final bit of street wisdom: do not photograph performers unless you plan to tip them.