ther important areas contained within the city limits are the Uptown and Mid-City areas. The Uptown district covers the western half of the river's wide crescent and is comprised of the University and Carrollton areas, and the formerly incorporated city of Lafayette. The University section includes Tulane and Loyola Universities, two of the most prestigious schools in the country, and Audubon Park, home of the world-famous Audubon Zoological Park. It is basically a quiet genteel neighborhood with shops and coffeehouses mixed together with upscale and middle class homes. Carrollton and Lafayette, both formerly incorporated cities, are basically the same but on a lower scale. These areas are mostly residential, with few attractions aside from the several good restaurants and shops. Mid-City includes the area north of Claiborne Avenue, encompassing most of the rest of New Orleans up to City Park. This is generally where you would find the middle and lower class neighborhoods that make up the majority of the population. Canal Street is its main thoroughfare, bisecting it in half as it continues all the way to its end at the cemeteries (not seen on this map). Further north from here are the City Park and the Lakeview and Gentilly areas.

The final items of this orientation are the major streets that the visitor should always be aware of, and they are: St Charles Avenue, (in blue below), Magazine Street (red), Canal Street (green), and Esplanade Avenue (yellow). St Charles Avenue and Magazine Street break the orderly pattern of streets in the original city grid and follow the wide curve of the Mississippi River, whereas Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue fan straight out from either side of the French Quarter, running parallel to one another. St Charles is a beautiful oak tree-lined boulevard, about 4 miles long, that is worth exploring for it's architecture alone. Many kings and queens of Carnival, city leaders, and pillars of society have built theirhomes on this interesting avenue. Magazine Street is lined with many art and antiques stores, and is worth a trip. Canal Street, named for the once-planned canal to be built in its place, is the widest main street in the country and one of the most active, drawing locals and visitors alike with many major stores and hotels. The foot of Canal Street is an especially busy area, with the new casino, Aquarium of the Americas, and the Riverwalk Shopping Mall. Last but not least is Esplanade Avenue. Deriving it's name from an esplanade for marching troops, this is another beautiful double street with large mansions on either side. It runs from the river in a northwest direction to end at City Park.

Now that you are more familiar with New Orleans and it's neighborhoods, you should almost know it like a native. Good luck!