ay 1: You will be spending the entire day in the French Quarter and on the Riverfront. A suggested route is shown above. Start the day with a good breakfast at your lodging, or, if you're staying in the French Quarter, take a walk to the Cafe' du Monde for some beignets and coffee. If you're staying outside of the French Quarter, you will have to find a way to the French Quarter. Head to Jackson Square and St Louis Cathedral to marvel at one of the most famous views in the world. This area will be the center of your visit, and a good meeting place if you decide to split up. Start your tour by going to the Cabildo, the heart of New Orleans' colonial government, then the Presbytere to catch the month's display of historic artifacts and the Mardi Gras Museum. Take one of the house tours if you can squeeze it in, and shop the shops of Royal Street and Chartres Street. Grab a po-boy or some gunbo at one of the great restaurants located in the Vieux Carre, then get on a horse-drawn carriage for an interesting tour of the French Quarter. In the afternoon, walk around any parts of the Quarter that you haven't seen; its many hidden courtyards and patios will delight you. As nighfall approaches, sit, relax, and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the Vieux Carre at dusk. For dinner, choose any of the many fine restaurants scattered throughout the Quarter; there are dozens. After dinner, take a walk down Bourbon Street and have a drink at a jazz club, or visit Pat O'Brien's for a Hurricane.