We are getting so excited to meet you in New Orleans for our upcoming Converge 2015 conference. While the days will be chock-full of learning what’s new and next in higher education, you’ll also have an entire city to explore – New Orleans is a vibrant and rich community full of diverse activities.

The Classics

• Enjoy a beignet at Café du Monde. These square, fried pieces of dough are covered in powdered sugar and pair well with New Orleans’s traditional chicory coffee.
• Stroll down Bourbon Street. Located in the historic French Quarter, Bourbon Street dates back to 1798, when New Orleans was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. Bourbon Street is the perfect place to people watch and celebrate New Orleans’s rich history.
• Visit the Jackson Square. Originally called Place d’Armes, the Jackson Square is in the heart of the French Quarter. Trees and greenery surround the square, and at the center is a statue of General Andrew Jackson. The square is also home to the St. Louis Cathedral, an iconic New Orleans attraction.
• Hop on a street car! Getting around New Orleans by street car is a great way to see the city. Never called trolleys, these streetcars date back to the early 1920’s. New Orleanians take pride that the street cars were the first city west of the Allegheny Mountains to implement a passenger rail service. There are five lines in the city – the Canal Streetcar-Cemeteries, the Canal Streetcar-City Park/Museums, the Riverfront Streetcar, the St. Charles Streetcar and the Loyola-UPT Streetcar.

The Museums

• The National World War II Museum: Originally called the D-Day Museum, the National World War II Museum opened in 2000 to honor the generation that sacrificed so much for our freedom. The museum has been rated the #1 tourist attraction in the city and holds TripAdvisor’s #4 spot as one of the best museums in the country.
• New Orleans Museum of Art: This museum opened in 1911 with only 9 works of art. New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) is well known for its French and American art and has over 40,000 pieces in its permanent collection. NOMA also includes a five-acre sculpture garden, one of the most important sculpture installations in the US.
• Mardi Gras World: Perhaps the most famous event to take place in the city is Mardi Gras. Because not everyone can experience it first hand, Mardi Gras World brings the celebration to life year-round. On display are huge floats, costumes, and figures that give you a good sense of the color, size and imagination that attract tourists each year.

The Culture

• Take a tour. Experience all the city has to offer by taking a Tastebud Tour. You’ll walk through the city and enjoy everything from po’boys to pralines. The tours last two to three hours, depending on the option you choose, and take you through some of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods. The history of New Orleans is full of spooky stories and the cemeteries are full of of unique, ornate tombs – some of which date back to the 1700’s. There are two great tours that will take you through two of the most famous cemeteries – St. Louis Cemetery #1 (home to the Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau) and Lafayette Cemetery (a popular location for movies to shoot).
• Try a John Besh restaurant. NOLA is home to many celebrity chefs, and John Besh is one of the best. If you’re looking for fine dining, make a reservation at August. Craving pizza? Try Domenica. John Besh grew up in southern Louisiana and has nine critically acclaimed restaurants in the city.
• New Orleans and jazz go hand in hand. The famous Spotted Cat Music Club is a great place to catch a local jazz band. The Cat, as locals know it, is located in the heart of the Faubourg Marigny District.

The Great Outdoors

• Audubon Park: New Orleans may be known for great cuisine, celebrations on Bourbon Street and the live music scene, but it has much more to offer. If you’re looking for a great place to run or walk in the city Audubon Park has a two-mile path that it is ideal for a morning jog or walk. The path wraps around a Par 62 golf course and circles between Magazine Street and St. Charles Avenue.
• The Lake Front: If you’re looking for scenery that features the water, the path alongside Lake Pontchartrain is for you. The warm breezes coming off of the second largest salt water lake in the country provide an ideal setting for a nice stroll in the evening on Lakeside Drive.
• City Park: Located in the heart of the city, City Park is full of trails and bike paths. The park features a lake with paddle boats and is the city’s largest outdoor attraction. The iconic oak trees and moss canopies create a serene place to unwind in the heart of the vibrant city.

We couldn’t have picked a better host city for our Converge 2015 conference – and we are so excited to see you there!

If you have any questions about our conference, drop us a note atevents@convergeconsulting.org.