Compared to the more evocative monikers of some other parts of New Orleans, the downtown’s humdrum title might suggest that this area is all about business and little else. But don’t let the bland name keep you away from the Central Business District. The CBD offers a wide range of fun things to do that would be touted as exceptional in less jubilant corners of the world. Bordered by the French Quarter, the Arts District and Tremé, with the river at its eastern extreme, this hub for sports, gaming, shopping, theatre, family-friendly activities, and amazing regional cuisine makes a smart base wherever your interests lie.

A small and teeming network of laissez-faire living lounged out on the balmy banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the French Quarter has long been a port of call for folks in search of a good time and a great story. Perpetually inebriated Bourbon Street runs across its midriff like a strand of cheap ribbon tied around an otherwise rather pretty and impressively well-kept vintage dress. Throughout the rest of the Quarter, brightly colored Victorian homes and businesses, famously done up with wrought-iron features, provide a distinct and immediately recognizable backdrop for all varieties of fun. At any given moment in this historic riverside setting, some of America’s finest meals are being cooked, most potent cocktails are being mixed, and most engaging music is being performed.

People focus too much on the hardships so closely associated with this well known working class neighborhood when what’s really most remarkable about the tightknit community is its indefatigable spirit of rebirth and ability to stay true to its roots. Perhaps not an ideal destination for those visitors who tend to keep well within their comfort zones when traveling or those with bucket lists filled to the brim with top tourist attractions, the Ninth Ward is nonetheless there for those who are most keen to discover the places they encounter. But it’s not all about learning lessons when going to the Ninth Ward. With its “Living Museum” and “steamboat houses” and a long enduring dedication to preserving local culture, there’s more than enough to see and do during a daytime tour of the area.