New Orleans SmartHunts®

New Orleans offers a great variety of landmarks and culture!
Blending fun, exploration, and corporate teambuilding, SmartHunts® are an experience that will have your team buzzing with excitement. SmartHunts can customize your event to include much of what New Orleans has to offer, including world-class riverfront, restaurants, music, entertainment, as well as highlighting the features of New Orleans eclectic mix of modern and historic culture. SmartHunts will take your team on a New Orleans scavenger hunt journey through this great city.
Whether your team is local to the New Orleans area, or visiting from out-of-town, the SmartHunts team can create a fresh experience for your group. SmartHunts offers a unique corporate adventure tailored just for you and can take your group on any combination neighborhoods & landmarks, including:

1. French Quarter
   French Quarter is located along the Mississippi River extending from Canal St north to Esplanade Ave, then inland to N Rampart St and is the perfect location for a SmartHunts’ New Orleans scavenger hunt!

   Points of interest In French Quarter (but not on Bourbon Street)

   Saenger Theatre – 1111 Canal St – 1927 Neoclassical style Atmospheric performing arts theater listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina for a hefty $53 million. Gorgeous though.

   Tennessee Williams’ House – 1014 Dumaine St. 19th-century Historical Landmark in which the incomparable author lived from 1962 until his death in 1983.

   Museum of Death – 227 Dauphine St – Serial killer memorabilia, letters, crime scene photos etc.

   Palace Cafe – 605 Canal St – Gourmet Creole, great ambiance.

   New Orleans Welcome Center – 701 Canal St – local info, coupon books etc.

   Hotel Monteleone – 214 Royal St – 1886 Luxury hotel, famous hang out for southern authors, carousel piano bar and lounge, still family owned and operated. Haunted.

   Cafe Beignet – 334 Royal St – beignets are deep fried pastries with or without filling, sprinkled with powdered sugar.

   Hermann-Grima House – 820 St Louis St – restored 1831 home with Federal-style facade, now a museum.

   Omni Royal Orleans – 621 St Louis St – exquisite luxury hotel.

   Preservation Hall – 726 St Peter – historic music venue.

   Gumbo Shop – 630 St Peter – name says it all!

   St. Louis Cathedral – 615 Pere Antoine Alley – Oldest cathedral in continuous use in North America, founded as a Catholic Parish in 1720. A must see.

   New Orleans Pharmacy Museum – 514 Chartres St – 1823, first licensed apothecary shop with displays of early remedies and voodoo potions.

   The Cabildo – 701 Chartres St – Louisiana State Museum, originally the seat of Spanish colonial city hall, built in the 1790s, where the Louisiana Purchase was finalized in 1803, thus doubling the size of the nation.

   The Presbytere – 751 Chartres St – Louisiana State Museum built in 1813 to match the Cabildo and together they flank St. Louis Cathedral. Katrina exhibits.

   Danny Barker Birthplace – 1207 Chartres St – birthplace of a legendary jazz musician, educator and storyteller, the “Banjo King of New Orleans”. 1909-1994.

   Old Ursuline Convent Museum – 1100 Chartres St – the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley, French Colonial, Neoclassical built in 1745 as a hospital, orphanage and girls school.

   Beauregard-Keyes House and Gardens – 1113 Chartres St – National Historic Landmark, now a museum, built in 1826 in the “raised cottage” design.

   LaLaurie Mansion – 1138 Royal St – 1832 Neoclassical home of serial killer Delphine LaLaurie.

   Gallier House – 1132 Royal St – 1861 Victorian townhouse – ornate wrought-iron work.

   Secondline Arts And Antiques – 1209 Decatur St – 8000 sq ft of interesting and eclectic treasures.

   Old U.S. Mint – 400 Esplanade Ave – 1835 Greek Revival – a branch of the US Mint from 1838-1909 producing 400+ million gold and silver coins, now the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

   New Orleans Jazz Museum – 400 Esplanade Ave – dedicated to preservation & education. Exhibits, concerts, instruments, history and artifacts.

   Joan of Arc Statue – Place de France, Decatur St. cast by a French sculptor in the 1880s this statue celebrates the Maid of Orleans’ continuous fight against the British in the 1400s.

   Dutch Alley Artists Co-op – 912 N Peters St – regional arts and crafts.

   New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park – 916 N Peters St – daily live music.

   Evans Creole Candy Factory – 848 Decatur St – handmade sweets since 1900.

   Cafe Du Monde – 800 Decatur St – open-air cafe and Beignet shop since 1862.

   Vieux Carre Gallery – 507 St Ann St – Fine arts.
   1850 House – 523 St Ann St – museum representing period domestic and decorative arts and furnishings of the upper-middle-class.

   Pat O’Brien’s – 600 Decatur St – home of hurricane cocktails and a flaming fountain.

   Steamboat Natchez – 400 Toulouse St – authentic Mississippi River steamboat

   Old Man River Statue – Woldenberg Park – 18 ft, 17-ton stylized sculpture reflecting “the river’s embrace of the city”.

   Crescent City Brewhouse – 527 Decatur St – microbrewery with a courtyard and nightly live jazz.

   Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. – no explanation necessary!

   House of Blues New Orleans – 225 Decatur St – southern food, live music, craft cocktails.

   Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar – 509 Canal St – Creole, Cajun and Oyster bar in historic 1820s building, said to be the oldest on Canal St.

   Audubon Aquarium – 1 Canal St – temporarily closed, scheduled to reopen in mid 2023 after $41M renovation that combines it into one facility with the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium.

   Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium – see above

   New Orleans Holocaust Memorial – River St – kinetic public art piece commemorating the victims of the Nazis between 1933-1845.
2. Bourbon Street Area
   There are so many places to see here on your New Orleans scavenger hunt including…

   Acme Oyster House – 724 Iberville St – fresh seafood, Creole and Cajun classics.

   Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar – 739 Iberville St – local seafood, fresh-shucked oysters & Creole staples.

   Hard Rock Cafe New Orleans – 125 Bourbon St – no description necessary!

   Bourbon House – 144 Bourbon St – seafood, Creole, raw oyster bar with a view.

   Galatoires – 209 Bourbon St – upscale century-old institution serving French-Creole fare.

   Beach On Bourbon – 227 Bourbon St – largest dance floor on Bourbon Street.

   Bourbon Street Harley-Davidson – 235 Bourbon St – clothing & accessories.

   Old Absinthe House – 240 Bourbon St – 200-year-old bar and historical landmark.

   Bourbon Cowboy – 241 Bourbon St – permanently closed.

   Musical Legends Park – 311 Bourbon St – small park, life-size bronze statues of local musicians, live music daily from 10am until closing.

   Royal Sonesta New Orleans – 300 Bourbon St – upscale hotel, awesome balcony.

   Famous Door – 339 Bourbon St – open since 1934, the oldest music club on Bourbon Street.

   Oceana Grill – 739 Conti St Bourbon St – Creole and Louisiana cuisine, crab cakes and gumbo.

   The Swamp – 516 Bourbon St – permanently closed.

   Spirits On Bourbon – 615 Bourbon St – Lively, signature cocktails, dueling pianos, Cajun style grub.

   Krazy Korner – 640 Bourbon St – enduring bar & music venue with jazz & blues bands and a balcony.

   The World-Famous Cat’s Meow – 701 Bourbon St – lively karaoke bar with a balcony.

   The Courtyard Grill at Bourbon Heat – 711 Bourbon St – DJ club with laser show and balcony.

   New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum – 724 Dumaine St – opened in 1972. Dedicated to the history, culture and preservation of New Orleans’ voodoo practices. Educational exhibits, artifacts and folklore.

   Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar – 941 Bourbon St – built in the 1700s and purportedly used for smuggling and other nefarious pursuits by the Lafitte Brothers, Jean & Pierre. Rumors abound but little paperwork exists pertaining to the goings on at 941 Bourbon St until the mid 1940s when it became Cafe Lafitte. Fast forward…it’s a unique bar and restaurant with historical significance and ambiance. It is also said to be haunted.
3. Canal Street
   Canal Street is the boundary between the French Quarter and the Central Business and Warehouse Districts and is considered to be the “Fifth Avenue” of New Orleans.

   High-end department stores such as Saks Fifth Ave, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, upscale shops, unique boutiques, craft cocktail bars, wine bars, nightclubs, cafes, restaurants, theaters and luxury hotels line this busy thoroughfare. Check out the Shops at Canal Place at 333 Canal St

   The Canal Streetcar Line operates a 5-mile route from the foot of Canal Street up to City Park Avenue and is your second-best mode of travel, next to walking, as driving can be difficult in this area.
4. Louis Armstrong Park
   Louis Armstrong Park is a 31-acre public park located just north of French Quarter at 701 N Rampart in the Treme neighborhood. Built to celebrate the life and contributions of the great “Satchmo” it was host to the first New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1970 and offers a welcome respite from the busy surrounding areas.

   A Tivoli Gardens styled arched entryway leads to tree-lined pathways, ornate bridges, the glorious Antique Rose Garden, duck ponds, a lagoon, fountain and a sculpture garden, which includes a glass sculpture of the iconic French Opera House which burned in 1919.

   The park’s southwest corner encompasses Congo Square which was a meeting and marketplace for slaves to socialize and buy and sell goods on Sunday, their day off. They also played music, sang, danced and eventually attracted other townspeople and visitors. Congo Square significantly influenced African American music and is listed on the national register of Historic Places.

   Also located within Louis Armstrong Park:

   Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts – 1419 Basin St – severely damaged in 2005 by 14 ft of water during Katrina, it reopened in 2009.

   The New Orleans Municipal Auditorium – 1201 St Peter St – Opened in 1930 with Al Jolson as its first act and remained in use until severely damaged during Katrina. Several renovation plans have been scrapped and its fate remains undetermined.

   Located outside the park between N Rampart and N Claiborne:

   The Statue of Benito Juarez – 1200 Conti St – Benito Juarez was the president of Mexico from 1861-1872. He fought against foreign occupation of Mexico and for constitutional reforms that helped make Mexico a democratic republic. He fled to New Orleans in 1853 to escape imprisonment by dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (Remember the Alamo!), then again in 1858 during a regime change and returned to Mexico in 1861 to assume his role as president for the next 11 years.

   Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 – 425 Basin St – established in 1789, it is the oldest existing cemetery in New Orleans and the location of voodoo queen Marie Laveau’s Tomb.

   Saint Louis Cemetery No. 2 – 300 N Claiborne Ave – established in 1789, final resting place of Danny and wife Louisa “Blue Lu” Barker. Closed to the public due to vandalism.
5. Jackson Square
   Jackson Square is located between Decatur and Chartres and St Peter and St Ann Streets in the French Quarter.

   This 2.5-acre green space was built in 1721 and known as Plaza de Armas until changed to Jackson Square in 1815 in honor of Andrew Jackson’s heroic role in the Battle of New Orleans. It is the oldest public park in the city and in 1960 received National Historic Landmark status.

   An impressive bronze statue of Andrew Jackson on horseback sits atop a pedestal in the center of the square and stunning views of St Louis Cathedral, The Presbytere, The Cabildo and The Pontalba Buildings surround the square.

   Chartres, St. Peter and St. Ann Streets have been closed to traffic since 1971 transforming the square into a charming pedestrian mall complete with slate flagstone pavers, formal gardens, oak shaded walkways, benches and a fountain.
   It is also home to an open-air artist colony!
6. Woldenberg Park
   Woldenberg Park is located at 1 Canal St between French Quarter and the Mississippi River and extends from the Audubon Aquarium up to St Louis St.

   This 16-acre riverfront park was created in the 1980s on land previously inhabited by disused warehouses and wharves has been reborn with a handsome bricked promenade, seating areas, public art and sculptures.

   This restful green space offers sweeping panoramic views of the Mississippi and a reprieve from the busy surrounding areas.

   The French Quarter Festival is held here each April and The New Orleans Oyster Festival each spring and concerts are a regular occurrence in the open-air amphitheatre
7. Warehouse District
   Warehouse District is located within the Central Business District between Poydras St and the Pontchartrain Expressway and the Mississippi River and route 90.

   As has happened in districts of this type in cities all over the country, this area has also been reimagined into an awesome, artsy, eclectic and exciting mix of the past and the present.

   Brick warehouses have been transformed into lofts, apartments, condos, storefronts and restaurants. The cobblestone streets remain and are lined with cafes, boutiques, fresh produce vendors, hotels and art galleries. Below are just a few of this area’s many points of interest.

   Julia St – there are dozens of art galleries on and around Julia St.

   Harrah’s Casino New Orleans – 228 Poydras St – Casino, hotel, restaurants.

   Preservation Resource Center – 923 Tchoupitoulas St – promotes, preserves and restores historic architecture and neighborhoods.

   Louisiana Children’s Museum – 15 Henry Thomas Dr – interactive exhibits, art studio etc.
   Ogden Museum of Southern Art – 925 Camp St – the most extensive collection of southern art in the world.

   National WWII Museum – 945 Magazine St – five pavilions – 250,000 artifacts.

   Smoothie King Center – 1501 Dave Dixon Dr – multi-use indoor arena next to…

   Caesars Superdome – 1500 Sugar Bowl Dr – home to the New Orleans Saints.

   Champions Square – Lasalle St – outdoor festival plaza and amphitheater.

   St Patrick’s Church – 724 Camp St – 1840 Gothic style Catholic Church, designed and built by Irish immigrant James Gallier.

   Gallier Hall – 545 St Charles St – mid-19th century Greek Revival, formerly New Orleans City Hall, adjacent to Lafayette Square, also designed and built by James Gallier.

   Lafayette Square – S Maestri Place – designed in 1788 and eventually named for the Marquis de Lafayette who, although French, fought with the Americans during the American Revolutionary War. It is the 2nd oldest park in New Orleans. Concerts, festivals and civic events regularly occur.

   Benjamin Franklin Monument – on the east side of Lafayette Park facing Camp St, a gift to the city from retired Chicago Businessman Henry Wadsworth Gustine in 1926.

   Riverwalk Shopping Mall – 500 Port of New Orleans Pl – Outlet with 75+ retailers and restaurants right on the Mississippi River.
8. Mississippi River
   The Mississippi River is the second longest river in North America, beginning in Minnesota near the Canadian border and terminating at the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana.

   – It has been and remains to this day a crucial commercial shipping waterway.
   – It has over 40 ports and harbors and passes through 10 states and 5 major cities.
   – Its widest point is 11+ miles.
   – It is home to 300+ species of fish.
   – It takes 3 months for water to travel the river’s entire length.
   – Its deepest part is at Algiers Point in New Orleans and flows so quickly that you can’t swim in it.
   – It provides drinking water and hydroelectric power to millions of people.
   – The Great River Road, created in 1938, traverses along nearly the entire river.
   – The Algonquin Indians called it “big” (misi) “water” (sipi).
   – Only 2 people have swum the entire length of the river.
   – It is also known as Old Man River.