The fabled city of New Orleans has a thriving culture which is completely unique to anywhere else in the USA.

It is famous for delicious down-home southern cooking, spicy Creole flavors, Spanish and French influences, a groovy jazz scene, friendly hospitality and of course for being one of the best places in the country to have a party.

The city of New Orleans is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the USA and with so many great concerts and festivals hosted here every year the saying goes that locals are always preparing for a party, celebrating one, or recovering from one.

If you plan a trip to “The Big Easy” this summer get ready to eat, drink and be merry.

However, if you are visiting from further north and you are not used to the hot and muggy temperatures of the south you might be quite overwhelmed when you arrive.

New Orleans can be extremely hot and muggy in the summertime with highs in the low 90s.

This can make sightseeing and enjoying New Orleans a sweaty and exhausting activity. Here are some tips for beating the heat during your visit to New Orleans this summer:

• Start your day as early and get in as much sightseeing as possible before the temperature starts to heat up. The mid to late afternoon will be the warmest part of the day.
• During the heat of the day, plan to retreat to an indoor attraction which will be air conditioned. For example, if you are interested in art you will love the New Orleans Museum of Art.
• Another great indoor attraction which will keep you cool is the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas which is located right on the riverfront of the Mississippi.
• Make sure that you drink lots of water to keep yourself hydrated in the heat. Also, wear sunscreen to protect your skin and loose fitting, lightweight clothing to keep you cool.
• One of the best New Orleans experiences it taking a cruise down the Mississippi on the Steamboat Natchez. The afternoon cruise can be a bit too warm in the summer, so opt for the dinnertime cruise instead when it will be cooler. The cruise has a live jazz band and you also get to hear a commentary about the sights you see as you float down the river.
• If you want to take your kids for a swim to cool off during your visit to New Orleans, there is a great family-friendly Water Park known as the Cool Zoo, complete with water spouts, an alligator slide and much more.
• Why not sit in the shade at one of the green and leafy parks in the city, such as Louis Armstrong Park, to listen to some live jazz music?
• Cool down with a nice cold refreshing drink at one of the many pubs on Bourbon Street, an exciting avenue dedicated completely to restaurants, bars and nightclubs creating the ultimate nightlife scene.

These are just a few of the ways that you can stay cool in New Orleans this summer while enjoying this hot destination!