8 COVID-Friendly Things to Do in New Orleans

8 COVID-Friendly Things to Do in New Orleans

 
October 31, 2021

We’re excited to be back together in-person this coming March in New Orleans at Global Surgical Conference & Expo 2022. The celebratory city provides the perfect backdrop to re-connect with peers from around the world. While attending the conference, be sure to make some time to enjoy the sights and sounds of The Big Easy.

We rounded up our favorite experiences in the city – with a COVID-friendly twist. Here are the top spots to schedule into your trip for safe and fun meet-ups, or for a little “me” time.

1. Explore City Park
   A visit to City Park, which spans from Bayou St. John to Lake Pontchartrain, will give you a breath of fresh air. The park is home to the city’s Botanical Garden, Couturie Forest, and Arboretum, as well as the largest grove of mature love oak trees in the world, with some that are 800 years old. Look over this map to plan your park visit.
2. Cruise the Mississippi
   Live music, Cajun cuisine, and stunning views of the Mississippi and the city can all be enjoyed from a paddlewheel steamboat. Historic tours on the famous “large river” are offered daily from the riverfront area, including a dinner and jazz trip on the Natchez steamboat.
3. Take a Food Walking Tour
   Famed French Quarter culinary delights such as seafood gumbo and Creole brisket can be sampled in a small group tour while you also learn the history of this famed NOLA neighborhood.
4. Order In
   Enjoy culinary treasures from the French Market District restaurants that offer delivery from services such as DoorDash or Uber Eats. For example, get your morning coffee NOLA style from the original Café Du Monde in the French Quarter delivered to your hotel or the conference center.
5. Kayak Around Town
   Explore the nature side of New Orleans from the quiet safety of a kayak on a New Orleans kayak tour that winds along the bayous of the Manchec Swamp. You are likely to see alligators, turtles and even otters along the way.
6. Enjoy Jazz Outside
   For music enthusiasts who want to pay tribute to the birthplace of jazz, there are many different venues to catch local musicians in the comfort of an outdoor patio. Try Frenchmen Street with a two-block stretch in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood where live music can be found any night of the week.
7. Visit a Backyard Bar
   Wine connoisseurs will enjoy the garden vibe of Bacchanal. Those looking for local beer tasting can try the outdoor beer park at Faubourg Brewery. Both feature food and live music.
8. Find a Quiet Moment
   For many nurses, their time in New Orleans will be their first get-away since the pandemic hit. Take a moment of respite during your conference trip to enjoy the architectural splendor of the famed St. Louis Cathedral on the Mississippi River or walk the outdoor path at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

Check for the latest health safety requirements before you arrive, and don’t forget to bring your AORN mask you will receive at conference check-in to show your periop nursing pride around town.

Registration opens this week for AORN Global Surgical Conference & Expo.