No visit to New Orleans would be complete without a stroll through the French Market, a six-block stretch of retail shops, restaurants, cafes, a farmers and flea market and more. It's one of the oldest U.S. public markets, dating back to 1791, when it was founded as a Native American trading post. The French Market also hosts a variety of special events, musical concerts, cooking demonstrations and festivals. Within the farmer's market, you'll find lots of good things to eat -- everything from gourmet wine and cheese and spices you can take home with you, to fresh, locally grown produce. For your shopping pleasure, the retail shops sell children and adult clothing, toys, home accessories and other items. You'll definitely want to save some money for the flea market, with its rotating roster of vendors where you can find reasonably-priced art, jewelry, clothing and more.
Parking and public transportation at The French Market
The French Market Corporation has three lots for visitor use: the Main French Marketing Lot, behind the retail shops on Decatur St., the Farmers Market Lot and the Farmers Market Annex. Rates are typical for this area; you'll pay in the $12.00 - $20.00 range for 8 hours, depending on which lot you use. There are also numerous third-party lots , metered parking and some free parking in the Marigny area near Elysian Fields Ave and N. Peters. You can also access the market via public transportation on either the Riverfront Streetcar, the Marigny-Bywater ( #5) or the Elysian Fields (#55) bus.
Best and worst time to go to The French Market
A stroll through the French Market is always a pleasant experience but one of the best times to visit is when there's a free event , like a musical performance or a cooking demonstration. During major festivals like the French Quarter Festival, the Creole Tomato Festival and during Mardi Gras, it can get super crowded, really fast, so keep this in mind before you head out. Weekends, especially when the weather is nice, you can also expect thicker crowds.
Admission to The French Market
Admission to this open air market is free. The farmers and flea market is open daily, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. The retail shops are open daily from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Cafe Du Monde is open 24-hours.
Must see/do at The French Market
Many people come to the French Market to shop, I come for the praline's from Loretta's. If you've never have pralines before, this is the place to find out what all the fuss is about. The Organic Banana is a good place to get a smoothie, a daiquiri or other refreshing beverages. If you're looking to take home a piece of New Orleans, try the Dutch Alley Artists Co-Op , a gallery operated by a group of local artists.
Other places to visit near The French Market
This area overflows with great places to visit. Start with a trip to The Old U.S. Mint, it's a great little historical museum, offering free admission. Preservation Hall is the place to hear authentic New Orleans Jazz music, so be sure to catch one of their nightly concerts (all ages welcome). Before you leave New Orleans, you must try our famous muffaletta and the best place to snag one is where they originated, Central Grocery, a short walk from the French Market.
Insider tip for visitors to The French Market
Some of the vendors in the flea market sell the same merchandise, so if you see something you like, shop around first before you purchase because you might find a better deal at a different stall.
Author's bio: Myra Faye Turner lives and writes from New Orleans. On any given Sunday, when the weather's nice, you just might find her strolling throw the French Market.
Seaport Village is located in downtown San Diego within walking distance of the trolley, the San Diego Convention Center and local hotels. The 90,000 square feet waterfront property was built as a car-free village with winding paths that connects the various freestanding buildings bordered by ponds, lakes, fountains and colorful, lush landscaping. The village houses over 70 shops, galleries and eateries. Shops are geared toward tourists, but there are entertainment options for everyone. Parents can fly kites with their kids, pet owners can walk along the waterfront and adults can stop for a drink at one of the many outdoor patios on the boardwalk.
Parking and public transportation at Seaport Village
Take the trolley and walk to Seaport Village (about 15 minutes from the station) or drive and park in their adjacent parking lot. Guests pay $4 for the first 3 hours with validation and $3 every 30 minutes thereafter. The nearby hotels and cruise ships have shuttles that run every 15 minutes for their guests.
Best and worst times to go to Seaport Village
Best time to avoid the crowds and traffic is on a weekday, so come by from Monday through Thursday. Weekends at Seaport Village are overly crowded and it's very difficult to park, because there's a combination of tourists and locals visiting the village and attending outdoor events, but you can take the bus or trolley to save time. The worst time to go to Seaport is in late July when the San Diego Comic-Con convention is in town. Both public transportation and traffic are insane during that event.
Admission to Seaport Village
Admission is free at Seaport Village. It's open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and restaurants have extended hours. You can just walk from your nearby hotel, trolley stop or from the convention center without any restrictions.
Must see/do at Seaport Village
- Indulge in a scone and coffee at Upstart Crow Coffee House.
- Enjoy free concerts. Every Sunday at Seaport Village live music plays at the East Plaza Gazebo from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Don't miss Kite Flite. A kid-friendly place to buy kites that lets "fly before you buy," in front of the store.
Other places to visit near Seaport Village
- Visit the cafe aboard the adjacent U.S.S. Midway aircraft carrier museum. Walk up the Seaport Village boardwalk to get to the museum, which is just one-half mile away.
- Raise your glass and sip in style at the top of the Manchester Grand Hyatt hotel. The tallest waterfront hotel on the West Coast has a spectacular view of the San Diego Bay.
- Enjoy a night of dancing in the nearby Gaslamp Quarter. There's entertainment and nightlife venues for everyone.
Insider tip for visitors to Seaport Village
Greek Islands Cafe has amazing gyro sandwiches at affordable prices. The service is really fast (even during the Comic-Con convention) and you'll get plenty of food. My favorite part is enjoying my sandwich and beer at their outdoor patio right on the water.
Author's bio: Rose Wheeler has lived in San Diego for over nine years. She's been published in "La Jolla Patch," "Global Post" and "Yahoo." Her blog regularly features great local finds and trending style tips.
Woodland Park Crossing is a one-stop shopping destination. It offers everything from eateries and fitness centers to retail shops. Some of the businesses operating at this location include Starbucks, Sleepy's, Moe's Southwest Grill, Chevy Chase Bank, Panera Bread, Bubbles Hair Salon, Next Day Blinds, Neibauer Dental Care, L.A. Boxing and Down Dog Yoga.
