The Big Easy-this is New Orleans, a city whose life will be forever intertwined with the Mississippi River. The city began as a tiny outpost for French convicts to a thriving metropolis that today is slowly coming to life after surviving the ravages of Hurricane Katrina.

New Orleans is well known for its multicultural and multi lingual heritage, colorful architechture, art and cuisine as well as for the Mardi Gras festival, a festival that' starts on the Feast of the Epiphany. Another major festival is the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which draws jazz enthusiasts from all over the country. Because the city was the only place where black slaves were allowed to gather and played their music, this led to the creation of jazz. Louis Armstrong is only one of the many famous jazz musicians to come from New Orleans. The festival not only features jazz but also a host of other music genres including Louisiana and international music.

New Orleans cuisine is also another thing that no visitor to the city should miss. Creole cuisine has a taste uniquely its own, influenced in part by French, Italian African, Native American, Cajun and Cuban cuisines mixed together to produce a distinct Louisiana flavor.