Put on your walking shoes this morning as we will follow in the footsteps of historic figures. Stroll along the Mighty Mississippi, through the French Market and Jackson Square, then down by the quaint streets named for past saints and sinners. Learn about the Creoles that founded the city in 1718. See the old Quarter come to life as our guide explains its secrets the architecture, courtyards, gardens, food, music, and art.

Our tour will end at Cafe du Monde, famous for its Beignet, a square piece of dough, fried and covered with powdered sugar. The menu consists of dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, White and Chocolate Milk, and fresh squeezed Orange Juice. The coffee is served Black or Au Lait. Au Lait means that it is mixed half and half with hot milk. 

 Founded in 2000, the Krewe of Cork celebrates food, wine,  and fun with a spirited walking parade through the French Quarter at 3:00 pm. Krewe members wear costumes with a wine-related theme, toss throws bearing their grape logo, and are accompanied along their route by wine police in golf carts (the wine police motto is "To serve and pour”). The parade's Grand Marshal is a different vintage year, and the krewe stops in front of selected hotel restaurants for toasts.

A visit to New Orlean's famous “Cities of the Dead” is a must-do. Hauntingly beautiful and elaborately ornate, these cemeteries also hold stories of ghosts, past and present, which will chill you to the core. Tonight we will leave the French Quarter behind as our bus creeps along Esplanade Avenue to what used to be the edge of town but is now the bustling neighborhoods of Mid-City and City Park. There are 42 cemeteries in the New Orleans area, and throughout this experience, we will visit several of them. Our guide will discuss the unique burial rituals and practices during the stroll, as we are offered an up-close and personal look at some of the most popular cemeteries. 

After breakfast, we get to experience a bygone era at one of the South’s most photographed settings, Oak Alley Plantation. We will drive past Whitney, Evergreen, Felicity & St. Joseph Plantations, where rich crops of sugar cane, cotton, and indigo from these fertile lands once traveled to far ports of trade. Enjoy a panoramic view of Lake Pontchartrain as we cross the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Upon arrival at Oak Alley Plantation, marvel at the quarter-mile-long alley of 28 magnificent oak trees, each over 250 years old. Explore the plantation’s elegant yet somber history as we learn about the lives of former inhabitants, including slaves. 

Tour the perfectly restored rooms of the 1839 Greek Revival mansion, which you may recognize from movies like Interview with a Vampire and Primary Colors. A costumed guide shares  Oak Alley’s fascinating history, including stories of Creole plantation life before the Civil  War. Then explore the Plantation's other exhibits: Slavery at Oak Alley, Sugarcane Theater, People of Oak Alley, and the Blacksmith Shop and leave with a better understanding of this plantation’s complex history.

It’s a short ride to the Manchac Swamp where we will cruise through a wildlife refuge to view the majestic cypress trees in Louisiana’s swamps bordering the Mississippi River. Experience the timeless beauty of South Louisiana in a custom-built swamp boat as we ride through the water. Native guides will reveal to us the mysteries of the swamps and bayous and the Cajun "joie de vivre". We will observe the nesting grounds of alligators, egrets, raccoons, nutria, and many species of snakes. 

Experience Mardi Gras World, where over 500 floatsare  built and decorated each year. Here artists and craftsmen have designed and built the oldest and biggest parade floats and attractions.  Get an overview of the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans before we tour the float den. You can never get this close to the floats while they’re rolling in parades, and this is certainly the only place to see how these amazing pieces come to life each year.

Free afternoon to explore Bourbon Street and the French Quarter until we gather tonight for dinner. At 2:00 pm, you can enjoy the Mystic Krewe of Barkus Parade. Unlike other Mardi Gras parades: this one has gone to the dogs. Man’s best friend is the center of this parade through the streets of the French Quarter with their humans acting as their escorts.

Step back in time as we board a paddle wheeler for a true Creole evening out on the Mighty Mississippi River accompanied by the tunes of a Dixieland jazz band. Enjoy a Creole buffet dinner onboard filled with New Orleans classics. Take to the dance floor to move and groove to the sounds of Dixieland jazz or walk outside to enjoy the fresh air as we sail down the Mississippi at twilight. 

 Sorry to say but the New Orleans Pre Mardi Gras singles weekend comes to an end. It is time to say goodbye to all your travel friends and make your way to the airport for your flights home.