Rainy Day Traveler - New Orleans 
Usually Rainy Day Traveler talks about great places to escape indoors on a rainy day and focuses on timeless activities that will be relevant for years to come. For this issue, we’ll be looking at what there is to see and do in one of my favorite destinations, New Orleans, in the aftermath of the rains and flooding brought on by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which many New Orleanians now refer to simply as “the storm.” We’ll also look at some good things to do in the rain, since rain is still a common occurrence in the Big Easy. Brief afternoon showers interrupt most sweltering July and August days. And all the great ways to escape the rain, also work for getting in out of the summer heat and humidity.
Arthur Frommer declared in his column in January 2006 that New Orleans was dead as a travel destination for 2006. He couldn’t have been more wrong. Whether you are a long time fan of the Crescent City or have had it on your “to do” list, there is no better time to go than now.
Not only is there plenty to see and do in the old city, but the importance of witnessing the devastation that mother nature hath wrought in the surrounding areas should not be underestimated. The more people see the damage that has been done here, the better chance that they will take action to prevent this from happening again here or in other parts of the country. And if you’re thinking of waiting until the city has been restored to its previous grandeur before visiting, don’t. The shops, restaurants, jazz clubs and hotels that define this lovely city are at risk of being wiped away, not by the flood, but by lack of tourist dollars to pay the rent. Surviving the summer will be a challenge for many businesses.
For more rainy day New Orleans alternatives, check out the New Orleans links page.
Kayte Deioma
From gracious plantations and historic homes to alligators preening for swamp tours; from the captivating images in Rue Royal art galleries to the jazz, blues, salsa, rock ‘n roll and karaoke emanating from Bourbon Street bars; from the D-Day Museum to the VooDoo Spiritual Temple, New Orleans is open for business. The only thing missing is the tourists – which makes it a particularly good time for a visit.
If you have heard of “voluntourism” at all, you probably think of programs where you travel to a distant country and pay a couple thousand dollars to help out on an archaeological dig or do environmental research. But New Orleans and other disaster-struck areas are great opportunities for individuals, families and groups to combine vacation travel and service, for the benefit of both the participants and the destination.
The Algiers section of New Orleans, on what is known as the “west bank” of the Mississippi (although it is actually south at this point), was unaffected by the floodwaters that deluged everything for miles on the other side of the river
