Things to see in New Orleans

Covering some 160 hectares (400 acres) and harbouring more than 4,000 oak trees, Audubon Park is one of the largest city parks in the country. It was designed by John Charles Olmsted (nephew of Fredrick Law Olmsted, the man who designed New York's Central Park) and named after the painter and ornithologist John James Audubon. Apart from the walking and biking trails, play areas, picnic spots, riding stables, tennis courts and golf course, the highlight of the park is the Audubon Zoo, one of the nation's best. Among its zoological exhibits are sections devoted to the Louisiana Swamp (visitors should not miss alligator feeding time) and a tree house for viewing monkeys close up. A cruise boat run by New Orleans Steamboat Company (www.steamboatnatchez.com) leaves Audubon Landing for an 11km (7-mile) river ride to the French Quarter and Canal Street. See also The Audubon Insectarium, the largest free standing museum in the United States dedicated to insects, at 423 Canal Street (www.welovebugs.org), opened summer 2008. The Audubon Insectarium has over 900,000 known species of insects and their relatives. Combo tickets for insectarium, zoo and aquarium available.

Built between 1795 and 1799, this handsome building takes its name from the Spanish council, or cabildo, which met here in colonial times. It is a fine example of the Spanish colonial style and its wrought-iron balcony railing is arguably the most outstanding work from that period in the city. In 1803, in a room called the Sala Capitular on the second floor, France signed the Louisiana Purchase, which ceded a huge territory west of the Mississippi, including New Orleans, to the United States. Today, the Cabildo houses a museum of Louisiana history. Among the exhibits are the colony's founding stone and Napoleon Bonaparte's death mask.

Running for several blocks along Decatur and North Peters Streets, the French Market is one of the most colourful spots in the city. It dates back to colonial times, when a Native American trading post operated here, and was a busy open-air market during the Spanish and French eras. Renovated buildings, such as the Butchers' Market (1813), now house cafes, shops and offices, while street performers give the outdoor areas a festive feel. The large covered sheds, built in 1936 as a public works project, house the Farmers' Market, where fresh produce is sold, and the Flea Market, with an assortment of clothes, jewellery, hot sauces and other New Orleans souvenirs.

Stretching from St Charles Avenue to Magazine Street and between Louisiana and Jackson Avenues, the Garden District is an elegant National Historic District of pre-war homes. Originally a separate city called Lafayette, which was annexed by New Orleans in 1852, the Garden District was first laid out in the 1820s and was settled by wealthy American businessmen. The handsome Greek revival mansions are still private residences and are not open to the public. But a daytime stroll through this district of leafy streets and impressive architecture is very rewarding. One of the grandest homes is the Robinson House, 1415 Third Street, which resembles an Italian villa and was possibly the first house in the city to have indoor plumbing. Author Anne Rice's home, Rosegate, is at the corner of First Street and Chestnut Street. In the centre of the Garden District is the Lafayette Cemetery with its ornate vaults and tombs, which featured in the film Interview with the Vampire (1994). It is best visited as part of a group on a walking tour; you can also enjoy wonderful views of the district from the streetcars running the length of St Charles Avenue.

Celebrating the accomplishments of the 1 million Americans who participated, the museum gives a fascinating political and economic overview of the build-up and mobilisation of the Allied Forces' 17 different amphibious invasions during WWII's D-Days. Crammed with maps, filmed narrations, artefacts and photographs, it puts a face on the war. Exhibits include the Home Front, Planning for D-Day, the D-Day Beaches and D-Day invasions of the Pacific. Guides who speak French, Spanish and German are available. Note that the museum has scheduled a US$300 million expansion to quadruple its size by the end of 2009, but will remain open during this time. New features will include extra exhibits and a national centre for research on the war.

Completed in 1835, the Old US Mint manufactured Confederate money during the Civil War and continued to mint US coins until 1909. Its thick walls also served as a prison when Union troops captured the city. Today, as part of the Louisiana State Museum, it houses the excellent New Orleans Jazz Collection, which features music, artefacts and instruments, such as Louis Armstrong's first trumpet. Also here are the archives of the Louisiana Historical Center.

Nicknamed SoFAB, the museum dedicated to honouring the sustenance of the South opened in Riverwalk Marketplace in June 2008. It hosts the Museum of the American Cocktail, as well. Fascinating gastronomy history for those who love to eat and drink.