Places Hetaira Thais Wants to Go

A hurricane-stricken oak tree has been reborn as a beautiful chainsaw artwork.

This colorful New Orleans bookstore features rare and used titles, with a specialty in Cajun fare.

It's clear this abandoned Art Deco gem was no ordinary cleaners.

Parts of the civil rights movement unfolded in this historic eatery, helmed by the "Queen of Creole Cuisine."

An abandoned warehouse turned art sanctuary in New Orleans.

An otherworldly musical haven in The Big Easy.

A prime example of New Orleans' unique architecture these early 20th century homes were built to look like steamboats.

A private museum dedicated to preserving the heritage of Mardi Gras' most beloved underdog parades, open by appointment.

If New Orleans is the birthplace of the "cocktail," why does their own museum of cocktail memorabilia beg to differ?

This float factory takes the mask off of Mardi Gras and lets visitors see where the magic happens.

A little piece of Paris in the sultry south of the U.S.

An impressive collection of dollhouses and an homage to the frog-leg canning industry.

This unique shop is full of memento mori art, antique medical equipment, secret society paraphernalia, and historical relics.

This strange example of the Egyptian Revival architecture trend now holds Mardi Gras floats.

This historic "City of the Dead" lies prominently in the center of New Orleans' famous Garden District.

A house of courtship where the Jazz Age's most storied lovers got their start.

This knobby, drooping New Orleans oak is a favorite place both for climbing and for meeting giraffes.

The stone labyrinth in this New Orleans city park was laid to symbolize healing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

This Art Deco airport was once deemed “the air hub of the Americas.”

Before becoming a public park, this spot was a shell midden, a fort, and an amusement park.

An abandoned underground bunker not far from downtown New Orleans.

The crumbling remains of a 19th century fortess.

This strange, small castle on the bayou has withstood the test of time and weather.

A theme park that suffered massive flooding during Katrina was abandoned, and now proves irresistible to trespassing explorers.