Lived in Louisiana for a brief period and spent many weekends down in New Orleans or "Nawlins".   Note my rating is based on New Orleans Pre-Katrina.  Being that it is the only major city in Louisiana it is the cultural and social hub of the State.  However New Orleans has a very well deserved reputation for political and social corruption, extreme crime, and extreme poverty.  New Orleans has serious checkerboard feel the Garden District where there are antebellum Plantation Mansions where noted residents such as Ann Rice i.e. interview with a vampire, and the Manning Family live, is minutes away from housing projects.  Not a city you want to get to far off the beaten path.  Besides the dangers and social/political turmoil culturally New Orleans could hold its own with the likes of New York and Chicago.  World Class Cuisine, a history that predates America.  The influences of the French are still prevalent in all aspects especially in its cuisine and the fact that there are many who have a cajun/creole background.

  Sick of hearing about New Orleans. It is now the #1 area for crime in the US (as opposed to #2 or 3, where it has been for the longest time). I am tired of remembering how NO residents sat on their lazy asses and watched while volunteers from other states busted theirs to rebuild this place. Tired of the reports of FEMA monetery abuses, tired of seeing how NO residents trashed the free trailers they were given etc.

Most of all, it sickens me to know that my tax dollars are still going to "rebuild" a place that is 8 feet below sea level.

Before Katrina hit, New Orleans was an intriguing city.  Some great food, music, and architecture came from the fusion of the city's European, African, Catholic, and Voodoo elements.  However, as the world now knows, life was not so appetizing outside of the touristy neighborhoods in the Crescent.  From the swamp New Orleans came, and back into the swamp most of it shall return.

pre-katrina it would have only rated a 2 due to the poverty, crime and bad roads and schools. now definitely only a one. parts of the city i guess will never be habitable again. their sports teams are probably gone for good just like half the population. as is too painfully obvious now, has extreme weather. avg's like 65 inches a rain a year in a non hurricane year. maybe best to condemn the whole place and move everyone out. the cost of rebuilding probably will not be worth it economically, unless the levees are built up better, cause people wont move back or in.

It is not clear whether the premise for rating these cities is 'tourism' or 'residence'. Where a week's stay is concerned, during Mardi Gras or at other times (Katrina notwidthstanding), a five-star rating is well-advised for food, entertainment and hospitality, as millions will attest. The testimony of someone who resided there for six years (confirmed several times afterwards, including a two-week stay last New Year's), is that, until the blight of Katrina's devastating phenomenon, New Orleans again rated five-stars, and there is nothing to suggest that things will be any less wonderful after the city gets back on its feet, as I am certain that it will. The secret?: the class and spirit of its extraordinary people.

It had a couple of spots to visit but was overblown in my opinion. What will the future bring?

Alot of great things before Katrina.

Great Food,Great Music but BEWARE of Bourbon St.- it's full of hustlers and thugs just waiting for a drunken tourist to rob.The people here were not quite as hospitable as many other southern cities I've visited.Check out the French Quarter for wonderful architecture,and don't miss the Garden District for true Southern Charm!

I got a lotta love for New Orleans. I've had some great times in the city. I went to school there and have memories to last a lifetime enjoying this unique and very special city. Irony is I havent been back in quite a while. Perhaps it's because I dont want to spoil the great memories I had there..It just may not live up to it on a return visit. New Orleans is also rather small and once you've been thru all the major hot spots, must see venues, you realize it's a city with all it's plusses and minuses. Negatives include a poor economy, crime, some pretty bad neighborhoods and sections of the city and the fact that things are very political. It's also has a lot of culture and history engrained into residents. Who you are and your family or what your family name is means a lot down there. It also was too racially tense for me. Still I love the place and wish nothing but the best for it.

ITS THE HAPPENING CITY OF THE WORLD

Fun place to visit and probably to live as well. Definitely a party town: it always seems that everyone has alcohol on their breath. Some of the best food I have ever had, some of the most elegant hotels (though I stayed at some dives in my student days). Heck, I wish I could go back for a visit this weekend.

New Orleans is an interesting city, but I find that its a bit overrated. There are a lot of run-down areas with high crime rates that you should probably stay away from. Still you can't deny that the city has incredible architecture. The French Quarter is well preserved, it's the heart of the city. You can probably stay here the entire time and not run out of things to see. I usually don't visit a lot of cemetaries, but visit the ones here. They're interesting in that they are all above the water table. Some of them are very ornate. The food is excellent in this part of the country, get ready to eat if you come here. Cajun food has French, Spanish, and African influences. The seafood is excellent. Go to Cafe du Monde for great doughnuts and coffee. The party atmosphere makes for a fun atmosphere, the nightlife is great. Of course, there are bad sides to New Orleans, but the city is fun.

I would not want to live in NO, but there are fewer cities better to visit for a couple of days with your sweetie.

I wouldn't want to live in New Orleans, but it is one of the top five cities in America to visit for a few days. This is an old city that has retained its charm from the past. It is the South and France mixed together. Yes, the restaraunts in the quarter are fabulous. Bring your appetite. You'll thank me later. Come to party. This is the place. If you come for a business convention, you'll be glad they chose New Orleans as the place to host.

Fascinating!