New Orleans City Park and Bourbon St 32 photos
A Tranquil Respite in the Big Easy
by Scott Kendall
A topless man wearing lipstick and a bright pink tutu prances by. Jazz is blaring at Legends Park. Drunken tourists stagger to their next girly joint. It’s Friday night on Bourbon Street, and this small town Texas boy needs a break.
We all love a good party now and then, and New Orleans certainly knows how to party. ~But not all of us want to party all of the time. ~Sometimes, we want a break from the frenetic energy and craziness – but where do you go in New Orleans for a quiet refuge? ~
The answer is City Park, a 1,300 acre paradise of lakes, majestic oak trees, and fascinating art – City Park is a peaceful playground for the body, mind and soul, both old and young. ~To get there, I walked out the front door of the Astor Crowne Plaza, hopped on the Canal cable car ($1.25 each way), and rode in air conditioned comfort to my destination, arriving 30 minutes later.
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Upon stepping off the cable car at the City Park stop, I immediately saw an expansive park to my left, with towering oak trees, a large lake, and a promenade leading up to the impressive New Orleans Museum of Art, the centerpiece of City Park. Singing the chorus from Hey Jude (inspired by a visit from the Beatles to the park in the 1960’s), I made my way to the Singing Tree, a majestic oak near the shore of the big lake. Seven chimes of various sizes that hang from the moss covered branches ring out with a bravado of choruses, as if the spirits from the nearby cemeteries are unleashing the long pent up anguish of the dead.
Continuing along the Big Lake, I walked up to the Romanesque columns at the entrance of the New Orleans Museum of Art. I welcomed the air conditioning as well as some great collections of European, African, Dutch, American and local artists. Paintings by Picasso, Degas, Monet, Gaugin and others adorn the walls. After admiring the artwork, I enjoyed the delightful Besthoff Sculpture Garden, a gated (but free) garden of 50 modern sculptures nestled among huge oaks and pines, punctuated by serpentine walking trails and bridges among the lagoons.
Other attractions at City Park include the Botanical Garden, kayaking on the lake, a large children’s playground and park with rides, and a vintage carousel. There is also an 18-hole golf course, a mini-golf course, horse stables, and areas designated for soccer, softball, track, volleyball and tennis. Finally, after all the feeding of your mind and soul, don’t forget to feed your face at the Morning Call restaurant (open 24/7) with their famous beignets, cafe au lait, jambalaya and other traditional New Orleans cuisine. So, when you are searching for some peace and tranquility away from the raucous crowds on Bourbon street, take a soothing break at New Orleans’ City Park.
City Park
1,300 acre public park
1 Palm Drive
New Orleans, LA 70124-4608