Hotel at a Glance: Embassy Suites by Hilton New Orleans Convention Center

You might have a hard time saving room for New Orleans' famous gumbo and beignets when you stay at this Embassy Suites hotel. Each morning, its chefs prepare a cooked-to-order breakfast with omelets, sausage, and more—all for free. There's even more free food during the evening reception, which also includes beer and wine.

• Home away from home: All rooms and suites are outfitted with mini fridges and microwaves.
• Take a dip in the outdoor pool.
• Cheesy in good way: The onsite restaurant serves up specialty grilled-cheese sandwiches such as the Uptown shrimp, topped with havarti and pepper jack slathered in barbecue sauce.
• Drink local: Try a Louisiana craft beer or a classic New Orleans cocktail like the sazerac at the hotel bar.
• Distance from the French Quarter: about 1 mile

New Orleans’ Central Business District: Vibrant Downtown with Lots of Historic Character

In the 1960s, many of the historic neighborhoods of the Central Business District were torn down to make way for high-rise office buildings and parking lots. Had a preservationist group not intervened, the neighborhood would have looked a lot different today. They not only salvaged many of the neighborhood’s 19th- and 20th- century buildings, but also much of its character.

Today, you can see some of this character at historic Lafayette Square, which hosts free concerts and movies. Or, take the St. Charles streetcar past antebellum mansions and southern live oaks en route to the Garden District to the south.

If you’re in the mood for some shopping, head to The Shops at Canal Place, a massive indoor shopping complex along the Mississippi River. From here, you can easily walk to Harrah’s, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, and other attractions along the riverfront.