Visiting New Orleans: Five unusual tourist attractions

New Orleans is a melting pot of cultural influences: European, Caribbean, African, and more. The largest city in Louisiana, New Orleans has plenty to offer tourists looking for adventure, relaxation, music, wine, and great food. But a big part of what makes New Orleans unique from many other Louisiana cities are the many strange attractions that can be found all over the city. Listed below are five unusual destinations in The Big Easy.

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1. St Louis Cemetery No. 1 is New Orleans' oldest cemetery and arguably the most famous. All of the graves in this cemetery are colorful above-ground tombs.

Many famous New Orleans residents were buried here, among them, Marie Laveau, New Orleans' Voodoo queen. Her tomb is littered with offerings and covered with X marks drawn by admirers who believe that if they do so, Marie Laveau will grant them a wish from beyond the grave. The actor Nicolas Cage also purchased a plot here, and had a large pyramid-shaped tomb erected on it.

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2. The Carousel Gardens Amusement Park's centerpiece is an antique, 19th century carousel, one of 100 left in the United States and the only one left in the state of Louisiana. The carousel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Children of all ages will enjoy riding one of its 54 carved animals or any of the park's 17 rides.

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3. Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World is where more than 80 percent of Mardi Gras floats are made. Visitors can tour the facilities and view works in progress, try on outrageous Mardi Gras costumes, and learn about the traditions surrounding the famous annual parade.

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4. The Pepper Palace in the French Quarter is a store that sells all things spicy: hot sauce, salsa, pickles, and even habanero-flavored pralines.

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5. The Steamboat Nanchez is the only authentic steamboat left on the Mississippi River. Guests can go on a cruise and enjoy listening to live jazz music while dining on Creole food and local beverages.  

Lagniappe Destinations is a vacation community with properties in Louisiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee. For more travel articles, subscribe to this blog.