I just came back from the annual Clarksdale, Mississippi Juke Joint Festival , which took place April 8–12, 2026. Clarksdale's got some great street art - “The Blues are the Roots, the Rest are the Fruits” — Willie Dixon When did I even become aware that a place called Clarksdale exists? I can’t say for sure, but most likely sometime after 2017, when I became a tour guide in New Orleans. After that, I occasionally received requests from travelers wanting an itinerary to or from New Orleans...

Jackson Square during Super Bowl week February 2025 One of the questions I hear most often from travelers is: “How many days do you actually need in New Orleans?” My instinctive answer is always: as many as possible. But that’s not really what people are asking. Most travelers don’t have weeks or months to spend here, even though that would be ideal. So if we’re being practical: 4–5 days is the sweet spot for a first visit. If you can, try to build your trip: around a weekend (for example,...

Every spring, New Orleans transforms into one of the most festival-packed cities in the United States. From French Quarter Fest to Festival International and the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Jazz Fest 2026), April and May are unlike any other time of year in Louisiana. Eddie Vedder getting vocals from the crowd - Pearl Jam 2025 Jazz Fest The first time I went to Jazz Fest was in 2019. I remember standing in the crowd, the Louisiana sun still high in the sky, waiting for...