The backdrop to Emergency Nursing 2025 is the vibrant city of New Orleans, known for its mouth-watering cuisine, historic architecture, diverse music scene and multicultural heritage. Prepare to fall under the spell of the Crescent City’s captivating history and culture.
New Orleans is renowned for its vibrant and diverse architecture and music.
“We’re honored to host Emergency Nursing 2025 in a city where passion meets purpose, and we can’t wait for you to experience it,” said ENA Conference Education Planning Committee Co-chair Gregory Pittman, DNP, RN, who was raised in New Orleans. “New Orleans is more than just a destination. It’s an experience.”
Local Flavors
Don’t know your gumbo from your jambalaya? A po’ boy from a muffaletta? Or crawfish from mudbugs? (Trick question. They’re the same thing.) The New Orleans Restaurant Guide has a glossary of local food lingo and ideas for dining, from beignets for breakfast to restaurants with live music.
Pittman offers a few ideas of his own, including Coop’s Place in the French Quarter for casual Cajun and Creole dishes or Commander’s Palace for fine dining in the Garden District. He also recommends Jacques-Imo’s Café as a funky favorite with local character and Willie Mae’s Scotch House for the “best fried chicken in the South.”
City Versus Nature
The legendary French Quarter and Jackson Square are home to live music, street performers, fortune tellers and food — great places to soak in local sights, sounds and flavors.
For more local jazz, reggae and blues, hit up Frenchmen Street, a spot frequented by locals in a nearby and quieter neighborhood.
City Park offers another calmer option from the busy French Quarter and Jackson Square. The 1,300-acre space includes a botanical garden; Couterie Forest and Arboretum; walking, hiking and biking trails; and a grove of centuries-old oak trees.
The artistry and craftsmanship behind the Mardi Gras parade floats are on display at the Mardi Gras World museum.
New Orleans is also home to world-class museums, exhibits and sites that give visitors insight into the city’s rich heritage, eclectic culture and eerie lore, including the National World War II Museum, Audubon Aquarium and historic cemeteries. Sign up for guided tours — ones with or without ghosts.
The famed Mardi Gras parade has a year-round presence at Mardi Gras World, which offers tours of the place where artists build floats and props that make the annual celebration a true spectacle.
Fun isn’t limited to land. The Steamboat Natchez Cruise is a scenic paddlewheel ride on the Mississippi River, while numerous bayou and swamp tours offer an up-close look at New Orleans’ wildlife and vegetation.
Getting Around
By foot, car, streetcar or boat, there is plenty to experience after a day of sessions or for those who add extra time to their stay. For information about bicycle rentals, street cars, city buses and rideshare service, visit www.neworleans.com/plan/transportation/getting-around-new-orleans-without-a-car/.
“There are so many things to do,” said ENA Meetings Manager Krystal Clayton. “The locals are inviting and welcoming. The culture is positive.”
For more ideas, check out www.neworleans.com/ena2025.