A collection of artists, hipsters, and AirBnBs, the Bywater is a collection of quirks. Wander its streets to admire the murals and the overall creativity that infects the air. Between Poland Avenue and Press Street, there is a scavenger hunt of experiences to discover. Lovingly referred to, by some, as "the Brooklyn of New Orleans."

Faubourg Marigny was the city's first suburb. A lived-in, organic neighborhood, the Marigny is home to a number of old-school bars, small bistros, and Frenchmen Street. Frenchmen Street is where locals go to listen to live music.

New Orleans' raison d'être, the French Quarter is over 300 years old. Do you want to go to the Quarter? Yes. Do you want to spend all your time there? I hope not. It is nice. Everyone goes for good reasons. Do not spend all your time in the French Quarter.

The French Quarter is bounded by Esplanade Avenue on one side and Canal Street on the other side. La Belle Esplanade is located a twenty-minute stroll from the quiet end of Bourbon Street, and Frenchmen Street is another five minutes after that. There are bars, restaurants, historic sites, speakeasies, and houses of assignation scattered all throughout the French Quarter. Go. Wander around. Get lost in the jazz. Soak it in.

The CBD is the part of New Orleans that looks like a regular city. If it were not for the St. Charles streetcar, you would not know you are in New Orleans, except for the fact that everyone is happy. The architecture in the CBD is classic American urban. A collection of highrises that house hotels, offices and condominiums, the CBD is home to the National WWII Museum, as well as more things than I care to mention here.

If there is one thing you should do while you are in New Orleans (besides visiting the French Quarter), you should take the St. Charles Streetcar. This is the green streetcar.

The Garden District is in the American part of New Orleans. Wander and enjoy the architecture. Most of the houses you will see are still single family homes that belong to the original families. This is genteel New Orleans, debutante territory. All aboard!

Uptown is a direction, it is also a distinct neighborhood, it is also what we refer to as everything upriver of Canal Street. Take the St. Charles Streetcar to the end of the line and back. St. Charles Avenue is lined with big, beautiful mansions, as well as Audubon Park, and Tulane and Loyola Universities. Get off on Oak Street or Maple Street. Go to Jacques-Imo's and then catch a brass band at the Maple Leaf.

Magazine Street runs parallel to St. Charles Avenue. It is the main shopping street in New Orleans, lined with bars, restaurants and shops. It is not constant commercial but it is seven miles long so there is always more to discover. Strolling Magazine Street is a pleasant way to spend a day.

This is advanced placement. You will need to get a ride out there, or rent a bicycle. It is not that far but I wouldn't walk there. It's a long walk. The West End is on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. Seafood restaurants with views of yachts coming and going out on water as far as the eye can see. A toast to the sunset.

Take the Canal Streetcar. One line goes to the Cemeteries. The other goes to City Park. Between the two and along the way, Mid-City sprawls its tidy houses and business districts. Mid-City is full of surprises. Some of the best old-style Creole neighborhood restaurants are in Mid-City. Try Mandina's. Try Katie's. Try Angelo Brocato, a Sicilian ice cream parlor that has been open since 1905.

If you are a regular person who wants to imagine what it would be like to live in New Orleans, spend some time in Mid-City. Tourists visit but not as much as other parts of the city because, by New Orleans standards, Mid-City is low key.