New Orleans continues to build attractions and tourism

New Orleans' French Quarter is a labyrinth of wrought iron and stucco with paths leading to hidden talents, quaint courtyards and liquor-induced heartache. Day and night, life springs from its streets, which provide the connective tissue for a city that refuses to die.

The entire city engages the senses, from the wafting aroma of fresh-baked bread pudding to the putrid smell of Bourbon Street revelry.

Follow the sounds, tastes, sights and smells; the path leads to an experience unlike any other.

Ten years and one monster hurricane had passed since my last visit to New Orleans. My goal was to discover what was new or affordable, in the aftermath of Katrina's destruction and Wall Street's meltdown.

Affordable eats

Creole restaurants such as Commander's Palace, Arnaud's Restaurant and Emeril's New Orleans are legendary. But with one eye on our wallet, we decided to forego upscale ambiance in favor of value.

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