Page 219 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - New Orleans
P. 219

tr a vel  inform a tion      217


                                               sites such as plantations and
                                               old towns. There are also some
                                               cruises that travel out of the
                                               Mississippi River and into the
                                               Gulf of Mexico to destinations
                                               in the Caribbean and Mexico.
                                                    DIRECTORY
                                                Traveling by Train
                                                Union Passenger
                                                Terminal
                                                1001 Loyola Ave.
                                                Map 4 A4.
       Queen of the West, a paddle steamer run by American Cruise Lines   Tel (800) 872-7245.
                                                ∑ amtrak.com
       outside the metropolitan New   home club. If not, rental
       Orleans area. Each trip will take   agencies often offer roadside   Long-Distance Buses
       at least one full day. If you set   service for an extra fee.
       aside two or more days, you will     Many roads out in Cajun   Greyhound Bus Lines
       have just enough time to savor   Country may be under water at   Tel (800) 231-2222.
       the great diversity of Louisiana,   certain times of the year, so be   ∑ greyhound.com
       including the bayous, spicy    aware. Watch for pedestrians,   Day Trips and Tours
       food, and lively music in   cane trucks, oil tankers, and
       Lafayette, Breaux Bridge, and   loose cattle when driving.  Gray Line
       other Cajun Country towns.               Tel (504) 587-1401.
       The rice and sugar plantations           ∑ graylineneworleans.com
       along the Mississippi River    Mississippi River    Kayak-Iti-Yat
                           Ferries and Cruises
       can also be discovered, as can           Tel (985) 778-5034.
       the spectacular wilderness    The Canal Street Ferry ride   ∑ kayakitiyat.com
       of the Atchafalaya Basin.   across the Mississippi River
       Swamps and bayous are all   to Algiers Point (see p90) is an   New Orleans Tours
       around the city, and many   experience in itself, offering   Tel (504) 212-5925.
       popular boat tours allow you    excellent views between the   ∑ bigeasytours.com
       to explore the wetlands.   Mississippi and New Orleans.   Pearl River Eco Tours
                           The passenger boarding gate    Tel (866) 597-9267.
                           is located on the upper floor of   ∑ pearlriverecotours.com
       Rules of the Road
                           the ferry terminal at the foot
       Traffic accidents are high in   of Canal Street. Passengers with   Tours by Isabelle
       this region so use caution at    cars and bicycles board on the   Tel (877) 665-8687.
       all times and be aware of other   street level of the ferry terminal.   ∑ toursbyisabelle.com
       drivers and hazards such as   The trip takes about 15 minutes.   Rules of the Road
       debris in the road,   The first ferry leaves at 6am;
       unstable road            the last departs at   AAA (Automobile
       surfaces, and              midnight. You may   Association of America)
       standing water.            not smoke, drink   Tel (800) 852-7216.
       Drivers and                alcohol, or eat food   ∑ aaa.com
       passengers are   American Cruise    aboard the ferry.
       required by law to   Lines logo  The ride across the   Mississippi River
       wear seatbelts at all     river at dawn or   Ferries and Cruises
       times. Also note that littering    sunset is one of the best   American Cruise Lines
       is not permitted anywhere   bargains in New Orleans    Tel (800) 460-4518.
       along any road, highway,    (it’s free), and the view of the   ∑ americancruiselines.com
       or Interstate.      skyline and riverfront from
         The AAA (Automobile    the other side is an experience   Blount Small
       Asso ciation of America) offers   to remember.  Ship Adventures
       maps, emergency roadside     Blount Small Ship   Tel (800) 556-7450.
       services, and discounts at   Adventures and American   ∑ blountsmallship
       hotels, restaurants, and various   Cruise Lines offer tours on the   adventures.com
       tourist spots. The AAA has    Mississippi, from New Orleans   Canal Street Ferry
       a reciprocity agreement    up to Baton Rouge, Memphis,   Foot of Canal St. Map 5 D4.
       with many automobile clubs   and other cities north along the   Tel (504) 376-8100.
       abroad, so it is worth finding   river. Cruises last from one to   ∑ friendsoftheferry.org
       out if that is the case with your   two weeks, focusing on historic




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