New Orleans: Cemetery Walking Tour & Katrina Memorial

4.86

(882 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Ever wondered what it feels like to stand where New Orleans’ cemeteries meet at the crossroads? I didn’t think much about it until we were actually there, boots crunching on gravel, sun poking through old oaks. Our guide—Miss Lorraine, who everyone seemed to know—pointed out how the tombs stack up like little marble houses. She had this way of pausing before a story, letting you catch the smell of wet stone and coffee drifting from somewhere nearby. I tried to say “beignet” right (Li laughed when I tried), but honestly I was more focused on not getting powdered sugar all over my shirt.

The Katrina Memorial hit harder than I expected. There’s this hush when you stand there—a real kind of silence that isn’t just about quiet, if that makes sense. Miss Lorraine told us how this place used to be a potter’s field, and now it holds memories for so many who never came home. Someone behind me sniffled; maybe it was the wind or maybe not. We all just sort of stood together for a minute longer than usual. It felt respectful in a way you can’t plan for on a day trip in New Orleans.

Afterwards, we wandered past rows of crumbling angels and names half-faded by rain. The whole tour only took about two hours but I still think about that view—sunlight slanting across old stone, locals waving as they passed by on bikes. There’s something about seeing history stacked up like that, right next to your own footprints. And yes, Morning Call Coffee Stand is as good as they say (I went back for seconds). So yeah, if you’re curious or just want a different kind of morning in New Orleans, this cemetery walking tour sticks with you longer than you’d think.