By Jon Fairbanks // GayTravel.com

There has never been a better time to visit New Orleans.  Locals are still drunk on the Saints’ Super Bowl win and a mind-blowing Mardi Gras, and an influx of young professionals from across the country are relocating to the city, bringing with them an exciting new energy.

Nearly five years after the traumatic devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the charm and resilience of New Orleans is not only still present, but today is thriving.

New Orleans is the arguably the most gay-friendly city in the south and for its size, has quite a few gay bars and clubs to choose from.  The two most popular gay bars are located on Bourbon Street and St. Ann.  Here you will find Bourbon Street Pub.  The other, OZ, is right across the street.

Both bars are open 24 hours, and in New Orleans you can walk around with your drink in hand.  Most bars will let you walk in with your drink, so it’s a great way to save money.  Keep in mind, many bars here don’t accept credit/debit cards, so make sure you have enough cash for the evening (though many establishments do have ATMs).

At the Pub and OZ you’ll find a mix of ages and types.  For a mostly older crowd, head down St. Ann one block and you’ll find Good Friends on the corner.  If you stay on Bourbon Street walking toward St. Phillip, Cafe Lafitte In Exile is on the left.  You’ll find a mostly older crowd here as well.

Napoleon’s Itch, also on Bourbon Street, is a hip, loungy place to grab a cocktail.  This bar, like many of the others is not hard to find.  If you stay on Bourbon Street, the “gay” area is pretty well marked with rainbow flags.

New Orleans is known for its great food.  There are few places that are legendary and a must-try for any first time visitor.  Café Du Monde, on Decatur Street, first opened for business in the 1860s and the menu hasn’t changed much since then.  The shop sells coffee and beignets (French-style doughnuts with powdered sugar on top).

For fine dining, GW Fins is not just a place to get a great meal, it’s an experience!  Forbes.com named it one of the top 10 seafood restaurants in America, and New Orleans, more than any city in the country, is serious about their seafood.

After a night of drinking, dancing or whatever trouble you find yourself in while visiting the French Quarter, pop by Clover Grill, for a burger cooked under a hubcap.  Believe me, it tastes better than it sounds.  Clover Grill is popular with local and traveling gays and is right across the street from Cafe Lafitte In Exile.

Mardi Gras is second biggest draw for gay tourists, after Southern Decadence, New Orleans’ gay pride festival that happens every Labor Day weekend.  Mardi Gras season begins on Jan. 6 or Twelfth Night and it lasts until the beginning of Lent or Ash Wednesday.  The season can last for up to two months, but it’s the week leading up to Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, that is the most fun and when the action happens.

Most of the Mardi Gras events for gay community center around the Pub and OZ.  While both bars are open around the clock (during the weekend leading up to Fat Tuesday they will be packed all day!) they do charge a cover later in the evening.

The Bourbon Street Awards are a must-see event.  It’s a costume contest held on Bourbon Street on Fat Tuesday, between The Pub and OZ.  The show is usually judged by a hilarious drag queen.

If Gay Balls, the dancing kind, are your thing, there are several gay Krewes or carnivals you can participate in.  Krewe of Amon Ra, Krewe of Armeinius, Krewe of Mwindo, People of Substance, Krewe of Petronius, Krewe of Queenateenas, Lords of Leather and Mystic Krewe of Satyricon are all LGBT–led organizations.

Mardi Gras beads are unique in that they are the most valuable thing in the world, until about five minutes after you get them, then most of the time they end up in the trash or on the ground.  There is an official gay bead toss that happens every year from the Ambush Headquarters Balcony at 828 Bourbon Street.  This also takes place on Fat Tuesday, although you can walk by any of the gay bars on Bourbon Street and catch beads.  Many of the guys will toss more beads in exchange for showing more skin.

At midnight, as Fat Tuesday ends and Ash Wednesday begins, there is a bitter-sweet ceremony that always closes out the festivities.  Police officers march down Bourbon Street, ushering party goers out of the area, while street sweepers power-wash away the trash, urine, etc.  That means the party has come to an end, but being told to go home by hot uniformed men does soften the blow.

New Orleans is one of the biggest tourist destinations in the United States, and because of that there is no shortage of hotels to choose from.  Many are on Canal Street, which isn’t too far from the gay area of Bourbon Street.  Hotel Monteleone and W New Orleans are two great places to stay.  Many of the hotels book fast, so make reservations as early as you can.

If you are going with a big group of people, you might want to rent a condo on or near Bourbon Street.  Many locals let tourists rent their homes and it’s a unique way to experience what it’s like to live in “The Big Easy.”

If you can, avoid driving in New Orleans during Mardi Gras week.  Many hotels to offer parking, but trying to find street parking can be a pain.  You may end up having to park in an expensive garage or far away in a dangerous, poorly lit part of town.

Bourbon Street and the surrounding area is tourist central.  It’s a lot of fun, but there is a lot more to see and experience in New Orleans.  There are great boutiques and restaurants uptown on Magazine Street that shouldn’t be missed.

Just about five minutes away from downtown is the Historic Lower Ninth Ward.  This is where the levee broke and caused the most damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  Some houses have been rebuilt, but the spray-painted “Xs” on gutted homes, overgrown lawns and eerie absence of people are a constant reminder of what happened here.
New Orleans is a city of contradictions, a place where carefree joy coexists with palpable sorrow, but this great American city is a must-see for every traveler, gay or straight.

For more information on gay friendly destinations throughout the world, please visit www.gaytravel.com.