Thanks, Mary Katherine, your notes look very useful.

What astro didn't mention is that we'll be on an Amtrak layover, changing from the Crescent to the Sunset Limited, so we'll need to get from and to the train station, which is at 1001 Loyola Avenue, near the Superdome.

I've been in New Orleans before (as a tourist, during a conference), but astro and my son (age 12) haven't. The French Quarter is the obvious choice for a quick taste of the city. Would it be walkable from the train station? Is there a bus or trolley, or will we need a taxi? Unless there are luggage lockers in the train station, we'll be carrying our daypacks.

Casual and inexpensive is what we'll be looking for, for both food and housing.

I think we get in in the early evening on Sunday, and leave late morning on Monday. We'll have been sitting for a couple of days on the train, so I'm not sure if that means we'll be in need of sleep or not! ;-)

~ Becky in Tucson