Your New Orleans summer bucket list
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We're a little more than halfway through the year but deep into summer in New Orleans.
Why it matters: The middle months of the year might not present New Orleans at its best, but there are still plenty of fun ways to remind yourself why it's worth toughing it out.
Zoom in: Here's our summer bucket list to help you remember just what makes this one of the best (if hottest) places to be.
👙 Drop into a hotel pool. Many local hotels open their gates to drop-in guests for the summer for a fee.
- There are free public pools in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish, too.
🖼️ Go to a museum for free. The Helis Foundation sponsors free museum admission once a week at many local institutions. The program extends to Saturdays in August.
- You can also get free admission through local libraries' culture pass programs.
🚗 Take a day trip. Skip town and head to Dauphin Island, Avery Island, Abita Springs or Lafayette — all within a 2.5-hour drive of New Orleans. Go deeper.
🎺 Celebrate Louis Armstrong's birthday. Satchmo Summerfest is back Aug. 1 and 2.
☀️ Get some sun and sand on the Gulf Coast. Get past Louisiana's bayous and dip a toe in along Mississippi, Alabama or Florida's beaches.
- A lengthier trip not in the cards? Lake Isabel on the North Shore promises beach-like vibes, too.
😋 Score a hot deal at a local restaurant. Many are offering discounts to keep folks coming in during their slowest months.
- Plus, COOLinary menus return in August.
🍸 Tip a bartender. Tales of the Cocktail is expanding its usual industry-only offerings to the public for the first time this year.
🍧 Cool off with a snoball. Here are some we love.