Under $100: New Orleans

One of the best ways to start your day (or end your night) in New Orleans is with a warm cup of café au lait (made with chicory root) and a handful of fresh-fried beignets. You can grab both, 24 hours a day, for $6 (cash only) at the Morning Call in majestic City Park and then freely roam around the park’s ancient, oak-filled 1,300 acres.

When it starts getting too warm outside, duck into the nearby New Orleans Museum of Art and enjoy all of their 40,000 permanent pieces and rotating exhibitions for just $10 ($8 for university students). The adjoining Sculpture Garden is always free and often open.

For lunch, head over to Parkway Bakery and Tavern and grab yourself a New Orleans famous po-boy while overlooking Bayou St. John in Mid-City. The Golden Fried Shrimp po-boy ($7.65 for a regular) is one of the best in the city (by the way, “dressed” means it includes lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayo), and it pairs extremely well with a basket of fries ($4) and a Barq’s Root Beer in a cold bottle ($3).

From here, drive to the cultural pearl of the city, the French Quarter. Prepare to pay a little too much for parking ($20 for an evening) if you aren’t lucky enough to find a street spot. They tend to be more readily available along the Mississippi River, especially near the corner of Elysian Fields and Esplanade. Take the short walk to the nearby French Market, which is free to wander and a great spot to pick up some affordable, local art and souvenirs (set aside about $20).

As the night sets in, stop by Angeli on Decatur for some surprisingly affordable Italian deliciousness, ($7.75 for the Angeli Special sandwich with included side), and great people watching at this high-traffic corner open until 4 a.m. on the weekends. After dinner, slide on down to Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, the oldest bar in the United States, and order the inimitable Voodoo Daiquiri ($8 for a medium). One will start your night right, but two might shut it down. Sip wisely.

And finally, dance the rest of the night away to some quintessential New Orleans brass band music at The Maison on Frenchmen Street. They are open seven days a week and, aside from the rare special event, there is almost always NO COVER, despite having three stages that feature diverse bands and musical genres.

Oh, and you still have a little money left over for another round of early-morning coffee and beignets.