Murray Loc: New Westminster

Hi folks:

My wife and I will be visiting these 2 cities next month, and I wonder if there's any advice in hogville about "off the beaten track or secret" photo ops in those cities?

Thanks in advance

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Nothing too big, 9mm or.40cal will probably be okay. Just carry extra mags and leave cell phone on. :XD: :XD:

Murray Loc: New Westminster

357 Mag too wimpy? :mrgreen:

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Travel lightly!

Gaddysmom

Longue Vue House and Gardens in NOLA-- not a plantation but in a traditional style with the largest domestic garden in NOLA. City Park in NOLA for public gardens. For plantations drive the River Road-- Destrehan is closest to the city and in a "classic" LA plantation style. Cross the river and go to Algiers. Hermann-Grima/Gallier House in the Quarter. Not off the beaten track, but do not forget the D-Day museum. And, as previous posters have intimated, be careful in the historic cemeteries, but go during daylight with a group and don't be paranoid--- be alert and smart all over town, but no reason to be paranoid anywhere!

Memphis-- Beale Street, of course. The lobby of the Peabody Hotel. Mud Island. The Zoo. The campus of Rhodes College. Memphis also has too much crime, but practice common sense and you will be fine.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Murray,my apologies for being a dope for my disruptions. However,I do not promise to cease and desist in the future!

Have a great trip! :lol: :lol:

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Memphis is pretty well covered in an earlier response, but I'd add Elvis's home Graceland, which is pretty interesting in its own way.

New Orleans - The French Quarter is so fun to photograph, at its best early. Get out by 7 or even earlier to get the sunrise striking the St Louis Cathedral (shoot from the balcony area of the River Walk), and to watch the city wake up, the locals walking their dogs, the street mimes, musicians, carriage drivers and vendors setting up for the day. Go to Cafe du Monde as soon as the patio opens and go back late after the crowds thin out. Take your camera to restaurants and ask for patio seating. Go to Preservation Hall. Shoot the oyster shuckers at Felix's, Acme, or Bourbon Orleans. Ignore Bourbon St, there's plenty of other streets to explore that are less touristy. Go to the French Market. Walk Canal St to look for 50's type stores and neon signs. Take the streetcar uptown to Carrollton and back, and if you're inclined get off at Tulane/Loyola/Audubon Park to walk and shoot. Visit the cemeteries but not at night (can take a tour to assure you're in a group). Go to the WWII museum and the Aquarium. Take the car ferry to Algiers and back to get good shots of the city skyline over the river. Magazine St and City Park are other interesting areas to explore. I've never felt afraid in New Orleans, I've lived there and I visit regularly, but if you by chance find yourself having turned into an area that looks unsafe, just turn around and go the other way. Take a swamp tour to see alligators, feral hogs, water birds and other wildlife. Take a plantation tour or drive the River Road yourself, the plantation estates are fascinating.

If you're driving from one city to the other, consider making the drive part of your adventure by including parts of either or both of these: the Natchez Trace, a national park scenic road that has wonderful scenery and historical sites from Indian mounds and pioneer homesteads to mansions and civil war battle sites. And/or Highway 61 that runs through the MS delta and roughly follow the Blues Trail which has unusual photographic opportunities for those willing to look a little deeper - much to see though not the grand-landscape type. But if you do this route, you've gotta hang around long enough to listen to the music, too (Clarksdale is a good bet for that experience).

Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

You didn't mention if your means of travel. Driving or flying. If you are driving perhaps a drive down the Natchez Trace would be in the cards.

http://www.nps.gov/natr/index.htm

Sorry I didn't see that was covered already by minniev.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

For New Orleans, some of the previous posts cover the main sites. I would take a trip to the Audubon Zoo. It is a world class zoo, with all the animals in close to realistic enclosures. Plus, Mississippi River Park, behind the zoo. Of course Audubon Park, which in front of the Zoo, and Tulane University just on the other side of St. Charles Ave. The best way to get there is ride the St. Charles Street Car, which may be disrupted by construction, with a bus half way down the line. The St. Charles Line has green cars, the Canal/City Park line has red cars. Take the "Red Line to City Park, and see the sites there, Art Museum, Lakes, (lots of ducks and swans) the Sculpture Garden, and Botanical Gardens. Also beware, July and August is our hottest months of the year, you may be greeted with temps of 90+ degrees, and 95% or higher humidity. So, carry some water with you. July and August is also the peak time of the hurricane season, so listen to weather reports for local storms. Bring a umbrella, and enjoy your trip.

Gaddysmom

There is a wonderful statue immediately behind St. Louis Cathedral, which I have never photographed, but which has been done by many photographers better than me. I have seen wonderful photos of it taken after dark, but understand it is in an area where lots of people may be moving around after dark.

mdsiamese Loc: Maryland

Not a photo tip, but the Bon Ton café has the best crawfish etouffe I have ever had. It is so full of crawfish that it puts everybody else to absolute shame.

http://www.thebontoncafe.com/

Gaddysmom

And, best raw oysters are at Casamento's on Magazine St.

mdsiamese Loc: Maryland

BTW, I think photographing the varied and interesting food of NOLA would be interesting and fun.

Murray Loc: New Westminster

Thank you very much. Noted

Murray Loc: New Westminster

No prob-kinda enjoyed it.