Parades filled with colorful and whimsical floats have been a part of Mardi Gras tradition for more than a century. Mardi Gras World, located right on the Muddy Mississippi, channels that excitement with more than 400,000 square feet dedicated to the craft of float-making, with hundreds of pieces on display. Before experiencing the magic, you’ll be treated to a traditional Hurricane to help set the festive atmosphere.
After the self-guided tour, you’ll be “transported” to an antebellum mansion for our first dinner of the Retreat. Grand Oaks Mansion, an indoor replica of a Southern plantation located on the Mardi Gras World property, captures all the charm of the Old South. You’ll feast on N’awlins cuisine and dance the night away to a live jazz band, the Gumbo Trio.
Join us as we extend the night by putting on our party beads and taking a stroll down the most famous destination in New Orleans, where the wild meets the sophisticated in a seemingly endless row of bars, restaurants, shops, and clubs.
We’ll be sure to stop at Pat O’Brien’s, where revelers can sample one of New Orleans’ most famous cocktails, The Hurricane. Other spots not to be missed include the Tropical Isle—home of the Hand Grenade cocktail—and the historic Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, America's oldest bar. Visitors looking for something a little more supernatural are encouraged to check out Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo for a Tarot reading or unusual souvenirs.
With its laid-back attitude and festive atmosphere, Bourbon Street is a carnival of music and fun that you will never forget.
Offering an authentic New Orleans experience, the Maison is where the locals hang out to hear great music. Located in a historic 19th century building, this swanky venue hosts a diverse, jazz-oriented lineup on three stages, and offers food, drinks, and dancing. Chauffeur Driven has reserved two private rooms for the evening, which will give Retreat attendees the chance to network and kick back with some of the best music in the city.
Each half-hour tour will take you around the French Quarter neighborhood and give you a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see cultural landmarks and the distinctive architecture unique to the city. And if nothing else, carriage ride offers you a relaxing way to spend an early evening after late-night fun.
You’ll be intoxicated by the sounds of jazz floating from its doors before you even enter Maison Bourbon, our destination for the evening, which proclaims “dedicated to the preservation of jazz” as its motto. With tables just inches away from the band, as well as a second-floor room for more breathing space and an expansive balcony, expect to be swept into the moment. Where you end the night is up to you!