St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans

What are the highlights and features of St. Charles Avenue?

Whether you’re a history buff, culture connoisseur or outdoor enthusiast, St. Charles Avenue has something to offer you. The main attraction is riding the St. Charles Avenue streetcar, which enables you to take in the sights and sounds of the historic street without breaking in your walking shoes. While plenty of people come just to ride the streetcar, it's worth stepping off it from time to time to see what wonders you’re passing.

Those primarily interested in St. Charles Avenue’s historic architecture will want to make a stop along the St. Charles Avenue Historic District, which includes the whole length between Jackson Avenue and Jena Street. Here, you can view a range of Greek Revival, antebellum, Classical Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne-style homes and structures with a simple stroll.

For another bit of history, book a tour at the Amistad Research Center, which is part of Tulane University. The centre holds the largest collection of African American, race and civil rights-related manuscripts in the country – more than 15 million documents in total, as well as 250,000 photographs and over a thousand works of art and artefacts.

Natural attractions on St. Charles Avenue

Ask any New Orleans frequent traveller or local to describe St. Charles Avenue and they’ll likely immediately mention the street’s abundant greenery and ancient oak trees. But there’s more nature to explore just a few steps off St. Charles Avenue, primarily within Audubon Park.

Sharing the name of the neighbourhood it’s found in, the park has jogging and cycling trails, a large golf course, and Audubon Park Lagoon. Adjacent Audubon Riverview Park is a tranquil spot to take in the Mississippi River. The park is also home to the Tree of Life – a sprawling oak that’s estimated to be as much as 500 years old. Once part of a sugarcane plantation, the tree is now a fun spot for adventurous travellers to climb.

Good to know about St. Charles Avenue

Just as with any neighbourhood or street in New Orleans, it’s wise to be cautious when travelling along St. Charles Avenue. Even though the street isn’t as party or nightlife-centric as some of the others in New Orleans, all of the city is somewhat notorious for its petty crime. As such, keep a close eye on your belongings, watch for pickpockets and don’t talk to strangers trying to sell you something or make a bet with you (which usually leads to a scam).

While in New Orleans, you’ll find many walking tours available for St. Charles Avenue. While these can be a fun experience, if you’re specifically looking to save money during your trip, consider walking the street on your own (or taking the streetcar) and simply doing some research on the architecture and history of the street ahead of time.