New Orleans, the city known as the 'Big Easy' roars with life, imbued with a spirited atmosphere and sense of playfulness that remains long after the Mardi Gras celebrations draw to a close. Stroll down colourful streets lined with eclectic centuries-old architecture and dotted with dimly lit jazz bars and authentic Creole restaurants. Or, get to the heart of the late 18th-century French Quarter, where a visit to Café du Monde to sample their world-famous beignets comes highly recommended.