• Knowledgeable sweethearts know to request the Donecio Suite at Melrose Mansion. Some say it's "the most romantic bedroom in New Orleans" and is a favorite with honeymooners — $450 per night.
  
• For a look at the mystical side of "The Big Easy," insiders visit the Alley House. Guides report that the "Lady in Black" can be seen roaming the halls early in the morning. Some believe it's the spirit of Salina, the plantation's first owner.
  
• For the ultimate New Orleans experience, adventurers plan their trip during Mardi Gras. The "Big Day," or Fat Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday, which falls anywhere between Feb. 3 and March 9. Reserve early, hotels are usually booked by December.

Resources

Melrose Mansion
937 Esplanade Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70116
800-650-3323
www.melrosemansion.com
Cost: Room rates begin at $225 per night.

Outer Limits Charters (fishing)
Metairie, LA
504-915-9991
www.outerlimitcharters.com
Extreme depths and a nutrient-driven Mississippi River — Venice, Louisiana has been called one the most prolific fisheries in the world.

French Quarter Bicycles
New Orleans, LA
504-529-3136
Cost: Full-day bike rental approximately $25

Laura: A Creole Plantation
Vacherie, LA
888-799-7690
www.lauraplantation.com
Cost: A 60-minute guided tour is $10 per adult. Usually begins every 20 minutes.