WHY IT RATES: Nothing gives us more joy than to see New Orleans continue to return to its old self after Hurricane Katrina - and for travelers to continue to embrace the city. - Rich Thomaselli, TravelPulse Senior Editor
PHOTO: New Orleans remains one of the most popular destinations among travelers. (Courtesy New Orleans CVB)
New Orleans continues to enthrall visitors and garner accolades, most recently being named the No. 2 city in North America for visitors according to a Travel + Leisure reader's survey. New Orleans ranked second to Charleston but above San Francisco, New York City and Chicago.
Readers ranked cities based on categories such as arts, shopping, dining, romantic ambience and friendliness. New Orleans was chosen as the number two destination in America, ranking No. 1 in the world for nightlife and No. 2 in the nation for dining. Travel + Leisure touted both historic dining options and innovative new jazz clubs and bars in the Crescent City as reasons for its high ranking. In 2014 and 2015, New Orleans was named the No. 2 city in North America as part of the Travel + Leisure "World's Best" annual survey.
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"New Orleans is flourishing with both historic establishments that visitors have always loved and cosmopolitan new hotels, restaurants and cocktail programs. Only in New Orleans can you experience the oldest restaurant in America alongside innovative James Beard Award-winning chefs, or see Grammy Award-winning artists perform and then wander into our streets to discover a new musician," said Stephen Perry, President and CEO, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Recognition from such an esteemed travel publication is a testament to our commitment to hospitality and the hard work we do every day to create an unparalleled travel experience for our visitors."
"New Orleans is a consistent choice for travelers because of its authenticity, historic charm, and beauty," said Mark Romig, President and CEO of the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corporation (NOTMC). "Those qualities allow us to deliver on a fantastic experience and we are honored the readers of Travel + Leisure have singled out our nightlife and dining."
READ MORE: Three Romantic Days in New Orleans
The designation as one of the "Best Cities in North America" is New Orleans' most recent recognition in a string of accolades including one of The Washington Post's "10 Best Food Cities in America," the number one "Most Visited Destination Across the Globe" of 2015 by AFAR magazine, one of the "Best Big Cities in the U.S." by Condé Nast Traveler and more.
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