This discussion was created from comments split from: Ask a Tulane Freshman.
We will be visiting Tulane in mid-January with my high school junior who fell in love with Tulane during an admissions presentation in our area this fall ( fantastic admissions rep!). He will tour and we will attend a basketball game. Any other suggestions on things to see/do to get a good feel for Tulane? Less concerned with Bourbon St ( which we will certainly visit), etc but more along the lines of places to go that will have Tulane students to get an idea of what they are doing on weekends and how they spend their time, where they eat, etc. Any suggestions/advice greatly appreciated!
Magazine Street and the Oak Street area are closer to campus than the French Quarter and are full of great restaurants, cute shops, bars, music venuse. Audubon Park is right across the street. I know students run, skate, bike, play frisbee, etc in the park.
That is great that you will attend a bball game. Tulane gave UConn everything they could handle last night. What a comeback to take the lead late, just couldn’t make free throws to save their lives. I have a feeling I know what Conroy will have them working on for days.
Anyway, just to second what @dolphnlvr6 said, plus be sure to ride the streetcar from Tulane all the way to Canal Street (across from FQ) or vice versa. Or even ride it past Tulane to where the Camellia Grill is. That is a famous, very casual dining spot, and it is easy to walk from there to see the various Oak Street and Maple Street venues. Magazine Street, which is on the other side of Audubon Park, is much busier than Oak and Maple, but in a great way, with lots of local shops. Hardly any chains in the area at all. In fact off hand I can only think of a Whole Foods store, but there must be at least a couple others I am forgetting. But you get the idea. It is mostly small shops and restaurants and very NOLA.
Depending on how much time you have, and the weather, another way to combine seeing the Garden District and Magazine Street is to take the streetcar on St. Charles to Washington, get off there and walk south (towards the river, the driver can tell you which way Magazine Street is) and that way you see some of the lovely homes along those streets as well. There is a famous cemetery one block down, and just across from that is Commander’s Palace, one of NOLA’s most famous restaurants. One could literally spend hours just going up and down the streets of the Garden District on both sides of St. Charles, if one likes that kind of thing and has the time. If this map link works like I am supposing it should, https://www.google.com/maps/@29.9281159,-90.0854537,17z St. Charles and Washington is in the upper center, and you can see Magazine 5 blocks down.
While I agree with both @dolphnlvr6 and @fallenchemist about off campus be sure to look on campus too. Besides taking the campus tour just sit and have a snack in the LBC (Student Union). There you will see students eating, studying and working in groups. I think this is a great way to see the student body in their own environment. Enjoy your visit!
I assumed seeing the campus was a given! 
But I agree lingering and observing on campus is quite valuable. It all depends on how much time one can devote to the trip. That is why I think Tulane should be visited on a Thursday and then use Friday and Saturday as NOLA vacation days, so to speak. Then travel home Sunday and send in your Tulane deposit on Monday 
Yes, we are hopeful to sit in on a class and have lunch in the cafeteria as well. Fortunately, we are arriving on a Thursday night and staying until Monday morning so have lots of time to explore, so appreciate any advice for the true Tulane experience!
My son is only a junior, so won’t be applying until fall but he is ready! This is my last/third time with my kids and the college hunt and have definitely learned to be proactive and not wait until the last minute for visits/tours for the schools that they are most interested in. Appreciate any and all advice!
It sounds like you are all over this, @fallschurchmom!! Funny that you actually are going for the Thursday-Monday trip. That will give you plenty of time to really take in the campus and to explore these other areas, and maybe even take a trip out to the plantations and bayous. If that is of interest, I can recommend by PM some companies that have been good for tours. They pick you up at your hotel if you want.
For sitting in on a class or two, I only recommend that he find ones he likes about a month ahead of time, and write to the professor that is running the course for permission. Not only is that more polite, but it also eliminates the possibility that the professor is giving an exam that day and obviously that would be wasting your son’s time. Or that class in cancelled because the prof will be out that day. That kind of thing. Also confirm the location of the class in the email. Often classes are moved in the first few days but they never change the original web page.
I also wouldn’t be hesitant to choose a course or two beyond the intro level. If he wants to sit in on a mythology class, or a linguistics class, or whatever he thinks would be more interesting despite jumping in without all the previous exposure, I would encourage that. I think courses like that are more indicative of what any school is like. Intro to chem or calc or Spanish 101 is pretty much the same everywhere. I mean I wouldn’t go overboard with classes that are far too specialized, of course, but I think there are many topics that can be interesting and good examples even though they are considered higher level.
Depending on what weekend you go there may be parades. Mardi Gras is super early this year!
The basketball team has been fun to follow this season! My son works the games and I’ve been able to see him on ESPN quite often! 
They’ve given West Virginia and UConn both a run for their money!
I recommend Satsuma for brunch on one of your weekend days. It’s on Maple Street, about a half mile from campus through really stunning neighborhoods. They’re great for an inexpensive breakfast and you’ll definitely see Tulane kids there. If the weather is nice enough, I would even walk there from campus. It really is pretty. You’ll definitely see Tulane kids at Aububon park as well as the Fly (south of Aububon, where the park touches the Mississippi) which is a great place to watch the sunset. And if you’re looking for dinner, Dat Dog on Freret is a popular place to eat (and you can try their Alligator Dog).
If anyone wants more specific info based on their student just PM me, I’d be happy to refer them to things more applicable to them.
If you haven’t booked a place to stay, I recommend the Park View Guest House, which is on St. Charles Avenue across from Tulane, and on the corner of Audubon Park: http://parkviewguesthouse.com/. But it tends to fill up early.
I now live in NY but I grew up in New Orleans and went to Tulane for Law School (Loyola next door as an undergrad). I agree that it is helpful to visit the whole campus (including the book store and other buildings) and the area around it. Wander around, chat with people and also take the nearby streetcar on St. Charles Ave. to see the rest of uptown and venture into the CBD (Central Business District). If music is an interest I suggest you go to Tipitina’s on Friday or Saturday evening or relax at the Columns Hotel in the afternoon or at least around Oak / Freret Streets. Hi Hat is a nice casual restaurant nearby – see more here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/RestaurantsNear-g60864-d7318128-Tulane_University-New_Orleans_Louisiana.html. Shop at Perlis on magazine or the many antique stores in the area - and for many, the best coffee is at PJs (not Starbucks) in New Orleans.
If you want to go to a museum, the WWII museum is very interesting. There are several others and a nice zoo in Audubon park, and an aquarium too downtown. The Mississippi River is nearby and has paddle boat cruises too.
People are friendly & enjoy life (food, music, laughter and the Saints & Pelicans are popular too). I thinkTulane students tend to enjoy learning and being challenged and also to have a good time. Hope you and your son have a good experience but if you have specific questions, please ask them.
Thank you so much!
This is exactly the info I was looking for. We are staying at the Park View…so glad that it seems like the right choice as we wanted something close to campus to walk around. Hoping for good weather ( 19 degrees in the DC area this morning so NOLA will definitely be an improvement!). Appreciate all the recommendations.
Regarding music scene at night…for places like Tipitina’s…is age a factor? i.e…do you need to be over 18 or 21?
Check the calendar for venues you want to visit, they will indicate if shows are 18+ or 21+. Tipitina’s is usually 18+. Maple Leaf is 21. Any venue that has video gambling on premises will be 21. We started taking our son to see live music in NOLA when he was about 8 and it was never an issue, except for the places with video poker.
For music, take a stroll down Frenchman Street on either Fri or Sat night. Tons of places with live music to drop into and I doubt anyone will give your 17 year old a second look.
When down near the FQ get some grilled oysters at Dragos or Acme Oyster House. When Uptown, Pascal Manales’ BBQ shrimp (which actually aren’t barbecued). Two of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
The street car ride from the FQ all the way out to the TU campus is a must, but it is SLOW. And the streetcar needs to be running for the whole route. I think it may be doing that now for the first time in several years.
@fallschurchmom You are on the same schedule I am. My son is a junior and I want our decision to be made and applications in the mail by September. Of course, he got his PSAT score today and we think he made it but aren’t sure, and if he did we won’t know if he makes Finalist until next February. It complicates everything.
Also, you’ve gotten so many great restaurant suggestions, but possibly my favorite in the world is the Bon Ton Cafe on Magazine St. in the CBD. Also, Port O’ Call, on Esplanade has a great steakburger. Don’t get the idea that you’re going to go there for Sunday lunch, though, unless you are willing to wait.
The Bon Ton is a classic, and it is great. I haven’t been to Port O’Call in forever.
Ruby Reds was better.
We haven’t been to Port of Call in ages either. There are so many burger places in NOLA now! Yo Mama’s has great burgers. Charcoal has exotic meats and make your own burger. Company Burger consistently gets rated best burger in NOLA.