Mardi Gras and Carnival have long been the marquee events in New Orleans, with the first recorded parade taking place in 1837. Attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year, these festivities trace their origins to French traditions—Mardi Gras translates to "Fat Tuesday" in French. Carnival officially kicks off on January 6th (Epiphany) and unfolds over several weeks, beginning with elaborate, invitation-only balls hosted by krewes (private clubs), where debutantes are introduced to society. The excitement builds in the final weeks, leading up to Mardi Gras, with the famous street parades filling the city with colorful costumes, floats, and lots of music.

Ranked among the most prominent cultural institutions in the Pacific Northwest, the Portland Art Museum features dedicated centers for Native American and Northwest art, alongside rotating exhibitions and permanent collections in its Asian and Modern & Contemporary art wings. The museum also houses two renowned masterpieces: Monet’s Water Lilies and Van Gogh’s The Ox-Cart.

This magical attraction features over 2,000 colourful tropical butterflies floating freely among lush, exotic blossoms and greenery. Paths wind through the rain forest setting, past a pond and waterfall and the Emergence window, where butterflies leave their pupae and prepare to take their first flight. The self-guided walking tour of the Butterfly Conservatory begins with a short, informative video presentation that is closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

Belghazi is a private museum housed in a 17th-century palace, whose collection nearly rivals the one of Dar Batha Museum. As many of the items on display are actually for sale, do have a proper look for taking home a really unique souvenir.