Stay in the tourist areas at night and you will be fine. You wouldn’t wander into Any bad area at night...just use common sense.
Cafe Dumonde
Go into the Cathedral
Go into the antique stores
There is a fine arts photo shop that has some of the best photography you will ever see.
The zoo is cool
You can drink in the Malls
The aquarium
The iMac theater at the aquarium
Take a plantation tour
Take a swamp tour
Drive through the 9 ward, you can still see Katrina stuff
Walk around the garden district, go to the cemetery there...it’s lots better than the one in the quarter.
Irene’s Cuisine, right off the Quarter is great local (expensive) food.
Commander’s Palace is the High End place to eat.
Bourbon street is a nice half hour. Be careful..the drinks will kill you quickly.
Do not wear sandals.
Don’t be shocked by the smell in the bar areas. Being sober at closing time, you can see some great comedy. Watching idiots stumble back to their hotels is worth staying up late.