Beyond Bourbon Street is the podcast where we explore the food, music, places, people and events that make New Orleans unique. Whether you are planning a trip, currently living in New Orleans or simply wanting a taste of the Crescent City from wherever you are, you’ve come to the right place!

During today’s episode we discuss how to get the most out of your Mardi Gras experience. We go over a pre-travel planning checklist including when to visit, where to stay and what to pack. Next, we cover what to do and see once you arrive in New Orleans. We also cover parking and safety as the essentials you need to take with you on the parade route. We go into detail about the two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras, and cover the parades and where to watch, as well as some of the history of the Carnival organizations (much more detail about the history in episode 3: www.beyondbourbonst.com/itunes). Mark provides information about how you can experience Mardi Gras even if you aren’t in New Orleans. Here’s a few tips: Order a king cake and have it shipped to you from one of these favorites: Haydel’s Bakery 1-800-442-1342 https://www.haydelbakery.com/site.php Manny Randazzo’s King Cakes 1-866-456-1476 https://www.randazzokingcake.com Joe Gambino’s Bakery 1-800-246-2466 http://www.gambinos.com Watch the parades as they roll via a series of parade cams: http://www.nola.com/paradecam Watch the meeting of the courts of Comus & Rex via live streaming on Mardi Gras evening: http://www.wyes.org Near the end of the show, Mark also explains how the podcast got the name Beyond Bourbon Street. For more information, visit us at BeyondBourbonSt.com. You can also catch up with us on Twitter @BeyondBourbonSt Thanks for listening! Mark