Registration is now open for the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, and it’s returning to New Orleans for the first time since 2009.

No doubt you’ve heard of the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, but as you make plans to attend CTS, here are a few other places to check out while you’re in NOLA. All are close to the convention center and offer another way to experience New Orleans.

Musical Legends Park
311 Bourbon Street

This small park in the French Quarter is a great stop for music lovers. The park pays tribute to New Orleans musical legends with commemorative displays and life-size statues honoring jazz greats including Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, Fats Domino, Chris Owens, Ronnie Cole, Louis Prima, Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas.

Free, live jazz performances add to the atmosphere throughout the day and into the evening until 10 p.m. You can also sit back and enjoy beignets and coffee from Café Beignet while listening to local musicians.

Preservation Hall
726 St. Peter Street

Another must-see for music lovers, Preservation Hall has been offering nightly live music in the French Quarter since 1961. The intimate acoustic concerts put you just a few feet away from the musicians and feature performers dedicated to preserving and celebrating the traditions of New Orleans jazz.

Multiple shows are offered throughout the evening, and tickets should be purchased in advance. Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes before showtime.

Steamboat NATCHEZ
400 Toulouse St

See New Orleans from a whole new perspective with an evening cruise on the Mississippi River aboard the Steamboat NATCHEZ. Dinner cruises feature New Orleans cuisine and live jazz, along with views of the city from the river.

The two-hour cruises depart from the French Quarter, just a short distance from the convention center. Tickets can be purchased in advance, and guests should plan to arrive early for boarding.

The Cabildo
701 Chartres Street

If you have a later flight on Friday or are staying for the weekend, take a trip through Louisiana history at The Cabildo. Housed in a historic Spanish Colonial building next to St. Louis Cathedral, the museum explores the people and events that have shaped the state.

The Cabildo was the site of the Louisiana Purchase transfer ceremonies in 1803, when the United States acquired the Louisiana Territory from France. The museum is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and admission is just $15 for adults.

Another Louisiana State Museum, The Presbytère, is nearby at 751 Chartres Street and features exhibits highlighting Louisiana culture and history.