Royal Street

While offering some of the same kinds of shops, the Royal Street experience is different from shopping Magazine Street. First, you're just a block off Bourbon street, so there's that. And it's a quaint street, with architecture reminiscent of a French 19th-century city, with mule-drawn carriages and cobblestones providing the ambiance. Higher-end jewelry, art and antique shops are the specialty of this strip, which also has a handful of great hotels. And there are constant reminders that the French Quarter is a living neighborhood, as you pass an elementary school, a vet's office and a supermarket. The heart of the street is closed to car traffic during the day, making it an easy pedestrian destination.