New Orleans, Louisiana
The French Quarter has a lot going on and shopping can be found nearly everywhere. The French Market includes five blocks of local produce, specialty art, handmade crafts, retail shopping and more.
The flea market at the end of Esplanade Avenue, offers all kinds of treasures. It is a pop up tent market that is covered overhead from the hot Louisiana sun.
You can find everything handmade, stop and grab a smoothie, sit and people watch or check out options of eclectic items such as the taxidermied gator heads or venus fly trap. There is a little something for everyone.
I found a lovely green hat and there was a lot of unique jewelry that caught my eye.
In 1791, the French Market originated as a Native American trading post along the Mississippi River. From there it continued to evolve into a cultural and commercial hub for New Orleans, as French and Spanish colonists opened the market up to ships and traders from all over the world.
Over the next three centuries, immigrants from Europe, Africa and the Caribbean began to open their own venues at this French Quarter market, offering everything from Italian butcheries to African coffee and Choctaw spices.
In the late 19th century, the Market was given its modern day, bizarre-like structure, designed by Joseph Abeilard, one of America’s first African American Architects. With its new permanent home, the French Market continued to grow and add more commercial products, fresh produce and unique commodities that cannot be found anywhere else.
Fun Fact Alert - History
If you forget to pack your favorite sandals or your new dress, there are endless options to find something that will work here. If you want to get one of a kind special gifts for your friends or family, this is your go to! You can have special jewelry designed or watch as your pottery is being hand crafted.
A couple blocks up yoou will find an H&M and other retail options scattered across the walk.
The Shops at Canal Place at the foot of Canal Street have all your designer boutiques and Saks Fifth Avenue type of stores.
Located just parallel to the Mississippi River and right off Jackson Square, the French Market is within walking distance of any location in the French Quarter. You can take the St. Charles streetcar from Uptown, or the Canal St. streetcar from Mid-City and get off at Canal and Carondelet Street to walk a few blocks down to the river. There are also plenty of paid parking lot spaces along S Peters Street within block of Jackson Square.
