The question/comment we get most is about Mardi Gras- specifically how many people don't want to come to see the spectacle! To that we say this- whatever your tastes, New Orleans can provide a Mardi Gras experience for you! If you're after the big party you've seen on specials, then the French Quarter experience is for you! Bars, boobs and beads go 24 hours a day throughout Carnival! Parades do not actually pass through the streets of the Quarter- they're too fragile and narrrow- but along Canal Street at the edge of the district. Beads at the parades are free, but they're bartered for on Bourbon Street. For obvious reasons, this is the version for adults only. However, there's the Mardi Gras for everyone else, including the locals. Particularly along St. Charles Avenue (where the streetcars run), you'll find lots of kids, BBQs set up, much smaller crowds, and a family-friendly atmosphere. Sure, there are bars, and people BYOB, but you're not likely to see drunkards, and you will certainly not see any exposed body parts flying around. Whatever you decide to do,know that police are everywhere keeping the peace, and there are hardly ever any problems. In the meantime, check out some of these photos to get a small taste of what it all means!