Don't…
GET BAMBOOZLED BY VOODOO, BOAS, AND BEADS

Shopping enthusiasts might have a tough time in the city's tourist zones—if for no other reason than the nonstop assault of cheesy souvenir stores. Along certain high-traffic stretches of the Quarter, you might think that there's nothing to buy in the city but tacky T-shirts, risqué Mardi Gras beads, and lacquered alligator heads. Sure, Aunt Marjorie might be intrigued by a bright pink wig or Britney Spears voodoo doll, but how many tchotchkes are you willing to pack into your carry-on?

Instead…
SHOP THE LENGTH OF MAGAZINE STREET

Magazine Street is home to many of the city's newest boutiques and funky purveyors of New Orleans mementos. Grouped in three different neighborhood clusters (Lower Garden District, Garden District, and Uptown), the stores along this stretch give shoppers plenty of local options when it comes to art, jewelry, and distinctive clothing. Decor fans should check out Bush Antiques for its selection of historical furnishings. Stop in at Sucré for handmade sweets and a cooling gelato on your way to Funky Monkey for a vintage clothing fix. Mignon Faget offers a wide range of New Orleans–themed jewelry; Plum sells playful housewares and art, and Dirty Coast hawks fantastic local graphic designs in convenient T-shirt form.

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