New Orleans, La. has been an important city for travel and trade since the day it was first settled by Native Americans. Even before the French explorers, fur trappers and traders arrived to its shores around 1690, those who had settled there before understood the importance of the area's advantageous location.

Therefore it is no surprise that early European explorers took a liking to the area and why French adventurer Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville quickly established the settlement of Nouvelle-Orleans in 1718.

The area's tumultuous history of French ownership and southern plantations with large slave populations invoke a richness of history resulting in an eclectic culture full of pride and customs that few other cities within the United States are able to claim. Where else can you experience French architecture while feasting on Southern fare and listening to the Rhythm and Blues?

The draw of New Orleans brings millions of tourists annually to its lively streets for the unparalleled experiences of Mardi Gras and New Year's Eve festivities. But the city's rich history and laidback way of life often attract new residents as well, those searching for a city with more to offer than just the latest retail conveniences and sky scraping towers.

In fact, if you value cultural offerings, there are few cities within America that will be able to satiate your thirst like that of New Orleans. The French Quarter, best known for Mardi Gras parades, is actually New Orleans's oldest neighborhood featuring antebellum sorts of architecture which combine styles of ?Creole,? ?American? and a mixture of the two. Masses of Creole townhomes and cottages set against the distinctive Spanish and French inspired public buildings and monuments create a spectacle that few others are privileged to see on a daily basis within their own neighborhoods.

Plentiful dining establishments blend the area's distinctive flavorings of Cajun and Southern fares. Known as the birthplace of Jazz and as a great contributor to the Rhythm and Blues musical movement, New Orleans's nightlife options are abundant and lively!

New Orleans's rich real estate offerings paired with its cultural flare give the city a distinctive blend of fun and peacefulness that few other cities can offer. While many come to New Orleans to visit they end up calling the area home.