PETERSEN’S PLAYBOOK — Travel Health, ER Insights & Smart Vacation Planning
New Orleans Health Score: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
An incredible, indulgent city — heat, humidity, late nights, and rich food are exactly what we treat here.
New Orleans at a glance
New Orleans is festivals, jazz, Creole food, and Bourbon Street — a city that runs hot, humid, and late.
Top 5 healthy things to do in New Orleans
- Stroll the Garden District and Audubon Park
- Walk or bike the Mississippi Riverfront
- Morning beignets, then a long walk to work them off
- City Park and the sculpture garden
- Paddle or tour the bayous
Best golf in New Orleans
TPC Louisiana (host of the Zurich Classic) in Avondale and Bayou Oaks in City Park are the local rounds — brutal humidity, so hydrate hard.
Healthy eats
Between the rich classics, look for fresh seafood, gumbo with extra veggies, and the city’s growing healthy-cafe scene.
Common vacation health risks in New Orleans
- Dehydration and heat exhaustion
- Alcohol-related illness
- Foodborne illness
- Blisters and foot injuries from walking
- UTIs
- Sinus and respiratory infections
- Sore throats
- Sunburn
Dr. Petersen’s take
“New Orleans hospitality is dangerous in the best way — heat plus all-day drinking plus rich food is a recipe for the dehydration and stomach trouble we see constantly. Water between every drink, and don’t skip real meals.”
— Dr. Erik Petersen, DO, board-certified emergency & internal medicine
Closest emergency rooms
For a true emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. University Medical Center New Orleans (2000 Canal St) and Ochsner Medical Center are the major hospital ERs.
Closest urgent care & pharmacy
Walgreens and CVS are throughout the Quarter, CBD, and Uptown, some 24-hour; call ahead. (Hours and locations change — please call ahead to confirm.)
What to pack
- Prescription medications (original bottles + a list)
- EpiPen and rescue inhalers
- Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 30+) and a hat
- Electrolyte packets
- Anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medication
- Basic first-aid and blister care
If you get sick in New Orleans
If illness strikes on your New Orleans trip, Vacation Medicine provides virtual urgent care from licensed physicians — right from your hotel or rental. We treat UTIs, sinus and skin infections, pink eye, nausea and diarrhea, allergies, dehydration, and medication-refill emergencies.
Call Vacation Medicine: 850-660-3112 — Seen in minutes. Followed for a week.
Book a Virtual Visit – $100 Flat Fee →
Local hidden gems
- Best calm morning: Audubon Park before the heat
- Best walk-off: beignets at Cafe du Monde, then the riverfront
More Healthy Traveler guides: guide · guide
