When Hurricane Katrina struck the shores of New Orleans in 2005, many of us will remember the terrible images of a destroyed city on many evening news reports.

Three years later, and with the rebuilding process still ongoing, the tourists have steadily begun to return to the Crescent City to sample the authentic Cajun and Creole cuisine and take in the sights and sounds of the city's famous Mardi Gras celebration, amongst other attractions.

The city has a rich cultural history, with a medley of different influences which can be experienced all round the city. There are now a range of companies offering ideas for holidays in the Big Easy, and the cities' tourist board continue to promote the colourful and energetic festivals that the city is famous for.

One of the cities' main attractions is the wide range of Creole and Cajun cuisine, and there are opportunities to take cookery classes in open-plan restaurants as part of your holidays in the Big Easy.

There is a rich tradition of music in New Orleans - known as the birthplace of jazz - and with a wide selection of jazz bars dotted throughout the city and an annual Jazz Fest, giving tourists the chance to take in the sounds of the city.

There are tours available for all parts of the city - from the famous French Quarter to the swamps and plantations dotted around the city limits. Alternatively you can take to the water aboard a paddlewheel steamboat and take in the sights and history from the Mississippi river.

Many businesses and hotels are getting back to normal after the disaster of Katrina, but there are still areas of the city undergoing regeneration.

For those wanting to do a little more to help, there are opportunities to participate in volunteer holidays, usually organised through charities.

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