First Time in Nola! Too much? Too little? Changes?

Question

My husband and I (late 50's) are coming to Nola Oct. 4-11! I am a planner and feel sure I have "overbooked" but we can drop things as needed. We will be flying in late on Friday (staying at the airport that night) and then checking into the Quarter House on Saturday. We will rent a car for one day and walk, uber or use public transportation the remainder of the time. Please let me know your thoughts on my plans and if I should switch things around, delete or add. Many thanks and we are so excited!

Saturday, October 4 (Settle In)

Drop luggage at Quarter House

Walk to Jackson Square, French Market checking out the French Quarter

Central Grocery and Deli for Lunch and Beignet from Cafe' du Monde (if not busy)

Check out Reverend Zombie's House of Voodoo and/or Marie Laveau's HoV

Stop by Rouses Market for fruit and coffee

Check in to QH

Grab an early dinner at Coop's Place

Check out bars (Preservation Hall, Pat O'Briens, Fritzel's, Maison Bourbon)

Banana's Foster at Brennan's (if we can get in)

Sunday, Oct 5 (French Quarter)

Complimentary Continental Breakfast at QH

10:00 Mr. Robert French Market Walking Tour

1:00 Napoleon House for Pimm Cup and Jambalaya (no reservations)

Cafe Beignet on Bourbon for afternoon coffee and jazz in the park

7:45 GW Finns (Reservations)

Monday, October 6 (Swamp Day)

9:00 Walk to Cafe Beignet on Bourbon for breakfast and muffaletta to go

10:15 Pick-up at Homewood Suites for Swamp Tour

3:30 Return and walk to Lafayette Cemetery No 2 then QH

Walk to Woldenburg Park/grab a drink

7:00 Acme Oyster House for Dinner (no reservations)

Possible Ghost Tour

Tuesday, October 7 (WWII Museum)

9:00 WWII Museum (Canal and Magazine Bus 11)

12:15 Cochon for Lunch (Reservations)

1:30 WWII Museum

5:00 Return to QH for complimentary hors d'oeuvres and music

Grab a drink at the Carousel Bar

7:30 Galatoire's for Dinner (Reservations)

Wednesday, October 8 (Garden District/Frenchman Street)

10:00 Garden District Free Walking Tour

12:30 Commanders Palace for Lunch (Reservations)

5:00 Catch Streetcar 49 to Frenchman Street

Buffa's or Three Muses for a bite to eat

Check out the Palace Market, Spotted Cat and the Blue Nile

Streetcar 49 to Bienville Street and then QH

Thursday, October 9 (Jean Lafitte/Baratarie Preserve)

8:30 Pick up car at Avis

Stop by Johnny's Po-Boy to pick up something for brunch

Jean Lafitte/Barataria Preserve and

Bayou Savage Refuge? or Woodlands Conservancy?

5:00 Deanie's Seafood for Happy Hour/Dinner (light, no reservations)

8:00 Brennan's for Dessert (Reservations)

Friday, October 10 (City Park)

9:30 Streetcar 48 at Canal and Chartres

Botanical Gardens

Lunch at Acorn Cafe or Cafe Noma (pick up)

Eat lunch in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

3:00 Gondola Ride

Streetcar 48 to QH

6:00 Grab a drink and bite to eat at Arnoud's in the Richelieu Bar

7:00 Davenport Lounge (Ritz Carlton) for nightcap and jazz

Willie's Chicken Shack if still hungry

Saturday, October 11 (Travel)

Answer

Your itinerary for New Orleans looks very well planned and detailed! It covers a great mix of food, music, culture, and sightseeing, and your approach of planning but leaving flexibility is smart. Since this is your first trip and you are in your late 50s, a few adjustments or considerations might make your trip more enjoyable without feeling rushed.

Overall, the balance between walking, tours, and meals looks reasonable, but some days may be long, especially with lots of walking and tight timing between meals and activities.

Saturday, Oct 4 (Settle In): Your plan is packed, especially with visiting multiple food spots, markets, and bars in the French Quarter. Consider skipping one of the late-night bar stops if you feel tired after traveling. Cafe du Monde can get very busy; it may be worth hitting it later in the day if the line is too long.
Sunday, Oct 5 (French Quarter): Your day looks manageable. The Mr. Robert tour and Napoleon House lunch are well spaced. GW Finns dinner reservation is smart; if you want more flexibility, you could adjust earlier stops depending on timing.
Monday, Oct 6 (Swamp Day): Renting a car and taking a swamp tour is perfect. Make sure you bring water, sunscreen, and comfortable shoes. After returning, Lafayette Cemetery No. 2 and Woldenburg Park are close enough, but you may want to keep ghost tour optional if you feel tired.
Tuesday, Oct 7 (WWII Museum): You have a good balance of museum and dining. The museum is large, so your timing seems appropriate, but don’t stress about seeing everything—prioritize exhibits you most want. The evening plan is reasonable.
Wednesday, Oct 8 (Garden District/Frenchmen Street): Garden District tour plus lunch at Commander’s Palace works well. Be prepared for some walking in the Garden District; it’s scenic but involves steps and streets. Evening on Frenchmen Street is perfect for music, just allow extra time to move between venues.
Thursday, Oct 9 (Jean Lafitte/Barataria Preserve): This is a long day with a car. If you prefer more leisurely pace, you could choose just one preserve (Jean Lafitte or Bayou Sauvage/Woodlands) to explore. Happy hour/dinner at Deanie’s works well afterward.
Friday, Oct 10 (City Park): Your day is busy with walking in the park and sculpture garden. Consider skipping the gondola ride if you’re short on time or tired. Nighttime jazz and drinks are excellent, but perhaps choose one or two venues to avoid rushing.

Additional thoughts:

Consider rest breaks between walking-heavy activities, especially in the French Quarter and Garden District.
If lines or crowds are long (e.g., Cafe du Monde, popular restaurants), have a backup plan for food or snacks.
Your plan includes both heavy and light days; that balance should help manage energy levels.
Using Uber/public transportation for most days is smart; only rent a car for swamp day and the preserve day.

Overall, this is a fantastic itinerary that allows you to experience the essence of New Orleans. You may want to remain flexible and be ready to skip a stop or two if needed to enjoy each activity without feeling rushed.