Like many others, I love road trips, especially when it comes to exploring and discovering the wonders of the Florida peninsula. Think of the savings a short getaway can offer. By the time you pack your suitcase, drive to the airport, park, unload your luggage, check in, wait for your flight, board, fly, land, collect your bags, and rent a car, hours have already passed. In that same amount of time, you could hop in a vehicle with one to five other people and be in Orlando, the Keys, Sarasota, Tampa, or dozens of other destinations.

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That said, I also love traveling to more distant destinations where I can enjoy many new experiences without having to worry about renting a car or deciphering maps and unfamiliar roads. I tend to prefer places where many things are easily accessible and can be enjoyed simply by walking or using public transport, and, once there, experiencing a bit of the daily life of the people who live there.

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That's what I thought when I decided to travel to New Orleans in July, a place that, while never officially part of Florida, had parts of eastern Louisiana that were once part of what was known as West Florida before the 19th century. It's a destination with temperatures comparable to those of South Florida in the summer, which I thought would be enough to deter the crowds of northerners who flock there for Mardi Gras from traveling in July. It's a place with hundreds of attractions that combine history, architecture, art, monuments, music, culture, and food, all within a mile or two of each other. For visitors from South America, there's even a Plaza Simón Bolívar at the corner of Canal and Basin Streets.

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From the hotel where I stayed, it was about a four-block walk west to the Superdome, the stadium that has hosted ten Super Bowls in the last half-century; a five-block walk north to the architecture, bars, shops, and restaurants of the French Quarter; and approximately a mile walk east to the convention center, Caesar's Casino, the upscale Canal Place shopping mall, the city's outlet mall, its riverside convention center, and the streetcar line along the Mississippi River that runs north to the French Quarter. Those interested in taking a dinner cruise on the river will also find several boats docked there.

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If you're traveling to New Orleans for a three- to seven-day sightseeing trip, you don't need to rent a car unless, of course, you want to. The taxi fare from the airport to downtown is a flat $36. Simply exit the terminal and head to the taxi stand, where you'll find taxis waiting. The fare is posted both at the stand and inside the cars. The return trip also has the same flat rate of $36. Just ask your hotel's front desk to call a taxi for you.

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When choosing a hotel, I suggest starting your search by checking Google Maps to see all the hotels in the area. Daily rates should be listed next to each hotel; there are nearly 20 within a few blocks of each other downtown. I opted for a budget choice: $58 a night in July at a Holiday Inn Express, with unlimited breakfast included. (If I had rented a car, parking would have cost me about $35 a day.) Prices for nearby hotels, within a block or two, ranged from $70 to $140, including luxury hotels like The Roosevelt and Le Pavillon.

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Getting around the city is easy. There are five streetcar lines and several bus routes. An unlimited day pass costs $3, and a three-day pass costs $8. These can be purchased at kiosks near major transit stops, as well as at Walgreens stores, several of which are located along Canal Street, one of the two main thoroughfares that connect to the Mississippi River. The price for seniors is even lower: just 80 cents for a day pass, with a 24-hour validity period printed on the ticket when boarding any bus or streetcar. Streetcars and buses can be a welcome refuge, especially when you tire of walking and the heat becomes unbearable. Simply hop on public transportation, sit down, cool off, and enjoy the ride, particularly on the St. Charles streetcar line, where you can admire the impressive architecture along the route.