For starters, Hilton suggests kayaking on an old defunct canal called Bayou St. John.
"It's a wonderful way to view the city, in a different way than usual," said Hilton about the waterway that takes you through the middle of New Orleans. "You're basically riding through the backyards of rich people, and you're going through golf courses, and then you're actually going through some of the central business district."
If you're going to hit on the beignets, Hilton says don't go in the morning to sample the doughnut-like treat. He recommends hit the popular shops in the afternoon when you can actually get a table.
One spot many tourists overlook is a neighborhood called Faubourg Marigny, a subdistrict of the Bywater District Area.
"It is a lot more interesting than it used to be," said Hilton. "It's safe, it's got some great little shops, it's got some great little coffee houses and things like that and some great music to do."
Hilton also recommends a neighborhood called Carrollton of uptown New Orleans. He says to catch the St. Charles street car at Canal Street and just keep going.
"This is a neighborhood, like a lot of neighborhoods, that wasn't touched by Katrina," Hilton describes. "It's this great little funky neighborhood with a lot of places that are local businesses."
Top on his list of "can't miss" restaurants in the Carrollton neighborhood is Jacques Imo's.
