For many who have been here a while, the streetcar has become only a facility of necessity and convenience.

But watch those who are in town for just a while; they are simply taken with it.

Beyond the necessity there is an atmosphere captured within the noise of the wheel scraping against the track and the buzz that announces the stop.

There are places along the route you love and have made your own. Once the desire for antiquity and scenic atmosphere arises, it’s simply time to go.

It’s not only a scenic route, but a path past some of New Orleans’ most enticing attractions.

There is the cluster of restaurants at the corner of Jeanette and S. Carrolton. Café Nino’s, Lebanon’s Café and the Basil Leaf can satisfy various cravings. At this stop, the scent of food is almost overwhelming as one tries to decide.

Farther up the line at Oak and S. Carrolton is the Rue de la Course Coffeehouse, which is not that much different from the other coffeehouses in the city.

However, this one’s location on the streetcar line is more convenient than the Magazine Street locale.

This relatively new location is in an old bank building and provides space for the idle drinker or ambitious student to sprawl out in ease.

Everyone knows and appreciates that bend in the tracks farther still. The Riverbend juxtaposes elegant dining in restaurants like Louisiana Pizza Kitchen and La Madeline’s with greasy but delicious food at Camellia Grill, Mo’s Riverbend Café (aka Trolley Stop Café) and Cooter Brown’s.

The latter seems to embody the atmosphere of the South in mere taste at almost any hour.

A permanent fixture in all of our lives is the Audubon Park and Zoo at a convenient spot across the street.

For many of us it serves as a place to remain healthy on a daily basis or for simply being lazy on a Sunday afternoon.

There is always something in the park to catch the eye and enough people there to spark an idle, perhaps unforgettable conversation.

Though it is small and seemingly inconsequential compared to all the other places one could go, the Milton H. Latter Public Library is a fascinating place in and of itself.

At the corner of Dufossat and St. Charles, this library, with its small selection of rare books, is watched over by the spirit of 1920s film star Marguerite Clark who used to reside there.

Once inside, one can see the melding of time periods with the antique furniture in the sunroom and the minimalist bookshelves upstairs.

This, too, is a house to satisfy the curiosity of those who have always wanted to see the setup of a St. Charles Ave home.

Farther still is the perfect place for cocktails, one or two dependent upon the student’s pocket.

The Columns Hotel provides the perfect beginning (or the perfect end) to a nice evening.

Inside, one gets the delicate hum of quiet, polite chatter and old school bartenders behind the mahogany bar — no beer here.

For that one has to travel down the street to Superior Grill for casual dining and drinking.

Just down the tracks is the original Trolley Stop restaurant. It would not be a bad idea to try both Trolley Stops to decide which is best.

At Lee Circle, closer to the final stop, one finds the D-Day Museum, which provides information for the curious and patriotic. Through the large windows there is a glimpse of what is deeper in the building.

The final stop — Canal Street — is the goal of most streetcar journeys, where the sprawl of the French Quarter lies before you.

For most of us who have been here a while these revelations are not new. Instead, it is for those who have not ventured very far beyond the familiar, for those who relish great food, good coffee and all else that can be enjoyed along the same vein.

The historic St. Charles streetcar transports locals and tourists day and night. Along the streetcar line, students can find an assortment of restaurants, recreational spots and entertainment opportunities. (Pamela Howard)

For many who have been here a while, the streetcar has become only a facility of necessity and convenience. (Crystal Schouest)