Metairie Cemetery Stories: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

Metairie Cemetery is a good place for a story-led visit because its grand tombs and famous graves can be easy to miss when you wander alone. This 35-minute audio tour turns a quiet cemetery visit into a short lesson in New Orleans courage, faith, and local character.

I like the GPS-triggered narration, which lets you stop, look around, and continue without matching a guide’s pace. I also like the lifetime access and offline maps, useful if you want to replay a story later or avoid using mobile data.

The weak spot is the technology. Two people had serious trouble getting the tour to start, and the instructions may feel less clear than they should. Check the app and tour download before you arrive, not while standing at the cemetery gate.

Key points to know before you go

• A short route through Metairie Cemetery: Plan on about 35 minutes for the recorded tour, with extra time if you stop to look at tombs.
• A private experience without a live guide: Only your party takes part, so you can pause, repeat, or skip audio as you wish.
• VoiceMap handles the route: The free app provides audio, maps, directions, and GPS-based playback.
• Offline access saves data: Download the tour before setting out, then listen without a mobile connection.
• The meeting information needs care: The booking details give 5510 Pontchartrain Blvd as the start, while the itinerary also lists Washington Artillery Park.
• Technical setup is part of the experience: Most people found the download simple, but some spent a long time trying to make the tour work.

Why Metairie Cemetery suits an audio tour

New Orleans cemeteries are not places where you simply walk from one obvious sight to the next. Tombs, monuments, and family names can look impressive, yet the meaning behind them is often hidden unless you know what to look for.

That is where this tour earns its modest price. The Faith & Courage: Metairie Cemetery Stories route gives you a recorded narrative tied to locations in the cemetery. Instead of reading a general guide before you arrive, you hear the next part as you reach the relevant spot.

The format also fits the setting. A cemetery rewards a slower pace, and you may want to stop for a closer look, take a photo, or sit quietly for a moment. A live guide would need to keep a group moving. Here, you control the timing.

The experience is offered in English only. It is not a full-day cemetery study or a broad tour of New Orleans. Think of it as a focused introduction that adds context to a place you could otherwise see only as a collection of elaborate graves.

What the 35-minute route gives you

The recorded tour lasts approximately 35 minutes. That is the listening time, not necessarily the total time you will spend on site. If you pause the audio to examine a tomb or return to a story, your visit will take longer.

The route begins and ends at the same meeting point. The supplied starting address is 5510 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124. The itinerary also names Washington Artillery Park as a stop, which creates a practical point of confusion because the cemetery address and the listed stop do not match.

Use the directions inside VoiceMap rather than relying on a generic map pin. Before leaving your hotel, open the tour, confirm the start point, and check that the route loads correctly. This small bit of preparation could save you from walking in the wrong direction or trying to sort out the location after arrival.

At each GPS point, the app is meant to trigger the next section of narration. You can let the route guide you, then pause whenever you need more time. The GPS feature received strong praise for making the tour easy to follow and for allowing a relaxed pace.

One person completed the route by car, even in the rain. That suggests the audio can work from a vehicle, but you should not handle your phone while driving. Set up the app before moving and treat safety as more important than following the next audio cue.

Faith, courage, and stories among the tombs

The tour’s title points to its central themes: faith and courage. The supplied material does not provide a full list of the graves or monuments covered, so I would not book this expecting a complete catalog of every major burial in Metairie Cemetery.

What you can expect is a selection of stories attached to places along the route. The narration has been praised for being informative, entertaining, and easy to follow. One person also liked the option to read the narration later, which is useful if you miss a sentence because of rain, traffic, or a noisy moment nearby.

That ability to replay the tour is one of the best parts of buying an audio experience instead of joining a one-time group walk. Your access lasts for life. You can listen again during the same visit, return on another New Orleans trip, or review the written narration afterward.

Still, the content may not satisfy everyone. One rating found the detail too limited and felt the route did not highlight enough of the places that mattered most. Another noted that an important grave was only a few feet from the start and finish but was not pointed out clearly.

This is a reminder to keep expectations in check. The tour offers a guided story route, not an expert-led custom visit. If you already know New Orleans cemetery history or want detailed coverage of specific graves, you may want another resource alongside it.

The VoiceMap app and the most important practical tip

You need a smartphone, the free VoiceMap app, and an internet connection for the initial setup and download. The tour itself can then be used offline, including its audio, map, and location data.

The setup process involves downloading the app, creating an account, and entering the code sent to you. For many people, this takes only a few minutes. But two users had a very different experience. One could not access the tour after downloading the required apps, while another spent about 45 minutes dealing with looping and failed playback.

That makes preparation the main practical issue. Download and open the tour before you reach the cemetery. Confirm that the narration starts, the map appears, and the route responds to your location. If something goes wrong, VoiceMap support can be reached by phone or email, and Alicia from the provider specifically advises contacting support during technical trouble.

Do not wait until you are already at the start point. A cemetery is not the ideal place to create an account, hunt for a confirmation code, and troubleshoot audio.

The app-based format also means you do not have a person on site to answer questions or adjust the route. In return, you avoid a fixed departure time and can explore with only your own group.

Why the private format matters

This is a private activity, so only your party participates. That makes it a better fit for couples, families, and small groups who prefer not to keep up with strangers.

You can pause the audio while someone takes a photo. You can replay a section if the story catches your interest. You can also move faster if you are short on time. Those simple choices make a real difference in a cemetery, where the best pace is often slower than a standard walking tour.

The tradeoff is the lack of personal interaction. A live guide can answer a question about a name, explain an unusual monument, or change the focus based on your interests. A recording cannot do that. You receive a consistent route, but not a conversation.

The private format also works well for people who prefer quiet. You can listen through headphones and keep the visit personal, though you should remain aware of your surroundings and other people in the cemetery.

Price, timing, and overall value

At $8.99 per person, this is priced as a low-cost add-on to a New Orleans visit. The strongest value comes from the combination of a short guided route, offline access, and lifetime use.

If two people book, the total is still modest compared with many live tours. You are paying for the recorded content and the app system, not transportation, food, or admission to another attraction. Since the experience lasts about 35 minutes, it also fits neatly into a busy sightseeing day.

The value is less convincing if you expect a long, detailed tour or personal guidance. A 35-minute route can introduce the cemetery, but it cannot cover every notable burial, architectural detail, or local story.

I would also allow extra time beyond the stated duration. The audio may take 35 minutes, but stopping to examine monuments, orient yourself, or deal with the start point will add time. The cemetery is open every day around the clock according to the supplied hours, but you should still choose a time when you can comfortably see and hear your surroundings.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Within 24 hours, the payment is not refunded, and changes are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the tour to you if you like independent sightseeing and want a little structure without joining a group. It suits people who enjoy audio storytelling, want to set their own pace, and are comfortable using a phone app.

It is also a good choice if you are trying to keep costs down. For less than ten dollars per person, you get a focused introduction rather than an unstructured walk through the cemetery.

Families may appreciate the ability to pause and keep the visit short. Couples can take their time without a guide watching the clock. History fans will likely enjoy the stories, though serious cemetery researchers may want more detail than this route supplies.

I would hesitate if you dislike app-based tours, have limited patience for technical setup, or want a live expert. The two failed experiences show that the technology is not a minor detail. It is part of the product.

Service animals are allowed, the tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Transportation to the start is not included, and you need to bring your own smartphone. Food, drinks, and personal expenses are also your responsibility.

My booking advice for Metairie Cemetery

Book this tour if you want a flexible, inexpensive way to add meaning to a visit to Metairie Cemetery. The audio storytelling, GPS route, private format, and lifetime access make it more useful than a simple written map.

Before booking, make sure you are happy with an English-only experience and a phone-based setup. After booking, install VoiceMap, redeem the tour, download everything, and test playback before you go. Pay close attention to the stated start address because the separate mention of Washington Artillery Park could cause confusion.

My final call: good value for independent visitors who prepare carefully, but not the right pick if you need a live guide, detailed grave-by-grave coverage, or guaranteed trouble-free technology. At $8.99, the risk is small, yet your time in New Orleans is not. Do the setup early and this short tour has a fair chance of becoming a memorable part of your cemetery visit.

FAQ

How much does the Metairie Cemetery audio tour cost?

The tour costs $8.99 per person.

How long does the tour last?

The audio tour lasts approximately 35 minutes. You can spend longer at the cemetery by pausing the recording or stopping along the route.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your party participates, with no other group included in your activity.

What app do I need?

You need to download the free VoiceMap app. The app provides the audio, map, directions, and location data.

Can I use the tour without mobile data?

Yes. After downloading it, the tour provides offline access to the audio, maps, and geodata.

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is listed as 5510 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124. The itinerary also names Washington Artillery Park, so check the VoiceMap directions carefully before arriving.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.