Is it worth going to New Orleans or the Gulf Coast for Mardi Gras?

I hear it can get crazy in New Orleans on Fat Tuesday and its better to just take in the celebrations elsewhere along the coast.

Any suggestions on things to do, see or avoid?

Mardi Gras in New Orleans is a blast.

If you have no kids I'd say do NOLA for the experience. With my kids I will never go. Lafayette is really fun too. That's where I will be.

j_crazy- I was hoping you'd chime in. My brothers and I went to NOLA a couple weeks before Mardi Gras pre-Katrina and had a great time including in Lafeyette. This time it's just my GF and me. We are looking at the Biloxi area to stay at. Seems the whole region has some sort of celebration planned.

I've been to Mardi Gras in NOLA 5 times and are planning on going back in 2013. If you want the true MG experience don't spend all of your time in the French Quarter. Head up St. Charles Ave. to catch the parades. We used to fly in late on Thursday and stay until Tuesday or Wednesday. The Quarter gets so crowded Friday and Saturdays so we used to catch all of the night parades on St. Charles with a couple coolers of beer and have a blast.

Below is the parade schedule
http://www.mardigrasparadeschedule.com/2012-Mardi-Gras-Parade-Schedule/

To add to my previous post. Sunday night and Fat Tuesday day are my favorite times in the Quarter. Sunday night most of the college kids from MS and AL are back to school but the party is still in full swing. Fat Tuesday during the day is like nothing else.