This publish might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. We might obtain a small fee, for free of charge to you, for those who make a purchase order. Learn Disclosure.
New Orleans is world well-known for its jazz bars and nightlife, and isn’t the primary place that you just consider whenever you consider household holidays. I imply, what number of different cities are you able to sip and drink at a Carousel Bar?
So it begs the query; do you have to go to New Orleans with children? Completely! There are such a lot of sights in New Orleans for households with small children and also you completely can deliver the entire household!
Between the sounds of brass bands and tentacles of Spanish moss, households will discover a metropolis that’s joyful and thrilling. Overlook “grown-up” jazz golf equipment, deliver your children and allow them to watch road performers, devour beignets, paddle previous pirate lore within the bayou, and dance to the drumbeats of Mardi Gras (sure, you’ll be able to take children).
To show that New Orleans is household pleasant, we’ve written this information on the highest issues to do in New Orleans with children from our family journey to the Massive Straightforward.
Video spotlight: Issues to do in New Orleans with children
Quick on time? Watch our video spotlight of our favourite experiences in New Orleans:
1. Sure! Do Mardi Gras with children
Our journey to New Orleans was timed to soak up the Mardi Gras Pageant, which has been on our journey bucket record for years. Just a few individuals questioned if going to Mardi Gras with children was clever and assumed it was greatest suited to adults or older teenagers, not our ladies aged 10 and 6.
Sure, New Orleans is thought for its occasion scene on Bourbon Road within the French Quarter, however a lot of the parades have outgrown the French Quarter and the debauchery. It’s now family-friendly and nice for youths of all ages. We beloved introducing our ladies to this distinctive competition and educating them on the tradition.
We watched the Mardi Gras parades on St. Charles Ave. close to the intersection of Third Road within the family-friendly Backyard District neighborhood and had a unbelievable time. The day we left they had been already plotting to go to New Orleans subsequent 12 months throughout the competition.
They beloved getting dressed up in their very own Mardi Gras costumes, seeing all of the unbelievable floats, and catching all of the beads and different goodies thrown their manner!
We arrived in New Orleans on the Monday, the afternoon earlier than Fats Tuesday (Mardi Gras Day) and we took in three parades; The Krewe of Orpheus, The Krewe of Zulu, and The Krewe of Rex Parade.
Need insider tips about Mardi Gras? Learn our detailed information on the best way to take pleasure in Mardi Gras with children (features a video) and also you’ll quickly have the New Orleans Mardi Gras on your loved ones’s bucket record too!
2. Stroll the French Quarter
Essentially the most well-known, and probably the most historic, neighborhoods in New Orleans is the French Quarter. While you’ve in all probability heard of Bourbon Road and suppose the French Quarter is for grownups, there’s a whole lot of variety to the French Quarter and it takes in a a lot bigger space than you would possibly anticipate.
There’s attraction and historical past and a wonderful vibe you’ll be able to expertise as a household simply by strolling round. We beloved seeing the completely different architectural mixture of buildings, their colourful facades, rustic shutters, and their cast-iron balconies adorned for Mardi Gras.
We’d see horse and carts navigating the slim streets similar to they might have in previous occasions, and road musicians enjoying their jazz tunes for those who walked by, including to the ambiance.
There’s century-old eating places and cafes, galleries, distinctive shops, a French Market, Jackson Sq., St Louis Cathedral and Marie Laveau’s Home of Voodoo.
There’s one thing round each nook within the French Quarter. It’s mysterious, charming and photogenic and also you’d suppose you had been not within the USA.
We spent most of our time there both within the early morning earlier than the crowds confirmed up, or late afternoon earlier than heading to a close-by dinner spot – in all probability greatest to keep away from Bourbon Road at evening time with younger children!
3. Wander round Royal Road
We notably favored Royal Road, which truly runs parallel to Bourbon Road only a block away, however can really feel like a world away from the occasion scene!
It has that Southern attraction and extra family-friendly vibe with cafes, colourful artwork galleries, and our fave restaurant, Brennan’s, which has an incredible courtyard and we felt like we had been consuming breakfast in Europe. Mum and Dad, don’t miss their well-known Bananas Fosters!
Royal Road stretches from Canal Road to Esplanade within the French Quarter, by the residential Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods all the best way to the Industrial Canal.
4. French QuarTour Youngsters Tour
There could also be an excellent ratio of adult-orientated excursions in New Orleans, however our children totally loved the French QuarTour children tour.
Enterprise proprietor and tour information Jill is a former trainer with a Grasp’s Diploma in Elementary Training and was unbelievable in how she interacted with the children and educated them on the historical past of New Orleans and the French Quarter.
As a result of we homeschooled our children while operating our full-time journey enterprise, we at all times search for interactive and studying experiences in each vacation spot we go to.
And as busy dad and mom, it was fantastic to take a seat again and calm down as Jill took management of the day’s lesson.
Stops on the tour included the Mississippi Riverfront, Jackson Sq., the Outdated Slave Public sale Home and different attention-grabbing locations within the French Quarter.
They discovered about New Orleans distinctive tradition beginning with French Creoles, Creoles of Colour, and the newly arrived People, and why New Orleans performed a pivotal function in army campaigns, commerce, and the expansion of America.
5. Eat Beignets at Café Du Monde
Our children had been actually begging us as soon as they heard about this well-known place in NOLA that makes a French-style doughnut that’s coated in powdered sugar. And the truth that it’s open 24/7 anytime we had been within the French Quarter or Jackson Sq. space, the temptation grew!
Cafe Du Monde is an establishment within the French Quarter of New Orleans and has been in enterprise since 1862, and as talked about, is known for its beignets (pronounced ben-yay).
You’ll be completely happy to know that the beignets are generously priced at three for $4.53, our children shared them, so that you can provide your children a deal with with out digging too deep into your journey fund!
And never solely did our children take pleasure in demolishing them in fast time, however getting messy within the course of with powdered sugar in all places, as you do! Oh, and the chocolate milk was a success with them additionally.
A neighborhood waitress from one other restaurant additionally urged Cafe Du Monde as an excellent espresso spot. It was okay, not nice. However I did get a espresso with the take house memento mug – when in NOLA!!
There aren’t any reservations at this open air French Cafe, it’s first come, first served, and also you sit your self down till a white-jacket waiter attends to your desk.
Should you’re fortunate like us you’ll seize an outdoor desk with a view overlooking the entrance of Jackson Sq. which provides to this quintessential New Orleans expertise.
Possibly that is all of your children must declare the French Quarter and New Orleans family-friendly!
Learn extra: Locations to eat in New Orleans
6. Journey a Streetcar
Locals have been getting across the metropolis in a Streetcar since 1835, first in steam-powered automobiles and later in horse-drawn ones.
Our children at all times take pleasure in using the native transport wherever we go. In NYC we rode the subway each day, and in Melbourne, Australia the trams.
The general public transport system in NOLA will not be as in depth as some main US cities, however a historic and enjoyable approach to get round with, or with out children.
Canal Road is the place to begin for all the main avenues that run from Downtown to Uptown and the road that divides north from south within the metropolis road designations.
Streetcars do require you to have the proper change or use the Le Go App, $1.25 a experience, however what a discount to take pleasure in a bit of historical past!
We jumped on the St. Charles Streetcar (Canal at Carondelet cease) and rode uptown into the Historic Backyard District.
The St. Charles line at Canal Road is a well-known route that takes you Uptown previous beautiful stay oak timber and dozens of antebellum mansions, historic monuments, Loyola and Tulane universities, purchasing facilities, eating places and inns.
The St. Charles streetcar is the oldest constantly working streetcar line on the planet.
7. Stroll The Backyard District
We hopped off the streetcar on the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and Washington Ave. Earlier than exploring the Backyard District, a neighborhood well-known for its nineteenth century properties and gardens and designated a Nationwide Historic Landmark in 1974, it was time to seize some lunch.
Joey Ok’s got here beneficial from different locals and is a cool area, good and informal with homestyle Creole eats & po’ boys.
To get to Joey Ok’s, stroll alongside Washington Ave previous Lafayette Cemetery and Commander’s Palace (a well-known Brennan household restaurant in New Orleans since 1893 and winner of six James Beard Basis Awards), then flip proper on Journal Road. Subsequent time in NOLA we’ll eat at Commander’s Palace!
Our children had been good walkers and we like to discover locations on foot, and the Backyard District is a good looking neighborhood with oak-lined streets to walk round in.
We discovered a self-guided free strolling tour on Google, which guided us across the neighborhood.
We did really feel a bit like paparazzi strolling round taking sneaky photographs of all the attractive homes. A number of of them are owned by celebrities. We stood outdoors of Sandra Bullock’s home, John Goodman/s and Archie Manning’s (Peyton and Eli’s dad from soccer fame).
8. See alligators on a Swamp Tour
Once we knew we had been going to Louisiana, one of many first issues we thought of doing was a swamp tour. As a result of that’s what the realm is thought for, am I proper?!
Rising up in Australia, and after doing an 18-month street journey round Oz, we’ve seen loads of Crocs within the wild earlier than, however we’d by no means seen gators within the wild!
Certain it’s a touristy factor to do, however issues are touristy and common for a purpose, and we prefer to expertise what the native space is all about.
So one of many iconic New Orleans excursions is a swamp tour. We joined Cajun Encounters and did a bayou tour of the well-known Honey Island Swamp.
To get there took a few 45 minute drive from the town, and the tour lasted about 1.5 hours and we noticed child gators (it was the improper time of 12 months for giant gators), wild boar, snakes, and egrets.
It’s at all times nice to see wildlife up shut of their pure habitat, and we discovered lots in regards to the Louisiana bayou from our educated information.
And we beloved cruising by the cypress-studded wetlands – so fairly and peaceable, we don’t actually have landscapes like that again house in Australia.
9. Hearken to jazz at Preservation Corridor
One query we had earlier than heading to New Orleans was is it doable to see some stay jazz with our children?Sure it’s, and we did.
Attending to expertise a jazz efficiency at an intimate venue in New Orleans, within the coronary heart of the French Quarter, with our children, was superb!
Preservation Corridor was established in 1961 to honor considered one of America’s truest artwork types– Conventional New Orleans Jazz. Working as a music venue, a touring band, and a non-profit group, Preservation Corridor continues its mission as we speak as a cornerstone of New Orleans music and tradition.
The wonderful thing about Preservation Corridor is that it’s an all ages, non-smoking venue with reveals ranging from 5pm. And the efficiency lasted 45 minutes, which when you will have a 6-year-old, is an ideal size!
The musicians had been nice and fascinating with the viewers, and for a $5 tip you might request a music!
10. Play in Metropolis Park
A number of of our weblog readers urged we go to Metropolis Park with our children while in New Orleans.
And after assembly one other beautiful native household on Mardi Gras day who stay in New Orleans, we determined to have a comply with up play date and so Metropolis Park it was. And the way excellent.
The 1300-acre Metropolis Park is without doubt one of the oldest city parks within the nation, and a real oasis. It’s inside the metropolis however a forty five minute Streetcar experience or 25 minute drive. We selected to drive.
Metropolis Park is house to Storyland (a storybook-themed playground), a lake for paddle boat leases, a sculpture backyard, the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, a Botanical Backyard, biking paths, and the oldest grove of mature stay oak timber on the planet – that are unbelievable – and way more!
To our children delight, we began off our go to at Morning Name which serves beignets 24 hours a day!
While the children indulged in beignets, we tried a gator sausage and a New Orleans favourite basic café au lait.
We then took a stroll across the sculpture backyard and employed paddle boats for a spin across the lake.
11. Tour Mardi Gras World
We didn’t personally go to Mardi Gras World as we’d simply had two full days of Mardi Gras Parades and had a full schedule.
However this place got here extremely beneficial as one of many high issues to do in New Orleans by different journey associates and locals.
Should you go to New Orleans out of Mardi Gras season however need to expertise some Mardi Gras, you will get an actual behind-the-scenes have a look at what goes into the competition all-year-round right here.
You may meet artists and watch them construct their floats for the following Mardi Gras, attempt on costumes, and take a look at some well-known King Cake.
That is the place the oldest and largest parade floats and sights for every Mardi Gras season are constructed, with over 500 floats constructed and adorned annually.
12. Calm down in Jackson Sq.
Jackson Sq. is a part of the French Quarter, however I’m including Jackson Sq. as a standalone attraction.
This sq. is a favourite place of ours to calm down on the grass, or one of many seats below the beautiful timber, and let the children play while we soak up individuals watching and the grandeur of St. Louis Cathedral – the oldest cathedral nonetheless in use in North America!
We grabbed a espresso from Spitfire Espresso on close by St. Peter Road, a advice from an Aussie barrister we met in Montgomery, Alabama (small world) and kicked again below the solar!
13. Have a picnic at New Orleans Botanical Backyard
Should you’re in search of someplace stress-free to hang around with the children, then the botanical gardens is the place to be.
This 10 acre backyard is open all 12 months spherical and is a fascinating area stuffed with over 2,000 crops and fauna.
Since we homeschool our children, the Botanical Gardens affords a whole lot of worth to us. It has instructional applications and interactive displays the place you’ll be able to study flora, in addition to the best way to distribute new crops to develop within the South area.
The Christmas gentle expertise, Celebration within the Oaks is a well-liked factor to do in New Orleans for Christmas.
Prime tip: Should you can, attempt to go to on Wednesdays when there’s free entry!
14. Go to the Oak Alley Plantation
You probably have time to take a day journey from New Orleans, then a go to to the Oak Alley Plantation is a should go to! There are a number of plantations outdoors the town; we suggest visiting Houmas Home, Laura Plantation, and Oak Alley.
Oak Alley is without doubt one of the most visited and is the place we’d suggest for those who solely have time for one. It’s a former sugar plantation changed into a museum. Its mission is to protect the mansion (Massive Home) and surrounding 63 acre website for use for the schooling of slave historical past.
It has been open to the general public since 1976 and is the place you’ll be able to study all about this poignant piece of American historical past.
Should you discover plantations thrilling, you’ll be able to mix two plantations on this combo tour.
15. Watch stay music on the New Orleans Jazz Museum
Jazz is without doubt one of the largest causes to go to New Orleans, however for households in search of kid-friendly locations to expertise this soulful music, you must have a look at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.
Whereas the museum itself is fascinating, with displays devoted to Jazz historical past and tradition, together with listening stations, motion pictures, devices, and a recording studio and dance ground, the spotlight of the museum is the occasions.
It has stay music and performances a couple of nights every week, normally Wednesday – Sunday, although it differs every week. Every occasion is devoted to Jazz in some kind, from Jazz yoga to performances from a full jazz band.
Be sure to take a look at the ‘occasions web page‘ to see what’s taking place whenever you go to. It’s preferrred for these wet days in New Orleans whenever you want one thing indoors to do.
16. See the geese at Louis Armstrong Park
Simply outdoors the French Quarter is the Louis Armstrong Park. It’s a public area that’s devoted to the jazz musician, Louis Armstrong, and incorporates a Congo Sq., which was a historic assembly spot for slaves within the 1800s, a number of sculptures, and most significantly, duck ponds.
In case you are in search of free issues to do in New Orleans with toddlers, get your self some bread and go and feed the geese! This park is a good spot for stress-free and hanging out along with your kids.
17. Have an academic day on the Nationwide WWII Museum
A number of of our readers and journey associates mentioned the World Conflict II Museum is an incredible museum (in all probability extra acceptable in case you have teenagers) and an excellent place to study WWII historical past.
What makes this museum such an incredible expertise, is how interactive it’s. With theaters, galleries and a room designed as a submarine, historical past comes alive and is far more thrilling than simply starring at objects behind glass.
And you’ll go to the Soda Store contained in the museum, which is certainly purpose to go to.
18. Strive some genuine Gumbo
You bought to attempt the native delicacies. Gumbo is the official meals of Louisianna, so no journey to New Orleans can be full with out attempting this iconic dish.
It’s a soup dish, historically made with seafood comparable to shellfish, which has been stewed in a strongly-flavored inventory for a number of hours. It’s then topped with meat (normally sausage), thickener, celery, bell peppers, onions, and the primary ingredient, Creole.
A top-rated restaurant to attempt Gumbo is on the apty named, award successful Gumbo Store on Peter Road.
19. Be cultural on the New Orleans Museum of Artwork (NOMA)
This can be extra of an attraction in New Orleans for mother and pop, however it could’t at all times be in regards to the children, proper? The New Orleans Museum of Artwork is an unmissable factor to do in New Orleans and is the oldest advantageous arts museum within the metropolis.
It opened in 1911 with solely 9 items of artwork, however has grown to a group of greater than 40,000 as we speak. It’s most well-known for its assortment of French and American artwork, in addition to images, glassware, and African and Japanese work.
Maybe the most important attraction is the 12 acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Backyard, which has over 90 sculptures that fill a stunningly manicured backyard with reflecting lagoons and 200 12 months previous, Spanish moss-laden stay oaks.
The sculpture backyard is a quiet and peaceable area, the right distinction to the busy streets of New Orleans.
Different issues to do in New Orleans with children
We love getting suggestions from our readers and locals residing in New Orleans. We requested them what’s a should do in New Orleans?
These are issues they urged as the highest New Orleans vacationer sights that we should always return and do:
Is New Orleans family-friendly?
One of many many issues we had been enthusiastic about when transferring to the USA from Australia was that the US has a lot variety, and nowhere is that extra evident than in New Orleans.
New Orleans, or The Massive Straightforward because it’s additionally identified, has been essentially the most distinctive US metropolis we’ve visited up to now. There is no such thing as a place fairly prefer it. It’s received tradition and soul, unbelievable meals and music, historical past, attraction, competition after competition, and throughout nice individuals.
Certain it has its fame as a little bit of a celebration metropolis – and effectively deserved – nevertheless it additionally has loads of kid-friendly actions and sights that make it a worthy cease in your itinerary.
Don’t begin calling your babysitter but, there isn’t any purpose to go away the children behind. There’s a lot extra to New Orleans than Bourbon Road and Frenchman Road. There’s additionally superb structure, scrumptious seafood (don’t miss out on the fried shrimp!) and even some spooky ghost tales to inform.
One more reason we all know New Orleans makes for an excellent household vacation spot is that we had been lucky to fulfill different households who stay in NOLA they usually love residing right here.
Moreover all of the household journey we do, we additionally homeschooled our children, and used journey as approach to educate them in regards to the world round us.
New Orleans was an unbelievable classroom. With the affect of the French, Spanish and African People, and its historic location, we had enjoyable studying in regards to the historical past and its individuals.
New Orleans is such a worthy vacation spot it was included in a number of of our greatest USA street journey suggestions!
Getting round New Orleans
We beloved that New Orleans is a strolling metropolis.The one time we used our automotive was to drive to Metropolis Park and to do the swamp tour. In any other case, we walked all over the place or took the streetcar to the Backyard District, and twice we used an UBER.
In case you are flying in, suppose twice about renting a automotive; it’s costly to park your automotive, and discovering an area is a nightmare. In case you are staying in or close to the Central Enterprise District (CBD) or French Quarter you’ll be advantageous on foot or by streetcar.
Louis Armstrong New Orleans Worldwide Airport is 12 miles from The French Quarter, a few 30-40 minute drive.
You may get an Airport Shuttle from the ticket cubicles positioned on the primary stage all through the Baggage Declare space. Go to www.airportshuttleneworleans.com for extra data.
For an entire record of transportation choices in New Orleans go right here.
The place to remain in New Orleans
We stayed at The Whitney Resort, which is positioned in Downtown New Orleans on the nook of Poydras Road and Camp Road. It’s a transformed financial institution constructing and a Nationwide Historic Landmark, which has been transformed into trendy luxurious however with an reasonably priced price ticket.
I beloved staying in historical past, and the placement was very handy for us and we may just about stroll wherever. The French Quarter was 7 minute stroll alongside Camp Road, St. Charles Avenue is 1 block away, Canal Road is a 6 minute stroll, and Jackson Sq. and the Superdome is a 15 minute stroll.
Basically you’re smack dab between the French Quarter, The Backyard District, and The Warehouse District.
And this resort is quiet. I’ve heard tales of individuals staying proper within the French Quarter and it being extremely noisy all evening. Though a whole lot of sights are on this district, it’s not preferrred for households because it attracts a younger grownup crowd in search of nightlife, so we most well-liked this location when visiting with children.
And luxurious inns like Resort Monteleone, which is known for its carousel bar, could be extremely expensive for a household.
We additionally appreciated that our room was spacious and divided into two separate bedrooms. Though we spent little time there, once we did it had room for us to calm down and get running a blog work finished. And the bogs are massive.
They provide a complimentary continental breakfast, WiFi, and in-room bottles of artesian water. And the reception employees had been extraordinarily useful and pleasant and supplied nice suggestions for New Orleans!
You could find extra inns in New Orleans on this interactive map:
Ultimate ideas
So there you will have it, these are some high issues to do in New Orleans with children and as you’ll be able to see, there’s a whole lot of household enjoyable available! We hope this information helped change your notion of New Orleans as a family-friendly metropolis!
Now that we’ve proven you what number of cool kid-friendly sights in New Orleans you’ll be able to go to, all that’s left for us to say is have an excellent journey!
Extra Journey Concepts For The South
Are you visiting every other cities within the South? Then these different assets could also be useful to you:
Pin To Save It On Pinterest
