New Orleans Family Vacation Guide & Best Things To Do With Kids

Are you planning a family vacation in New Orleans and wondering if it’s actually kid-friendly? The good news is, it absolutely is! From hands-on museums and outdoor adventures to live music and sweet treats, there are plenty of fun things to do in New Orleans with kids to fill your trip. In this guide, I’m sharing the best family-friendly attractions, toddler-approved activities, and even free things to do so you can plan an easy and enjoyable visit to Louisiana.

We were lucky enough to visit New Orleans during the two years we lived in New York, and it quickly became one of our favourite trips. The city has such a unique energy. It’s lively and full of character, but still relaxed and welcoming at the same time.

New Orleans (also sometimes called Nola) is often known for its nightlife and party scene, so I wasn’t completely sure what to expect when visiting with a toddler. But we were pleasantly surprised by how family-friendly it actually was.

In this guide, I’ll share with you all the best things to do in New Orleans with kids, along with practical tips to help you plan your own family trip.

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Planning a Family Vacation in New Orleans

Below, I am going to share some tips to help you plan your perfect New Orleans family vacation, before moving on to the best things to do in New Orleans with kids.

Is New Orleans a Good Family Vacation Destination?

New Orleans might be best known for its wild nightlife and party scene, but it’s also a surprisingly great destination for a family vacation. There are museums, parks, riverfront walks, and plenty of food stops that work well with kids of all ages.

How Long to Spend in New Orleans with Kids

Around 3 days in New Orleans is a great amount of time to explore Nola’s main highlights at a relaxed pace. This gives you enough time to see the key attractions, enjoy the food scene, and explore a few different neighbourhoods without feeling rushed.

Where to Stay in New Orleans with Kids

Choosing the right area to stay in New Orleans can make a big difference when visiting with children. I always recommend families stay in a central location during a city break. Avoiding unnecessary travel time is always a win with kids.

We stayed at the JW Marriott on Canal Street, which was a fantastic base for exploring New Orleans with kids. The location is very central, making it easy to walk to many of the main attractions, and the hotel itself felt very luxurious and comfortable.

Other Great Hotels in New Orleans with Family Rooms:

If JW Marriott on Canal Street isn’t available for your trip, here are some other great options:

• The Royal Sonesta New Orleans – $$$ – A high-end hotel in the heart of the French Quarter, ideal for a central stay with plenty of atmosphere.
• Hotel Provincial – $$ – A charming French Quarter hotel with an outdoor pool and family-friendly feel.
• Holiday Inn New Orleans-Downtown Superdome – $ – A reliable and well-reviewed option for families on a budget.

How to Get Around New Orleans with Kids

New Orleans is a very walkable city, especially in areas like the French Quarter. We were able to explore most places on foot, and only used the historic Streetcar once to reach City Park.

Most areas are fairly stroller-friendly, although some streets have uneven cobblestones or raised pavements. A sturdy stroller or lightweight travel buggy is ideal. I am a huge fan of our Joolz Aer and always recommend it. (Read our full Joolz Aer review here.)

Is the New Orleans CityPASS Worth it?

The New Orleans CityPASS covers over 25 of Nola’s attractions and tours. It can save you up to 50% on entry fees.

However, for our trip, we didn’t purchase it, as many of the main family-friendly activities we wanted to do weren’t included in the pass. It’s still worth checking if it fits your itinerary before you go. 👉See the full details of the New Orleans CityPASS here.

The Best Things to Do in New Orleans with Kids

In this section, I’ll share the best things to do in New Orleans with kids. I’ve organised these by area to help you plan your family vacation more easily.

I’ve also added a handy Google Map further down this post to help you visualise your New Orleans itinerary.

Explore the French Quarter as a Family

The French Quarter is the historic heart of New Orleans and one of the most popular areas to visit with kids (or even without them!) It’s known for its beautiful architecture, colourful buildings, ornate iron balconies, and lively streets filled with music and street performers.

You can see a lot of the French Quarter in one day, but if you have time, I would recommend spending at least two days here. There’s a lot to take in, and we found ourselves noticing new details even on streets we had already walked down.

Despite its lively reputation, we found it easy to explore with a toddler during the day, and there are plenty of stops along the way to keep things interesting. Below are all the places in the French Quarter that you’ll want to add to your family vacation itinerary.

Jackson Square and St Louis Cathedral

Located right in the heart of the French Quarter, you’ll find Jackson Square, overlooking the fairytale building that is St Louis Cathedral.

Jackson Square is one of the top places to visit in New Orleans is a great place to stop and rest for a while or even have a picnic. It’s filled with palm trees and is so picturesque.

Our two-year-old toddler loved running about and climbing in the trees here. Between the square and the Cathedral, you find fortune tellers, market stalls and street performers. These also make great entertainment for kids.

St. Louis Cathedral is open daily from 9:30 am – 4 pm and is completely free to enter.

Eat Beignets at Cafe du Monde

Just a few minutes from Jackson Square, you’ll find Café du Monde (located on Decatur Street). This is a must-visit place during a New Orleans family vacation and will be loved by both adults and kids alike.

Eating a Beignet (a deep-fried pastry covered in sugar, think square doughnut without a hole) is something that should be on everyone’s Nola bucket list!

As it’s so popular, there is usually a line outside. When we visited, it looked long, but it did move quickly, and it was well worth the wait.

Of course, our toddler was happily sneaking the leftover icing sugar into his mouth as well!

Burn Kids Energy at Cabrini Playground

Playgrounds are always a great, free activity that will keep kids entertained and burn off some energy, both at home and when travelling. We visited a few playgrounds in New Orleans, and Cabrini Playground was our favourite. It had lots of play equipment and a big field for kids to enjoy, and the houses around the square are so beautiful!

Wander the French Market

Located right next to Cafe du Monde. The French Market spreads over 6 blocks. You’ll find all sorts of souvenirs here as well as many tasty food stalls.

There’s a lot here to see and a great place for a little wander.

Watch the Street Performers

You’ll likely come across all sorts of street performers while exploring the streets of the French Quarter. They really add to the lively atmosphere.

Watching them was a great attraction for the whole family to enjoy. While this is technically a free activity, they do appreciate tips.

Walk Down Bourbon Street

This is one of the most famous streets in New Orleans, also known as the party street! It’s always lively with blaring music, street performers and lots of bars. This is the most lively Street in New Orleans and definitely something you need to see for yourself.

Also, Walk Down Royal Street

Just one block away from Bourbon Street, you’ll find Royal Street. Still quite a lively street, but this one is filled with shops, restaurants and galleries. It’s also extremely pretty.

If you’re looking for Instagrammable locations in New Orleans, this is one for you! Find this exact location and more in my guide to the best photo spots in New Orleans.

Visit Audubon Aquarium

We didn’t visit the Audubon Aquarium, but it would be a fun activity for a rainy day in New Orleans, so I thought I would mention it. It is located in the French Quarter, and ticket prices start from $45 for kids and $50 for adults, with an option to combine it with Aubdon Zoo for an extra $10 per person.

BOOK: Audubon Aquarium Tickets

Other Beautiful Streets in The French Quarter to See

I would highly recommend exploring some of the lesser-known streets of the French Quarter. They’re charming and much more relaxed, making them perfect for children to explore. My favourite was Dauphine Street. Frenchman Street is also a really great place to see live Jazz. Our toddler just loved seeing the horse and carts trotting by.

Visit Louis Armstrong Park

This park is really cool; it is essentially made up of ponds and bridges. As well as statues and open space to enjoy the sunshine. Unfortunately, there is no playground here, but we still enjoyed climbing the ramps and steps to burn some toddler energy.

There are no railings by the water, so make sure not to let any little children fall in!

See the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is huge! It’s a nice walk along the part of the river that runs along the edge of the French Quarter. This is a pretty safe place for children to run about, and our toddler was obsessed with watching the boats here.

There are also a few different boat tours you can take. If we’d had more time, we might have done the alligator swamp tour!

The Best Things to Do in New Orleans with Kids: The Garden District

If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, I would suggest taking a walk in the Garden District.

I spent a couple of hours wandering here while my husband was working and our toddler was napping. While there isn’t a whole lot to do in this area, the huge houses are really something special and well worth checking out. Read more in my post about where to find the prettiest pink buildings in New Orleans.

The Best Things to Do in Downtown New Orleans with Kids

Walk Down Canal Street

Canal Street is another of New Orleans’s most famous streets, located just outside the French Quarter in Downtown New Orleans. It’s lined with palm trees, and here you’ll find many shops, bars and hotels.

The iconic red streetcars or trolleys run up and down here. These are a great way to get around, and riding on one is going to be a bucket list activity for any vehicle-loving toddlers.

Take a Streetcar Trolley to City Park

City Park is located slightly out of the centre of New Orleans, but is definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re visiting New Orleans with kids.

We took a streetcar from Canal Street to Cemeteries Transit Terminal, which took about half an hour, and walked to the park from there.

City Park is a 1,300-acre park, and the perfect place to relax during your New Orleans family vacation. You could easily spend a whole day exploring here! There are quite a few things to do, including the Museum of Art, mini-golf and a botanical garden.

The highlight of the park for kids will be visiting Storyland. In this lovely area, classic children’s stories are brought to life. Entry here is $8 per person, with children under 36 inches tall visiting for free. This is an activity I would highly recommend!

The park is also home to the Louisiana Children’s Museum. We didn’t visit here, but have been to the equivalents in New York and Atlanta, both of which our children loved. Tickets start form $18 per person, making it much more expensive than Storyland!

The park also has an amusement park, carousel and many more attractions that kids would love. See everything they have to offer here.

More Things to Do on Your New Orleans Family Vacation

Relax on Wednesdays at the Square

In the summer, Lafayette Square hosts “Wednesday at the Square”. This is a pop-up with live music and plenty of food and drink stalls; there’s also a little craft market.

We happened to stumble across them setting up, and I am so pleased we went back that evening. The atmosphere was amazing, and even better, attending is FREE!

We could enjoy a drink and listen to the music while our son happily played with the giant lawn games! You can find out more details / check the schedule here.

Spot Animals at Audubon Zoo

Located in West Riverstide / Uptown New Orleans is Audubon Zoo. It is a little way out of the Centre of New Orleans, but you can take the St. Charles Avenue Streetcar line there from the French Quarter.

We didn’t visit here, but I know it is another popular activity for families!

Zoo tickets start from $35 for adults and $30 for children, with the option to add the aquarium for an extra fee.

BOOK: Audubon Zoo Tickets Here

The zoo is located in Audubon Park, which is another perfect area of New Orleans for kids to enjoy.

Map of the Best Things to Do in New Orleans with Kids

Here is my map, showing all the places I’ve talked about above. Just click the top right-hand corner to open it in Google Maps.

FAQ’s About New Orleans with Kids

Final Thoughts on Visiting New Orleans with Kids

New Orleans might not be the first destination that comes to mind for a family vacation, but it truly surprised us in the best way. From exploring the colourful streets of the French Quarter to relaxing in City Park and enjoying delicious local treats, there are so many fun and memorable things to do in New Orleans with kids.

We found it to be a vibrant, unique city that still works really well for families, especially if you plan your days at a slower pace and mix sightseeing with plenty of breaks.

Whether you’re visiting for a long weekend or as part of a bigger USA trip, New Orleans is a destination that offers something a little different, and it’s well worth adding to your family travel bucket list.

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Thank you so much for reading my post, planning your perfect New Orleans family vacation. I hope you have the best time exploring Louisiana!

Happy Travelling,