THINGS TO DO IN NEW ORLEANS WITH KIDS
VISITING NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA AS A FAMILY
We were lucky enough to take a trip to the vibrant city of New Orleans duing the two years we spent living in New York. This incredible city is like nowhere else weve been. There is so much going on but somehow has a chilled vibe at the same time! New Orleans is more known for it’s party scene rather than being a family-friendly destination, so is it worth visiting New Orleans with kids?
Honeslty, yes! It was one of our favourite trips and there are plenty of things to do here as a family. When we travel we like to find things everyone can enjoy. This guide covers all the best things to do on your first trip to New Orleans with tips on how to make them child friendly, so read on for more!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
– PRETTY PINK BUILDINGS IN NEW ORLENAS –
– THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS IN NEW ORLEANS –
WE ALSO HAVE GUIDES ON:
– ATLANTA – NASHVILLE – NEW ORLEANS – NEW YORK – CHARLESTON –
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WHERE TO STAY IN NEW ORLEANS WITH KIDS
This was partly a business trip for my husband so we stayed part in a hotel and part in an AirBnB.
Our hotel was JW Marriot on Canal Street, this was a great location for exploring New Orleans with kids as it’s so central. This hotel was amazing and more luxuray than we would normaly select!
We then moved to an AirBnB in the Garden District. This location wasnt as good but it was a much more budget freindly option.
THINGS TO DO IN NEW ORLEANS WITH KIDS
THE FRENCH QUARTER
The French Quarter is the historic, lively area and probably the most popular area of New Orleans to visit. You’ll find beautiful buildings with cast-iron balconies, hanging baskets and lanterns all over the French Quarter.
You can probably see most of the French Quarter in one day but if you can spend two there that would be ideal. There is so much to see and we noticed different things even on streets we had walked down before.
Here are the places in The French Quater you’ll want to check out:
JACKSON SQUARE AND ST LOUIS CATHEDRAL
In the middle of the French Quarter, you’ll find Jackson Square, overlooking the fairytale building that is St Louis Cathedral.
The square is a great place to stop and rest for a while or even have a picnic. It’s filled with palm trees and so picturesque. Our two year old loved running about and climbing in the trees here. Between the square and the Cathedral, you find fortune tellers, market stalls and street preformers. These make great entertainment for kids.
CAFE DU MONDÈ
Just a few minutes from Jackson Square you’ll find Café du Monde; (located on Decatur Street). This is a must visit place in New Orleans and will be loved by both adults and kids alike.
As its 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.
While your here, you must try the beignets. They’re sort of like a square doughnuts covered in icing sugar. They are absoloutely delicious. Was Freddie sneaking extra icing sugar in to his mouth? He certanally was!
CABRINI PLAYGROUND
Playgorinds are always a great way to keep kids entertaine and burn off some energy both at home and when travelling. There are a few playground in New Orleans, Cabrini Playground was our favourite. It had lots of play equiptment and a bif field for kids to enjoy and the houses around square are so beautiful!
THE FRENCH MARKET
Located right next to Café du Monde. The French Market spreads over 6 blocks. You’ll find all sorts of souvenirs here as well as many tasty food stalls.
Theres lots here to see and a great place for a little wander.
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.
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 youre looking for instagrammable locations in New Orleans, this is one for you!
Photo Location: The Corner of Royal and St Peters Street.
OTHER BEAUTIFUL STREETS
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.
WATCH STREET PREFORMERS
You’ll likey come across all sorts of street performers while exploring the streets of the French Quarter. They really add to the lively atmosphere.
Watchig them was great entertainment for the whole family.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK
This park is really cool, essentially it’s 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.
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 son was obsessed with watching the boats here.
There are also a few different boat tours you can take.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN NEW ORLEANS AS A FAMILY
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 hisband was working and Freddie 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.
CANAL STREET
This is another of one New Orleans’s most famous streets, located just outside the French Quarter. Here you’ll find shops, bars and hotels.
The streetcars also 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.
VISIT CITY PARK
City Park is located slightly out of the centre of New Orleans but is definitely with a visit, especisally if you’re visiting with kids.
We took a street car 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 so 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 childrens stories are brought to life. Entry here is $6 per person with children under 36 inches tall visiting for free. I would highly reccommend treating your little ones to this!
The park also has an amusement park, carousel and childrens museum that kids would love. See everything they have to offer here.
RELAX ON WEDNESDAY 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. I happened to stumble across them setting up and 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.
Thank you so much for reading my post about all the things to do in New Orleans with kids, I hope you have the best time there!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:
– PRETTY PINK BUILDINGS IN NEW ORLENAS –
– THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOTS IN NEW ORLEANS –
WE ALSO HAVE GUIDES ON:
– ATLANTA – NASHVILLE – NEW ORLEANS – NEW YORK – CHARLESTON –
Happy Travelling,
