New Orleans Family Activities
There’s a lot to do for families with kids that will keep grownups amused, too
Just because New Orleans has a well-deserved reputation as a playground for adults, there is no reason to leave the kids behind when you come to town. New Orleans is also a city of families who bring the kids along for everything from walking the French Quarter to Mardi Gras parades and our many fabulous festivals.
Music is everywhere in this town, not just in places that serve adult beverages. Kids can take in classic brass at Preservation Hall, at the newly opened Spotted Cat on St. Claude Avenue and on the street, where buskers and artists offer a non-stop outdoor show in places like Jackson Square and along Royal Street. Depending on the time of year, there are free concerts on Wednesdays in Lafayette Square and Thursdays in Armstrong Park, all suitable for young ears.
New Orleans is a city full of outdoor experiences, always good for keeping little ones busy and active. Riding the streetcar is always a hit with kids of all ages, same goes for taking the ferry across to Algiers Point. Book a swamp tour for up close views of gators and other wildlife. An easy drive out of town, you can also book tours through your hotel for an authentic bayou experience.
Before or after a visit to the wonderful Audubon Zoo, have a picnic in Audubon Park or at The Fly, a swath of park that follows the levy and is a beehive of activity from barbecues to Frisbee throws and soccer games. The 1300-acre City Park is a green oasis with a lake for paddleboat rentals, the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, with its antique carousel, and Storyland, a Mother Goose-themed playground where kids can meet Three Little Pigs, Cinderella's Pumpkin, the Cheshire Cat and Snow White.
We also have the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium, right on Canal Street. And the Louisiana Children’s Museum in City Park is a sweet rainy day activity for the younger set.
If you want a family walking tour experience, book a tour with French QuarTour Kids, fun and entertaining walking tours designed and led by teachers, for kids 4 to 18.
Don’t worry, you’ll have fun too.
