2020-07-31 20:48:45
Why do young vacationers and their families flock to New Orleans? Simple: there’s just so much to do. EXPLORE Start out your New Orleans family adventure — where else? — in the French Quarter! The city’s oldest neighborhood is also its most magical. Walk through Jackson Square, where you’ll find many kid-friendly attractions. Woldenberg Park, overlooking the Mississippi River, is a scenic stop, and is next door to Café Du Monde. This French Quarter icon serves up beignets (puffed-up pieces of fried dough covered in powdered sugar), best enjoyed on the café’s outside patio. Family-friendly shops and restaurants are all around Jackson Square. Little Toy Shop and Creole Delicacies Gourmet Shop are great for gifts, and restaurants Café Pontalba and Landry’s Seafood House are fun dinnertime destinations. Walk down Decatur Street to the French Market’s open-air shops, where the sheer variety of cool stuff, live jazz music and the sweet scent of Aunt Sally’s Pralines will make you want to stay awhile. Check out New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park in the French Market. Younger visitors can get their junior ranger badge there and learn about the city’s rich musical background. At the New Orleans Jazz Museum, you can see some of the instruments that made history. If you’d prefer riding to walking, we’ve got you covered. Royal Carriages takes visitors on guided mule-drawn carriage history tours. City Sightseeing’s Hop-On Hop-Off Tours, with their easily recognizable double-decker buses, allow riders to see the sights from up high. You could also board a boat: multiple riverboats offer family-friendly dinner cruises down the Mississippi River, starting near the French Quarter. There’s plenty beyond the Quarter to explore, too. From bike tours in the Marigny to boat tours in City Park, New Orleans makes it easy for families to find rides. Just outside of New Orleans you’ll find scenic plantation museums, swamp tour outfitters, a high-speed racetrack with kid-friendly activities (NOLA Motorsports Park) and a farm unlike anything you’ve seen (Insta-Gator Alligator Ranch). PLAY Mid City Lanes Rock ‘n’ Bowl is a longtime favorite of local families. Bowling, food, live zydeco music — what’s not to love? It’s just one of the many unique attractions New Orleans offers. Others include the “inflatable playground” known as BooKoo Bounce. City Park is a wonderland of family-friendly things to do, with days’ worth of playtime in store for active families. Paddleboating, horseback riding, bicycling and miniature train-riding are just a few options. Audubon Park is another main attraction for outdoor fun. In addition to active attractions at Audubon Zoo, you’ll also find a Mississippi Riverfront sports complex known as The Fly. Visit NewOrleans.com for more information on these businesses and their current post-Covid19 status. LEARN New Orleans can satisfy your family’s thirst for knowledge. Start your journey of discovery at Louisiana Children’s Museum, a hands-on museum that inspires imagination. Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is sure to be a hit with the kids. See exotic fish and cute critters before heading to the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, which celebrates the largest group of animals on the planet: bugs! Other awesome museums include The National WWII Museum, which has kid-friendly programming; the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, which houses antique medical devices and medicines; and Mardi Gras World, where Carnival floats are made year-round. EAT All this activity has to work up an appetite. New Orleans has many family-friendly restaurants that are happy to oblige. Mother’s Restaurant is a true slice of old-school New Orleans cooking, as is Central Grocery and Katie’s Restaurant & Bar. Mulate’s is an authentic Cajun restaurant. Seafood lovers won’t need to look far. Deanie’s Seafood is a top pick. For some of the best balcony dining in town, check out Dat Dog on Frenchmen Street. Enjoy one of their delicious creations while watching the crowds below. URBAN OASES AUDUBON PARK Take the St. Charles Avenue streetcar Uptown to Audubon Park, where you’ll find nearly two miles of trails, a riverside sports complex (The Fly) and greenery galore. The main attraction here is the Audubon Zoo, whose attractions like the new Pelican’s Nest wetlands exhibit, the African Savanna lion exhibit, the interactive Watoto Farm and the Swamp Train keep families coming back for repeat visits. Even better, kids can get some real play time in at the zoo, courtesy of the climbable Monkey Hill exhibit. CITY PARK New Orleans is blessed with two massive public parks filled with family-friendly activities. Highlights of City Park include the new Louisiana Children’s Museum and drastically expanded Besthoff Sculpture Garden. More outdoors experiences await young visitors as well: Mini-golfing at City Putt, riding the miniature train at Carousel Gardens Amusement Park (open seasonally), renting a pedalboat or kayak at City Park Boat House, and grabbing a snack of beignets at Café Du Monde. Louisiana Children’s Museum is the newest gem in City Park’s crown — find a virtual tour of the facility at bit.ly/lcmnola! Visit NewOrleans.com for more information on these businesses and their current post- Covid19 status.
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