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One good thing about visiting New Orleans or the Big Easy on a family trip is that most of the attractions are very easy on your budget. These fun diversions will cost the whole family of four less than 30 for admission. Six Flags is the one exception but it is a theme park after all! New Orleans great place to visit if you want a romantic vacation for you and your significant other while, at the same time, a place of fun and adventure for the children. The relaxed atmosphere of the city and the many interesting and fun things to see will make good memories for a long time to come.

What can you do in New Orleans as a family?

Images of revellers along Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras may leave the impression that New Orleans is not a family vacation destination and is more suited to families with older children. In reality, many family-friendly activities can be found throughout the French Quarter and the city. From expansive urban parks for a relaxing day out to large museums with an array of interactive exhibits, New Orleans offers a number of interesting attractions, learning opportunities, and recreational fun for the entire family and kids of all ages.

French Quarter

Families can roam through the flea market, a farmer’s market, and six historic blocks in the French Market District. The district features a variety of shops and eateries, including a menu of sweets at Evan’s Creole Candy Factory and Southern Candymakers, hand-crafted toys, children’s books, and collectable dolls at the Little Toy Shop. A great way to pass the time is to watch the street performers such as clowns, mimes, and jugglers entertain children of all ages throughout the French Quarter, including Jackson Square. Family-friendly walking tours of the French Quarter are also available.

Parks

Located in the heart of New Orleans, City Park includes botanical gardens, three golf courses, an art museum, and a sculpture garden. It features the world’s largest collection of mature live oaks, with some dating back 600 years. For young kids, City Park is home to the fairy tale-themed playground Storyland and the Hines’ Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. Located in the Garden District, Audubon Park is an ideal spot for picnics. Families can take scenic walks or bike rides among oak trees and lagoons, swim in a seasonal pool, boat rides, or rollerblade along a paved path.

Museums

The Louisiana Children’s Museum features approximately 100 hands-on exhibits. Daily book readings and special art projects also keep the small children entertained during their visits. The museum is located in the city’s Warehouse Arts District, which is also home to the National WWII Museum. The museum pays tribute to the amphibious invasions during World War II and includes replicas and artefacts from the war, including fighter planes and tanks. It also houses a multi-sensory 4-D theatre.

Zoos and Aquariums

Approximately 15,000 creatures call the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas home. The aquarium is located on the New Orleans waterfront near the Mississippi River. Visitors can walk through the 30-foot Caribbean Reef underwater tunnel, see a rare white alligator, gaze at sea life in the 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico exhibit, and look at anaconda snakes and poisonous frogs of the Amazon. Opened in 1884, the Audubon Zoo in Audubon Park features animals from around the world. One of its many exhibits is a replica of a Louisiana swamp and a jaguar jungle.

Audubon Nature Center

After the trip to the zoo, the Audubon Nature Center is also an interesting and great spot to relax. Take a walk on the nature trail or view the vista of the night sky in the planetarium. However, if this is too tame for the kids, take them to the Audubon Aquarium. 15,000 creatures of the sea have taken up residency here and petting baby sharks to seeing rare, white alligators are just two of the many things to take in. You can also view playful sea otters and penguins here.

See Jackson Square

With its stunning architecture, New Orleans’ Jackson Square is at the top of every tourist’s to-do list – and for good reason! Here, you may begin to immerse yourself in the culture of New Orleans. On the Decatur Street side of the Square, make sure to visit the famous Cafe Du Monde, where you’ll get coffee and beignets worth waiting in line for.

After you’ve had your coffee and sweets, take a walk around the Square to look at the unique, one-of-a-kind artwork on display. You may also enjoy having your palm read, which you can do right outside at Jackson Square, where you’ll find a number of mystics. Don’t be shy – you’ll never see this many palm readers in one place again!

Visit the Voodoo Museum

One of the things New Orleans is most famous for is its history with Voodoo. Whether you are superstitious or not, the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum, located on Dumaine Street in the French Quarter, is an interesting way to spend an hour or less on your trip. The admission cost is low compared to the price of most museums, and you’ll be able to learn about something that sets New Orleans apart from other cities – magic! At the very least, you can purchase some unique souvenirs there.

Take in Frenchmen Street

Frenchmen Street is the place you to go if the music-lover in you wants a night out and listen to local musicians. There’s just something about Frenchmen Street that everyone can enjoy. Here, you can find lounges and clubs playing live music, live jazz, blues, reggae, funk, and even pop. You can sit back, relax, and take in the sound of the local artists, or you can drink, dance and let loose. Whatever you want to do, and whatever you want to hear, Frenchmen Street is where the best things are.

Check out the Lower Ninth Ward

If you want to be a tourist that enjoys local history and wants to do something different from the rest, visiting the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans is one way to go. Much of the music and food that New Orleans is so famous for came from the Lower Ninth Ward, which is worth noting. It was also the area of the city hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina. Visiting this part of the city is a wonderful way to go beyond tourism, and see what it’s like to live in New Orleans post-Katrina.

While you’re there, make sure to help out the locals still recovering from the hurricane by grabbing a bite to eat at a small restaurant – it could end up being your favourite meal of the entire trip.

Final Thoughts

The Cajun music, old houses of legend, and the famed French Quarter are luring you to visit New Orleans. However, if you have little kids, it may make you hesitate. Known for its wild, adult-oriented Mardi Gras world celebration, this historical Louisiana city is not what one would think of as child-friendly. Yet, New Orleans is a fun place for the entire family and has many attractions to keep the kids happy and occupied.

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