15 Mom Approved Things To Do In New Orleans With Kids
New Orleans is such a unique city, and a great place to explore with kids. As a South Louisiana native, this place holds a special place in my heart. The mix of culture, amazing food, and unique things to do keep us coming back to this city. Each time we visit, we discover more unique things to do with kids in New Orleans.
New Orleans is steeped in history and culture, making it one of the most unique places in the Deep South. As you walk through the French Quarter, you’ll notice that the beginnings of the street names will shift between “Rue” and Calle”, indicating the history connected to the French and Spanish influences, respectively. The roots of Creole heritage are based on a mix of African-American, Native American, French, and Spanish cultures. Cajun people are descendants of French people that made their way from France to Canada, and finally down to Louisiana.
You will see this culture reflected in the unique foods that you will find in New Orleans, an accent that is a little different than the rest of the south, and a dialect of French that is still spoken in parts of South Louisiana.
The culture of Louisiana makes for an even richer experience for kids to experience!
15 Things to do in New Orleans with Kids
Our first trip out of California as new parents was with our oldest when they were only 5 months old. We have returned several times since, so this list of things to do with kids is appropriate for babies to bigger kids!
1. Audobon Aquarium
The Audubon Aquarium is located in the French Quarter on the bank of the Mississippi. It’s home to some unique exhibits including a white alligator, an aquarium tunnel, an African Penguin exhibit and more. If you need an indoor activity, this is a great option that’s easy to get to. When you buy a ticket for the aquarium you’ll also get a ticket to the insectarium to check out unique bug exhibits.
➡️Get your Aquarium tickets HERE!
2. Audobon Zoo
The Audubon Zoo is located in the historic Uptown of New Orleans. This zoo has some amazing animals with enclosures that make it easy to see them. It includes animals from Africa, Asia, and of course animals that are native to Louisiana. This zoo also includes a water park, complete with a lazy river!
3. Swamp Tour on a Covered Pontoon Boat
Louisiana is home to unique ecosystems that include the Atchafalaya Basin, or swamps that are home to diverse wildlife. Swamp tours are a really unique activity to do with kids in New Orleans, just don’t forget your mosquito repellent.
We did this tour from New Orleans on our last visit and the kids had a blast. The pontoon boat was the perfect speed for our kids, ages 2 and 5 at the time. We were picked up from our hotel in the French Quarter and taken to the docks.
The tour guides explained so much about the ecosystem, history, wildlife, and more. The guide we had even had marshmallows to feed to the wild gators which the kids absolutely loved.
4. Visit the Louisiana Children’s Museum
During our most recent visit, we were so happy to find that this museum had just opened! From the French Quarter, it took about 20 minutes to get there on the streetcar (a New Orleans version of a trolley or cable car). The Museum is located in City Park, which is a huge, sprawling park that you can explore before or after your visit.
This kid’s museum is HUGE and has so many great exhibits specific to New Orleans culture, including a shotgun house by a local artist, Terrance Osborne, and an interactive jazz exhibit.
They also have a huge outdoor area, a story time area, and a cafe. The cafe has a patio that sits over a pond that is FULL of turtles. You can buy food for the turtles inside the cafe and watch as dozens of them show up for snacks.
This is one of our favorite things to do in New Orleans with kids!
➡️Get tickets here or at the museum!
5. French Quarter Walking and Storytelling Tour
We did a tour like this on our first trip with the baby and it was so much fun! Even with a baby, it was easy to go at our own pace and enjoy the stories.
There are a variety of different tours to check out, and most are short enough for kids and age appropriate. Any tours that are inappropriate for kids are listed as “adult only”.
6. Mardi Gras World
Mardi Gras is a big deal in New Orleans, and is probably the most well known event that takes place here. If you miss Mardi Gras season (yes, it’s a whole season) which is from January 6 to Fat Tuesday, then you can still learn about Mardi Gras at this museum and see some of the floats. This museum is located in the lower garden district of the city.
7. National WWII Museum
Located in downtown New Orleans, this is the world’s largest WWII Museum. If you’re into history, this is a must see. The museum has a section dedicated to planes used in the war, showcasing them in their own building.
This is a huge museum complete with a cafe, so you can easily spend an entire day here!
➡️Get your tickets to the WWII museum HERE!
8. Stop by Cafe Du Monde for Beignets and coffee
Even if you’ve never been to New Orleans, you have probably heard of this iconic little cafe. Located on the edge of the Mississippi River and Jackson Square, This place has been around since 1862 and is no frills.
They only serve cafe au lait (made with half milk and half chicory coffee) and beignets, which come in an order of 3 under a pile of powdered sugar. Be sure to get one of each! They only take cash and the service is amazingly fast.
➡️You can also book a food tour that includes Cafe du Monde HERE
10. Catch a ride in a Horse Drawn Carriage
After you walk out of Cafe du Monde, you will see horse drawn carriages lined up along Decatur Street in front of Jackson Square. You can hire them to take you around the French Quarter, or back to your hotel if you’re tired of walking.
11. Head to Jazz Fest if you visit in April or May!
Jazz Fest is the only music festival we will consider going to with our kids for a number of reasons. They have every genre of music, the festival spans several weekends, the food is amazing, and it is very spread out and well organized.
They even have a shuttle from the French Quarter and a kids area!
➡️Check out the website for info HERE
11. Walk around in the French Market for Souvenirs
The French Market is walking distance from Cafe du Monde and is a great place to try some local foods and souvenirs.
➡️Book a walking tour of the French Market HERE
12. Head to Avery Island to check out the Tabasco Plant
If you have a little extra time to explore outside of the city, this place exceeded our expectations! They have an on site restaurant that has some of the best food we had in Louisiana.
The place is huge, has a museum with interactive exhibits, a greenhouse with pepper plants, and a separate area with a “jungle garden” that looked like a postcard. We drove through the jungle garden and got to see tons of wildlife including alligators.
Free Things to do with Kids in New Orleans
One of my favorite things to do in New Orleans is simply walk around and experience the feel of the French Quarter. The city is rich in history, and it’s fun to notice things about the unique architecture in the French Quarter, and little things like how the names will switch from French to Spanish as you walk around.
13. Spend the Day Exploring the French Quarter
The French Quarter is one of my favorite places on the planet! The rich history of New Orleans can be seen on every street. The best part about walking around here is that you will find good music being played in the streets, sometimes with a full band! It’s so fun to walk around and experience, as you explore hidden parks and places to grab a snack.
If you have a small baby, the only tricky part was finding a place to change a diaper. Come prepared with everything you need to do it without a changing table.
14. Explore Jackson Square
Jackson Square is home to the iconic St. Louis Cathedral that is at the heart of the French Quarter. The square is lined with shops, restaurants, and local artists.
Head over the Cafe du Monde afterwards!
15. Visit the Louis Armstrong Park
Even though Louis Armstrong was not originally from Louisiana, he was still a huge part of the history of New Orleans Jazz History. This park is located on the north side of the French Quarter, and is a nice place to check out if you’re walking in the area.
Where to Stay for Families
When we stay in New Orleans, we love to stay in an area that is walkable to the things we want to do. We also look for something that has large rooms and is located in a safe area.
📍Budget Option:Hampton Inn & Suites (3 star)
This is a great budget option that includes breakfast and is located steps from the Quarter!
🏠 Book your room at Hampton Inn & Suites HERE
📍Mid-Range Option:Mansion on Royal (bed and breakfast)
This well located, uniquely New Orleans B&B is a great midrange option for your stay!
🏠 Book your room at Mansion on Royal HERE
📍Luxury Option: Maison Metier by Hyatt (5 star)
This hotel is located just a short walk from the French Quarter, has family rooms, and includes breakfast. If you want to splurge, this is the place.
🏠 Book your room at Maison Metier HERE
FAQs
There a lot of things to consider when planning a trip to New Orleans, and these are some of the questions that come up most often.
Is New Orleans Worth Visiting With Kids?
New Orleans is a great place to visit with kids! Like any big city, there are obviously activities that are not for kids, but it is a city that is rich in culture, history, and unique experiences.
New Orleans is absolutely worth visiting with kids!
should Kids go to bourbon Street?
The idea of Bourbon Street might be appealing for a first time visitor to New Orleans, but there is nothing for kids to do there and it isn’t the safest vibe in my opinion.
The vibe of Bourbon Street is flourescent signs with boozy slushy machines (aka not kid friendly).
Despite this, we do occasionally walk through Bourbon Street to access other parts of the French Quarter. One of our favorite restaurants, Oceana Grill, is right near the corner of Bourbon and Conti Street. Otherwise, it’s a pass for me.
I would also note that a LOT of people party in the French Quarter at night, so we usually make a point of getting back to our hotel before things get too wild. If you want to avoid this, you can always stay in other areas like Uptown.
How Many Days do you Need in New Orleans With Kids?
Whenever we take a trip to New Orleans, we visit for about 3-5 days. You can easily get a taste of what the city has to offer in a long weekend!
Take Aways
There is so much to do with kids in New Orleans if you know where to look! This is such a unique city one of our favorite places to visit. I hope this guide is useful in planning your next trip to the big easy!
