Catherine - Savvy Family TravelWhen we told friends we were heading to New Orleans with kids for spring break, we always got the same skeptical look. Is there really enough there to do with kids? Is it safe?
With its vibrant culture, rich history, and undeniable charm, it is often pegged as a destination more suited for adults. However, this city is also brimming with activities, attractions, and eateries that are perfect for families. Here are 22+ places to visit in New Orleans with Kids.
New Orleans Family Vacation
History and Culture
Art, Music, and Festivals fill the city with incomparable energy! Here are a few spots to surround yourselves in it.
French Quarter
Start your family trip with a morning visit to the French Quarter, the heart and soul of New Orleans. This district is not only famous for its vibrant nightlife but also for its incredible architecture and historical sites. Take a leisurely stroll through Jackson Square, where artists, musicians, and performers bring the area to life.
Festivals
New Orleans is renowned for its year-round festivals and family-oriented events. Mardi Gras may be its most famous celebration, but the city also hosts numerous other festivals that are great for kids.
The French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest are particularly family-friendly, offering dedicated kids’ areas with musical performances, crafts, and activities.
Mardi Gras World
If you aren’t visiting during Mardi Gras (which takes place for 2 weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday), be sure to get up close with its mega floats at Mardi Gras World. Mardi Gras World is a working museum where parade floats and Mardi Gras monuments are meticulously designed and decorated. You can see the artists at work and learn all about the history of Mardi Gras, including the various krewes that host the elaborate parades.
My kids’ favorite part? Sampling king cake!
Insider tip: They regularly offer Groupon deals to save you quite a bit on admission.
Jazz Performances
You can find paid and free performances all over the city!
Preservation Hall is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. We read mixed reviews about young kids being able to sit still through the approximately one hour performance though.
Free options for Jazz include street performers, Jazz in the Park performances, or concerts hosted in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. Arrive early to indoor events, as space fills quickly. We were pleased to find a free show as my youngest was over it after about 20 minutes.
Educational Experiences
A French Quarter Tour for Kids
One of our favorite investments during our time in New Orleans with kids was booking the pirate treasure hunt tour through French Quartour Kids. The teacher who guided our tour was fantastic; engaging, funny, patient, and sprinkled just the right amount of history into the kids’ adventure.
My son was over the moon excited when they happened upon a real pirate’s treasure map!
Seriously, you won’t regret booking one of their many tours on your New Orleans Family Vacation. Led by passionate guides, children get to learn about pirates, ghosts, and heroes of New Orleans in a way that feels more like an adventure than a lesson. It’s an unforgettable way to introduce kids to the magic of the city’s past, making history come alive in the very streets where it happened.
Earn a Junior Ranger Badge
Stop by the French Quarter Visitor Center to pickup and complete a Junior Ranger program! Kids earn badges by completing a certain number of activities in the program based on their age.
Louisiana Children’s Museum
Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the Louisiana Children’s Museum, located in City Park, for an interactive learning experience. Bring spare clothes or prepare to get wet because their water table setup is pretty irresistible.
Audubon Insectarium
The price of this one was a hard pill to swallow, but my boys LOVE bugs, so we weren’t going to skip the opportunity! We saw some of the biggest creepy crawlies I’d ever encountered and even sampled bugs at the bug cafeteria. My kids would’ve scarfed them down all day!
Just look at the size of that bug! (Follow the pink arrow in the picture.)
Audubon Aquarium
A standout feature of the Audubon Aquarium is the tunnel through the Great Maya Reef, where visitors are surrounded by the vibrant life of a coral ecosystem.
If you pair the Insectarium and Aquarium together for package tickets, you’ll save a decent chunk of money.
Audubon Zoo
The Audubon Nature Institute, named after naturalist and artist John James Audubon, is a prominent organization in New Orleans dedicated to wildlife conservation, education, and research. It operates several attractions throughout the city, including the Zoo, Insectarium, and Aquarium.
From lions to playful penguins, the Audubon Zoo is home to over 2,000 animals representing more than 350 species. Don’t skip the award-winning Louisiana Swamp, where you can get up close and personal with native wildlife in their natural habitat.
The National WWII Museum
This sprawling campus includes exhibits on the Home Front, the D-Day invasions, the Pacific and European theaters, and beyond. Children and adults alike are captivated by the interactive displays and personal accounts that convey the global scale and human impact of the war.
Perhaps the most interesting was to learn about the Monuments Men and Women who sought to return stolen artwork to their rightful owners. It was an organization I wasn’t familiar with before.
Food and Drink
No visit to New Orleans is complete without sampling its iconic cuisine like gumbo, okra, jambalaya, and beignets. Many local restaurants offer kid-friendly menus featuring smaller portions of classic dishes.
Beignets
Cafe Du Monde is a must-visit for its iconic beignets. This historic coffee shop offers a taste of New Orleans’ French heritage, perfect for a treat in New Orleans with Kids. We highly recommend hitting the one in City Park where lines are significantly shorter.
While it is a coffee shop, I have to warn you that their coffee is actually terrible IMHO. I much prefer the local chain, PJ’s Coffee.
Kid Friendly Restaurants
Central Grocery and Deli, home of the original muffuletta, provides a quick and delicious lesson in New Orleans’ Italian influences. Share a giant muffuletta among the family.
Turkey and the Wolf is a quirky sandwich spot with a creative and menu of food and cocktails.
French Quarter Market
You’ll find a bit of everything here. Handmade goods, souvenirs, and lots of food vendors. We had po’ boys and the boys tried alligator.
The Ruby Slipper
A popular brunch spot that’s worth the wait!
Urban South Brewery
A laid back, family friendly atmosphere and some fantastic brews like their hard root beer and I loved the Jucifer IPA.
Amusements
Ride the Streetcar
The ultimate budget friendly thrill in New Orleans with kids is to hop on the streetcar! The fare is just $1.25 for ages 13+, $0.50 for ages 5-12, and free for 4 and under. If you don’t have a particular destination in mind, consider riding the Charles Ave. Line which is commonly noted as the most scenic.
Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
Once you pay the admission fee, you have free reign of the entire park! My kids were thrilled to repeat their favorite rides over and over and over again. They loved the funhouse the most.
The most nostalgic (and beautiful) was the covered, historic merry-go-round.
Storyland
Storyland is a fairy tale themed playground inside City Park.
From the towering shoe of the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe to Peter Pan’s Neverland, every corner of Storyland will make kids’ eyes light up!
Outdoor Adventures
Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge
This refuge stands as one of the last remaining wetlands in New Orleans. It was a welcome addition to our New Orleans Family Vacation as it was the first place we found a truly quiet reprieve. We saw beautiful flowers, egrets, tons of green anole lizards, a western rat snake, and a turtle at the Ridge Trail Boardwalk.
Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
Head a bit farther north, to the other side of Lake Pontchartrain, and you can explore another boardwalk trail, this time, through a marsh. The visitor center is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. We were hoping to do their junior ranger program, but didn’t realize the limited hours.
City Park
The sprawling City Park is an oasis for families, featuring playgrounds, the Children’s Museum, the Train Garden, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, and Storyland.
Steamboat Tour
Steamboat history in New Orleans dates back to the early 19th century. The introduction of steamboats revolutionized river travel and trade, making New Orleans a bustling port city.
These vessels connected New Orleans with other parts of the country, facilitating trade and the movement of people. The sight of steamboats churning through the waters of the Mississippi became a symbol of progress and prosperity.
Today, steamboat tours in New Orleans serve as a nostalgic reminder and allow visitors to experience the grandeur of traveling on the mighty Mississippi.
Guests can enjoy leisurely cruises that often include live jazz music, dining, and breathtaking views of the city’s skyline, all while learning about the storied past of steamboats and their enduring legacy in the heart of New Orleans.
Final Thoughts on New Orleans with Kids
Visiting New Orleans with kids was a really treat. We experienced so much diverse exposure to music, nature, culture, food, and history.
Do you want to know more? Scroll down to our FAQ about a New Orleans Family Vacation.
Frequently Asked Questions about visiting New Orleans with kids
We’re here to help you plan a trip that’s not only enjoyable and memorable, but also safe for families.
- What are the best times of year to visit New Orleans with children?
The best times to visit New Orleans with children are during the spring (February to May) and fall (October and November). These months offer mild weather and a lineup of family-friendly festivals and events, making it comfortable and enjoyable for outdoor activities.?We visited during Spring Break and found it to be perfect weather and reasonable crowds.
Fat Tuesday, and the two weeks leading up to it, are the business weeks of the year. So if you’re visiting with kids, you may want to come at the very beginning of the festival season to engage in the fun, daytime parade atmosphere without as many drunk party goers around. Fat Tuesday will take place on March 4, 2025.
- Are there any family-friendly accommodations you can recommend?
We recommend choosing lodging just outside The French Quarter. This way, as adults being to flood Bourbon street, you can clear the area.
For an immersive experience, consider staying in a garden district mansion converted into a boutique hotel, providing a taste of New Orleans’ architectural beauty.
- What are the must-see attractions for families in New Orleans?
Families should not miss the Audubon Nature Institute, which includes the Zoo, Aquarium, and Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. The City Park, with its Storyland and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, and the interactive Louisiana Children’s Museum are also must-visit attractions.
- How can we explore the French Quarter safely with kids?
Walking tours specifically designed for families, such as those offered by French Quartour Kids, are a great way to explore the French Quarter. These tours are tailored to engage children while ensuring safety through routes that avoid crowded or less secure areas.
Try to vacate the Bourbon Street vicinity by about 3pm. We didn’t feel in danger by any means, but also didn’t want to explain some of the behaviors to our young children.
- What are some kid-friendly dining options that still offer a taste of New Orleans’ cuisine?
Look for restaurants like the famous Café Du Monde for beignets, Central Grocery for a muffuletta sandwich easy to share, and the Rum House on Magazine Street for Caribbean tacos in a vibrant, casual setting that welcomes families.
- Are there any precautions we should take due to the weather?
Summers can be hot and humid, so when visiting during these months, wear light clothing, use sun protection, and stay hydrated. Keeping a rain poncho handy is also wise due to frequent surprise showers.
- What kind of transportation is best for getting around the city with children?
The streetcar is an enjoyable and kid-friendly way to see the city. It’s not only an attraction in itself but also a practical means of transportation to major sites. For longer distances or if traveling with small children, consider ride-sharing services for convenience.
We opted to pick up a rental car for our last day to explore beyond the downtown area. There are centrally located car rental companies so you don’t have to return to the airport to snag a vehicle.
- Are there special events or festivals in New Orleans that are particularly family-friendly?
Mardi Gras may be the most famous, but family-friendly areas such as the Uptown parade route offer a more suitable experience for children. The French Quarter Festival and Children’s Day at the Jazz Fest are other events that cater specifically to families, providing activities and performances for children of all ages.
