If you are looking for a fun, family-friendly destination for your trip, look no further than the Big Easy in Louisiana. There are so many kid-approved things to do in New Orleans. You won’t find a shortage of culture, fun activities, and must-try experiences your entire family will love. From the amazing food to hands-on fun, there’s something for everyone! Check out a few top spots to add to your itinerary!
Related: 7 Super Fun Things to Do in Austin on Your Family Vacation
Things to Do in New Orleans
Food
Sometimes, the best way to experience a new culture is to try the food. New Orleans is home to a melting pot of cultures. American, French and African influences mix to create some amazing food in Louisiana. Your kids will fall in love with beignets, which you must wash down with a glass of cold chocolate milk. The fritter is a deep-fried dough dusted with powdered sugar. It’s like a funnel cake, but even more amazing. There are many locations in New Orleans to find these tasty treats, but Café Du Monde and Café Beignet are two of the most raved about locations.
French Market
You can’t leave The Big Easy without exploring the French Market. It mixes history and shopping into a shopping trip that is like no other. Explore 6 blocks of retail and find everything from Mardi Gras masks to fresh produce perfect to take back to your hotel room for snacks later. In the Colonnade, you’ll find Evans Creole Candy Factory, which was voted one of the 10 best candy stores in America by ‘Bon Appetit.’ The kids will love the experience and get to enjoy handmade goodies like pralines, a local treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Hands-On Fun
The Louisiana Children’s Museum is focused on providing memorable, interactive experiences that make learning fun. Even the tiniest tots will have something catered to them. One of the museum’s core principals is to focus on early education. Fans of the PBS show ‘Fetch’ will enjoy the first-floor exhibit that is dedicated to the program. Kids can observe, hypothesize, and experiment in the Fetch! Zone. There is something for everyone at the LCM. From cooking to climbing, it will be hours of fun and learning, too.
Explore the City
Little legs get tired quickly. Treat tired tots to a carriage ride around the French Quarter for a stress-free and relaxing venture. Try doing this on the first day to get a feel for the city and understand the general layout to help with navigation.
Don’t Rule Out The Swamps
It doesn’t sound idyllic, but the swamps make up so much of the New Orleans experience, you have to enjoy the unexpected beauty. Try taking a paddleboat, like the Creole Queen, or enjoy a very affordable ride on The Algiers Ferry.
Audubon Zoo
It is ranked as one the best zoos in the country. It’s comprised of several different areas including – Asian Domain, World of Primates, Louisiana Swamp, South American Pampas, Jaguar Jungle, Reptile House, African Savanna, Audubon Aviary, Watoto Walk, and the Dinosaur Adventure. On those hot summer days, make sure you bring a swimsuit for the kids to use in the splash park.
New Orleans City Park
The New Orleans City Park is one of the coolest parks in the country, with 1,300 acres of family-friendly fun. The best part: most of the attractions are either free or inexpensive. You could spend all day wandering the trails on foot or bike. Make sure you take a break for lunch at the neatest spot in the park, the Cheshire Cat/Alice in Wonderland Tea Gazebo! The park also features multiple playgrounds. Most are free, but your kids will want to check out Storyland, a playground filled with giant storybook sculptures. That park does have a $4 fee to get in, although kids under 36″ are free.
Whether you are looking to relax or have a family adventure, New Orleans has something for everyone. There is plenty of decadent food, rich with culture and flavor. Attractions are around every corner in The Big Easy. Your family will never forget the kid-friendly fun of Louisiana.
Have you ever been to the Big Easy? What are your favorite things to do in New Orleans on a family vacation?
New Orleans is such a fun place but it can be overwhelming so this is a great post to narrow down the fun … Thanks
The French market sounds so cool! I love the sound of their food there too.
I have not been to New Orleans, but my sweetie has. It’s one of those places that I just have to experience just once. I’d probably gain 10 pounds on beignets alone.
I have ALWAYS wanted to go but wasn’t sure if my kiddo would like it. Thanks for showing me that he would!
My family loves New Orleans. It is always a good time with good food, music, and fun!
Moved to New Orleans a few years ago and I just love this city so much. It’s almost as if a parade or festival is going on every week. I just love how friendly everyone is here. Oh, and we always have friends coming to visit us here and experience the city, too!
We used to live pretty close to New Orleans and we never went and I regret it so much. We live so far away from such a gorgeous city now!
How fun! I would love to visit New Orleans!
NOLA has been on my bucket list for years! I really do not know why I haven;t visited, I even had a family member living there for a couple of years. I need to make this trip happen! Thanks for the info
I’ve never been to New Orleans which is a shame. It’s only a 6 hour drive from Atlanta and I’d love to visit sometime. I never thought of it as a family trip, but this looks promising!
I have always wanted to go to New Orleans but it just hasn’t panned out yet.
The french quarter would be absolutely wonderful to see.
I just won’t go around Mardi Gras.
New Orleans makes me think of mardi gras of course but now I see there are so many other things to do there. I’ll have to visit the Audubon Zoo with my kids if I am ever there. They love animals.
I grew up in NO. There is so much to do and see. There’s no other city like it in the US.
The food and the culture, two things that attract me so much about New Orleans. Your post contains a lot of important information about those places.
The food in New Orleans sounds phenomenal and I love the sound of the French market too. It is a dream of mine to travel the world one day when I have the money’!
These all sound like fun, but I think we’d like the Louisiana Children’s Museum the most. I can’t wait to discover New Orleans with my daughter.
I am a New Orleanian and so glad that you and your family had a great time in NOLA.