Mardi Gras is a two-week-long event that starts before Shrove Tuesday and ends the day before Ash Wednesday.

It’s famous for its colourful parades, dancing, drinking culture, loud music, and excitement. People from all over the city, and even the world, venture to the French Quarter each year to see the biggest parades and celebrations happen.

It’s become more famous over recent years for its partying aspect, which is why many people were shocked when we said we wanted to do Mardi Gras New Orleans with kids.

But you know what, those people don’t know what we know…Here’s how you can experience the magic of Mardi Gras with kids!

Can you take the kids to Mardi Gras?

“Don’t take the kids to Mardi Gras in New Orleans” they said. “Are you sure you want to go to Mardi Gras with kids?”

We heard this way too often when talking about our trip to New Orleans with our kids for the Mardi Gras Festival.

It was very similar to when I first fell pregnant with our eldest daughter Kalyra and everyone wanted to tell me my travels were now over.

“Um, why?”

We set out to prove them wrong, and many years later we have done an excellent job of that!

So when people said that Mardi Gras was not a place for kids, we set out on a road trip from North Carolina to Louisiana to prove to everyone that you can enjoy the New Orleans Mardi Gras Festival with kids.

Yes, it’s well known for its debauchery and boob flashing on Bourbon Street, which is the only place NOT suitable for kids.

But Mardi Gras New Orleans is much more than Bourbon Street as we’ll show you below, and it wasn’t in our plans to ever take the girls there.

One thing we know is true, if there are children living in the destination you are visiting, odds are there will be a family-friendly angle to any festivals or experiences you are seeking in that destination.

I’m pretty sure they don’t ship out all the children who live in New Orleans on floats before Mardi Gras starts.

And I’m pretty sure the kids would love to participate in something so culturally rich, colorful, and exciting as Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

So fear not venturesome parents, Mardi Gras with kids is possible, and immense fun.

How to Prepare For Mardi Gras New Orleans with Kids

Our kids have voted the Mardi Gras Festival as one of the best things to do in New Orleans with kids!

The day we left our kids were already talking about coming back to visit New Orleans next year during the festival. They had the best time and really want to make it an annual event.

You know kids are the best gauge for whether a travel experience was worth it or not!

The best way to have an amazing Mardi Gras experience is to come prepared. Here are three simple tips to do that.

1. Get Your Mardi Gras Costumes

We love how Americans embrace so many opportunities for dressing up in costume. Don’t skip this part to Mardi Gras.

Dressing up in costume will make it a more fun and memorable experience.

Our girls were so excited as soon as we bought our costumes a week before our trip. It put them in the spirit straight away, which continued until the last love heart tattoo was put on their cheek.

The traditional Mardi Gras colors are purple, gold and green.

Feathered, sequenced masks are popular costumes for Mardi Gras as well as hats and scarves. You can find more than enough to wear at your local Party City.

Do your research to see if there are any other themed costumes for any of the parades or events you are attending.

We were attending a private love bug themed party on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras day).

Thankfully, the Mardi Gras parade this year was close to Valentine’s Day so there were plenty of loved themed colors and costumes for us to choose from at Party City and Walmart.

We’re saving our love bug costumes for Halloween this year. You can easily dress up in your Halloween costumes for Mardi too.

2. When is Mardi Gras? Have your dates locked!

When is Mardi Gras and how long does Mardi Gras last? In case you don’t know, it is a two-week festival, and the Carnival season begins in January or February each year.

The official start to the Carnival Season is midnight on January 6th, the twelfth night after Christmas, so you may see some pre-Mardi Gras celebrations in the run up.

The Mardi Gras dates change each year as it is dependent on when Ash Wednesday/ Easter Sunday is which of course changes every year.

Most visitors plan to arrive no later than the Friday or Saturday prior to Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday) and stay through to Ash Wednesday.

It’s important you plan ahead and work out what parades and events you want to attend, and book early as accommodation fills up fast!

This is the weekend when Bacchus and Krewe of Endymion, two of the biggest parades of the season, roll down the streets of New Orleans.

The Bacchus parade is said to be amazing, and the all-female Krewe of Muses Parade on Thursday before Mardi Gras Day is also one to check out.

Check out these gorgeous shoes from the Muses parade!

For families, look to the Mardi Gras Parades Uptown, such as Krewe du Vieux or Krewe of Proteus, in Metairie, Marigny, or on the North Shore or West Bank, which are more family-friendly.

The Garden District is calmer with smaller crowds and a more family–friendly atmosphere, particularly along St. Charles Ave. between First St. and Napoleon Ave.

No big parades go through the French Quarter due to size restrictions. The French Quarter is not the best area to see the parades with kids.

3. Talk to your kids about Mardi Gras

What is Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras, also called Fat Tuesday, refers to events of the Carnival celebrations beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday.

We spoke to the girls about what the Mardi Gras experience would be like in New Orleans.

They knew Bourbon Street was the adult’s playground and we wouldn’t go near there.

Kalyra really had no idea what could be seen there, but she was terrified of it, simply by all the people who commented about it.

A few days after Mardi Gras, when we stepped foot on the street to visit the Voodoo Shop, she almost burst into tears and begged us to take her off Bourbon Street!! Ha-ha.

Little did she realize we pushed her down the entire length of it in a pram when she was two!

I recommend staying away from Bourbon Street with kids during the festival, especially at night, but you can pop in for a quick stroll during the day any other time.

But, I would make it quick and go down the quieter end at the western side of the French Quarter.

Also, Royal Street in the French Quarter which runs parallel to Bourbon Street, is more family-friendly with nice cafes, galleries, boutique shopping, and artist shops.

We explained to our kids that Mardi Gras is really a celebration of diversity and love and that if they see anything strange, to accept that it’s okay and not stare.

Of course, they could not help but giggle and stare when they saw their first male dressed as Elsa, but once that was out of their system they were fine.

To plan your trip to Mardi Gras with kids, check the official tourism website for Visit New Orleans for up-to-date information.

We’ll have more tips down below to help you have the best Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) experience yet.

But first, let’s look at the amazing parades.

What To Do At Mardi Gras New Orleans with Kids

We visited during the last two days of the festival.

Fat Tuesday is the last day of the feast before Ash Wednesday. As a born and raised Catholic I know all about Lent and the Catholic Easter traditions, which is what Mardi Gras celebrations are about.

I only wish I was able to celebrate Easter in such a festive way growing up in Australia.

It was always a more somber event focused on giving up what you loved for 40 days during Lent. I love how this celebration focuses on the feast before the famine.

Fat Tuesday in Australia is called Pancake Tuesday. The tradition is to fill up on pancakes before Lent begins. We’d always have pancakes with lemon and sugar on them and it was something I looked forward to.

But, the Fat Tuesday parade is way more fun, especially for kids who will love trying to catch beads and doubloons to keep as little trinkets. Be sure to pack a picnic feast!

So here are the parades and experiences we had during Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday and the day before.

1. Zulu Lundi Gras Festival

The Zulu Lundi Gras Festival is free and open to the public and held on the Monday before Mardi Gras day, which is known as Lundi Gras, or Fat Monday.

It’s a fun day of food, live music, and arts and crafts in Woldenberg Park along the New Orleans riverfront.

There were three stages of performers and plenty of African and Cajun-inspired food stalls, Zulu costumes, and party atmosphere.

Grab yourself some crawfish nachos, Cajun fries, alligator sausage, and a pineapple lemonade, and enjoy the festivities.

King Zulu greeted everyone on the stage to get us all excited for the Zulu parade the following morning.

There were great cheers when we heard it was going to be much warmer for Fat Tuesday as it was very breezy and cold on the waterfront.

We arrived at the end of the day, so the girls felt a little overwhelmed by all the people and the festive spirit.

So we moved on to wandering the lower part of the French Quarter to look at the costumes and street decorations.

2. The Krewe of Orpheus Parade

Harry Connick Jnr is one of the founders of the Krewe of Orpheus, which explains why we saw him on one of the first floats that came through.

Krewe of Orpheus is one of the three Super Krewe parades, which are said to be the best parades in the city. They are Krewe of Orpheus, Krewe of Bacchus, and Krewe of Endymion.

If the crowd noise wasn’t so loud, you’d probably hear me screaming, “Oh my God. That’s Harry Connick Jnr. It’s Harry Connick Jnr”, as he stood three meters in front of (and above) throwing beads in our direction.

The Krewe of Orpheus was founded in 1993 and takes its name from the musically-inclined son of Zeus and Calliope. Celebrity guests tend to appear on the floats each year, so keep your eyes carefully tuned in.

We had insider knowledge that the best place to view the Orpheus Parade was on Tchoupitoulas Street.

We went to the corner of Poydras Street and Tchoupitoulas Street and thought we must have had it wrong as there was barely anyone around.

We walked up to St. Charles Avenue where the parade had just started to float by, right near our accommodation at The Whitney Hotel, and there were hundreds of people.

It was our first glimpse of the floats. They were brilliantly lit and so colorful and elaborate with beads flying out from every direction and the crowds screaming, “Over here!”

We decided to turn around and go back to Tchoupitoulas Street and hope that the parade route was accurate and wouldn’t change.

It did take almost another hour before it got to us, but it did, and we were right in front of the line. Surprisingly it was cold, but we had fun waiting and chatting with the people around us.

And it was well worth the wait.

The girls were amazed at how beautiful it was and took to bead catching immediately. There’s no experience like it.

We couldn’t believe the number of beads and toys that were being thrown out and we were delighted with each successful catch. With the bitter cold of the evening, and the thickness of the beads, our fingers and hands stung with each catch.

Elaborately decorated dragons, crocodiles, and octopus’ floats rolled by in between crews of marching bands and people holding flaming torches.

The girls’ favorite float was the Smoking Mary, which is a six-unit float that looks like a steam locomotive.

They caught a football, a few stuffed teddies, and a mask among the bounty.

After an hour and a half, Kalyra dragged Craig back to the hotel as her feet were freezing (wear appropriate footwear if it’s cold) and Savannah held me down to stay with her.

She was hooked and did not want to miss a float. Mardi Gras is certainly her kind of party.

3. The Krewe of Zulu Parade

Get up early on Fat Tuesday to start the celebrations with the Zulu Parade along St. Charles Avenue. It begins down near the Garden District.

We started walking down the parade route at 8am and it was filled with people already camped out in their positions with chicken cooking over the grill and drinks cracked.

I loved walking through the crowds and soaking up the atmosphere, although we did feel a little out of place in our pink and red love bug costumes in a sea of purple and green traditional Mardi Gras colors.

I’m sure people were wondering if we were lost. But, really, when at Mardi Gras, anything goes.

The more flamboyant your costume, the better. Spend time checking out the costumes of the revellers on the street!

We were headed towards Third Street for the Rex Parade which starts at 10am after the Zulu Parade, so walked almost to the starting point of the Zulu.

The streets were full of people roaming and talking and barbecuing and playing ball and having loads of fun while they waited for the parade to come to their area. It was all positive and happy.

We met up with the parade a few blocks short of Third Street where we would be positioned for the Rex Parade.

We managed to grab a place right on the street curb.

The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club (founded 1916) kicks off Mardi Gras Day in a vibrant and festive way.

It’s historically an African-American group that parades in blackface and grass skirts. They also have many floats, including the iconic sparkling King and Queen Zulu floats.

The Zulu coconut is the most prized possession of the Zulu float throws which Savannah managed to grab (read the tip section down below to see what she did with it, lol).

4. The Krewe of Rex Parade

For the most family-friendly Mardi Gras with kids experience, head to St Charles Avenue in the Garden District.

It was filled with families so was a little less wild but still had a great festive spirit.

The road is much wider here too, so you felt like you had a lot of space and it’s so pretty experiencing it under the gorgeous oak trees that line the street.

The Garden District is one of our favorite places to visit in New Orleans and one of our favorite neighborhoods in the US.

We were so grateful to be invited to a private party for the Dickie Brennan Restaurant Group. Everyone was so warm and welcoming. It was fantastic to join their gathering and get dressed up for their themed Love Bug festivities.

We began with a few drinks and nibbles at their house which was right on the parade route.

We then walked a few steps out onto St. Charles Avenue near the intersection of Third Street where we had a spot with ladders for the kids to sit on and catch the beads.

We were a bright pocket of red in between the festive Mardi Gras colors.

The Rex Parade is considered a centerpiece of the Mardi Gras festival because of Krewe’s rich and colorful themes, elaborately decorated hand-painted floats, and male maskers in original costume floats.

The Krewe Of Rex has held more parades than any other organization and is the origin of many Mardi Gras traditions, including the official Carnival colors of purple, green, and gold, as well as the collectible doubloon coins, which one of King Rex’s page boys handed to us (introduced by Rex in 1960).

The Krewe of Rex is one of the oldest Mardi Gras Krewe’s, originating in 1872.

Each year a new King is chosen, usually, an influential resident involved in multiple civic causes and philanthropic pursuits.

His identity is kept secret until Lundi Day (the day before Mardi Gras) when the mayor hands over to Rex a symbolic key to the City to Rex for Mardi Gras Day.

We were standing outside the Rex House on St Charles Avenue, which is where one of the original King Rex’s once lived.

They have a big party each year, and King Rex’s float always stops outside this house for about 15 minutes. King Rex goes into the Rex House for a toast with the family inside.

I was lucky to be invited by a family friend to peek inside the Rex House and sneak in a whisky sour – one of the favoured drinks of the festival, alongside the early morning Bloody Mary.

There is a different theme each year for the floats, although some floats are permanent like The Beouf Gras – the big bull -which is symbolic of the giant feast before Lent.

This was one of my favorites.

The 2018 theme honored New Orleans Tricentennial year showcasing elements of the city’s rich history and culture and the people, places, and events that shaped America’s most unique city.

Some of the float designs honored “Father Mississippi” and the indigenous people who first lived here and concluded with a float depicting Andrew Jackson and the Battle of New Orleans.

Placed at intervals throughout the parade are masked horsemen – his majesty’s lieutenants. They wear gold-trimmed velvet uniforms of red, purple, and gold.

Thankfully people were handing them drinks under the hot sun!

Throughout the parade are many marching bands and processions from the best high school, colleges, and military. They bring a colorful musical vibe to the parade.

It was fascinating to experience Mardi Gras with the locals and learn all about the traditions.

I would say this area for Mardi Gras is more of a local experience than a tourist one, so this is the perfect place to come if you are looking for that feeling.

Everyone seemed to know everyone else and they all had friends on the floats. We met many people and heard lots of fun stories. It really enhanced our Mardi Gras experience.

5. The Krewe of Elks (aka The Truck Parade)

Just when you think the Krewe of Rex is the last parade, coming up behind it is the loud and crazy Truck Parade from the Krewe of Elks.

The Elks Orleans is a group of over 50 individually designed truck floats on flatbed trucks and is formed by 4,600 male and female float riders.

We wouldn’t have known about it if it wasn’t for our local friends telling us to check it out. They also told us there is a competition each year for the best truck and the winners are the ones you’ll see first in the float.

Small trucks come down the street honking their horns and decked out in bright colours, banners, streamers, and loud music.

The beads continue to be thrown out as well as cups and a few more interesting things we collected like hula hoops and play spears.

We followed the Truck Parade back down St. Charles Avenue to our hotel. The girls were thrilled by it, and despite a full day of cheering and bead-catching, raced up to the front to yell for more.

Tips for Attending Mardi Gras with Kids

Mardi Gras New Orleans is great fun and definitely a memorable experience for the whole family. But before you go, there are just a few words of advice we want to leave you with.

First…

1. Download the Mardi Gras parade tracker. This is an app that tells you the parade schedule. It was a bit confusing at first to understand as there are a few different markers on there, but you will soon get the hang of it. It’s quite handy if you want to move from one parade to another. If you can see where one ends, you may feel like you’ve had enough and are ready to move to the next parade.

2. Get there early to grab a spot. It may mean waiting around but make an experience out of it with your chairs and coolers full of food and drink. It will give you plenty of time to take photos of your costumes and soak up the atmosphere. We loved walking down the road before the Zulu Lundi parade watching everyone throwing balls around, cooking food on their personal grills, and checking out all the cool costumes.

3. I recommend going to the start of the parade route for a spot. Then you won’t have to wait for a very long time for the first float to appear.

4. The largest audience comes out for evening parades, so head out earlier if you’d like a lighter crowd.

5. Have a restaurant/café break in between your parades. It’s great to refuel, especially for bathroom breaks and when it’s cold like it was for us on Orpheus Parade night.

6. Bring a bag with you – a large bag – so you can carry all your bounty home.

7. Bring along a ladder, complete with a seat on top. It makes it easier for the kids (the smaller ones) to see and catch the bounty. If you can’t bring one, you may get lucky and have one offered to you to use. Be sure you get your child up and down safely and keep it back from the curb. You don’t want it getting swiped by a passing float.

8. Watch your children (and yourself) if they’re standing right on the curb. Be sure they don’t jump out with excitement as floats are passing by. They are pulled by tractors. There are usually people walking past pushing crowds back to ensure they are a safe distance from floats and passing marching bands, which take up more road space.

9. Have a safety, and meeting place plan in place in case your kids get lost! Keep them close by and a close eye on them. There are big crowds and a lot going on.

10. Prepare your kids for the crowds. Our girls were a little freaked out at first by the number of people. They liked the Rex Parade best because of the extra space and calmer nature.

11. Watch those flying beads. They can be large, which means they can really hurt if they hit you in the face. I had a whack on the head which stung, so you can imagine if it hit a small child. The family-friendly parades are a little more careful in passing beads rather than throwing them really hard … sometimes.

12. Don’t let your child hold a coconut bounty on top of the ladder in case they drop it on an innocent lady’s head and it breaks! Thankfully she was okay about it and thrilled that her head was able to crack open the coconut. Savannah was mortified that she accidentally dropped it, as was I!

13. Be prepared for changing weather. We were freezing on the eve of Mardi Gras and then hot on Mardi Gras day. Bring your umbrella just in case.

14. Take time to learn about the historical and traditional significance of the parade, masks, and colors—gold for power, green for faith, and purple for justice—or take them to Mardi Gras World to learn about krewes and see how the floats are built. It’s not just about catching as many beads as you can.

15. Bring plenty of snacks and water. Crowds will be huge and food opportunities may be scarce.

16. Stay in accommodation close to the parade route so you can duck back if you need. You won’t find many restrooms along the route and many hotels will have wristband identification for guests, so you won’t be able to sneak in. If you plan ahead and can afford to splurge, look for a hotel on Tchoupitoulas Street with a balcony where you can view the parade from. We stayed at The Whitney Hotel.

17. Avoid driving and using Ubers/taxis. Many roads will be blocked off and traffic will be chaotic. It will be quicker to walk in most instances. We walked from our hotel just outside the French Quarter on Poydras Street (near the intersection of St. Charles) to First Avenue in the Garden District for the Rex Parade, which only took about 30 minutes.

You won’t be able to drive in the city centre during the festivities, so we recommend getting a transfer from the airport to your hotel in the French Quarter, and walk for the duration.

18. Be aware of trash. We were told that the success of a Mardi Gras is often determined by the weight of the trash collected. The trash will be intense. I felt awful leaving it on the ground, but I was told the street sweepers are excellent and follow the last truck and have the city spick and span in no time.

19. Schedule in the televised event so you don’t miss it! On the evening of Mardi Gras, Rex will cross Canal Street to join the Comus Ball (the oldest Mardi Gras Krewe) and when the monarchs have all made their exits, the Captain of Comus literally closes the curtain on the Carnival season. This event is televised live. Our new local friends told us about it being a tradition for many New Orleanians to stay up to watch. We planned to, but totally forgot!! I recommend scheduling it to close out your Mardi Gras experience. Cuddle up in your bed and watch it with the kids.

20. Book tickets in advance. You need to have a ticket to watch the Mardi Gras New Orleans parades and each parade has its own fee. Prices range from $10 to $70, so it’s best to pick and choose which ones you want to see and book your tickets early.

You can see more hotel availability by scrolling through the list below

Before You Go

So there you have it, this is how you can enjoy Mardi Gras New Orleans with kids! As you can see, there’s a lot of fun to be had and it’s not all about drinking and partying.

Before you go, make sure you plan as much ahead as possible; hotels, transport, tickets etc. This will help you have a smooth time when visiting.

Oh, and don’t forget to try a King Cake, a delicacy of the event. It’s sometimes referred to as a “three king’s cake” since its inception refers to the three kings who bought gifts for baby Jesus.

The cake is a blend of coffee and cinnamon and is often iced in the colours of Mardi Gras; yellow, green, and purple. Sometimes it will be filled with fruit or cream cheese.

As they say in New Orleans, “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler” which translates to “Let the good times roll!”

More Tips for New Orleans with kids

Planning to stick around in New Orleans for a while? Check out these other guides to New Orleans:

• Best things to do in New Orleans with kids
• 11 places to eat in New Orleans 
• RV road trip Week 3: Christmas in New Orleans
• How to save on New Orleans attractions with the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass
• Dallas to Boston road trip idea

Video of Mardi Gras New Orleans with Kids

And be sure to watch our Mardi Gras video for more inspiration and to see what it’s like:

Pin to Share and Keep for Mardi Gras Next Year:

At the beginning of our 12 month road trip in the US, we decided to do something a little different and see what Christmas in New Orleans was like. We’re no strangers to spending Christmas away from home, we’ve visited Christmas in New York, which was exciting but very different from New Orleans.

We wanted this Christmas to be something completely different, and hopefully a little warmer.

While you might not be thinking New Orleans at Christmas would be anything special, this couldn’t be any further from the truth. In fact, there are so many things to do in New Orleans at Christmas that we put it up there as one of the best cities to visit for the holidays.

Want to know why? Keep reading to find out.

Is New Orleans a good place for Christmas?

Celebrating Christmas in New Orleans was a lot of fun and it felt more like an Australian Christmas to me than any other place I’ve been. I think that is because of the strong catholic influence in New Orleans, which is my upbringing.

I love how they celebrate Christmas New Orleans style – morning mimosas are a good thing right?!

We loved looking at the Christmas decorations everywhere and attending the Audubon Zoo lights, Miracle on Fulton Street, Celebration in the Oaks in New Orleans’ City Park, and Christmas FEST at the Convention Center.

New Orleans goes wild at Christmas, which makes it a fantastic destination to visit for the holiday season.

Though full disclosure, accommodation prices are very expensive this time of year. We were road-tripping and looking for RV parks, which were eye-wateringly expensive.

I started fearing NOLA would blow our budget.

But thanks to more tips from our community, we ended up finding cheaper accommodation, which we will share with you below.

What is there to do in New Orleans on Christmas?

Now you know a little about what to expect from New Orleans at Christmas, it’s time to look at the top festive attractions in New Orleans!

1. Carols By Candlelight, Jackson Square

As soon as we lit our candles and the girls eagerly grabbed the songbook to sing along to the lyrics I realized our choice to attend Carols by Candlelight in New Orleans was a good one.

This was a moment with my girls. Only days previously I spoke to them about what Christmas was really about. To them, it’s Santa Claus and presents.

Even though we aren’t of any particular religion, I do think if you are going to celebrate a religious tradition, you should understand the real meaning of it.

The carols by candlelight gave them a little connection to this. A space to talk about hope and peace and love.

It reminded me of how much I loved Christmas when I was little. I loved the carols – singing them at school events and watching them on TV. In Australia, carols by candlelight are a big tradition – we have the weather for it.

So it was lovely to be in that environment again with my girls. It was a moment with them we’ll remember for a long time.

2. Wander the French Quarter (walking tour)

One of the best things to do on any visit to New Orleans is to wander the French Quarter.

It has an extra element of beauty during Christmas time with wreaths hanging off the balconies and galleries.

You can definitely walk around the French Quarter on your own, soaking up the atmosphere and appreciating the unique French and Spanish style architecture, pausing to listen to the jazz buskers on Royal Street as you are meandering. (Perhaps exploring Bourbon Street if you AREN’T visiting New Orleans with kids.)

However, a French Quarter walking tour is a fantastic way to learn more about the history of the first city of New Orleans.

This trip was the first time we dove a little deeper into the culture and history of the area on this tour.

I didn’t know much of it at all from my own wanderings. I wouldn’t have done this tour without the New Orleans sightseeing pass and I really enjoyed it.

We even went to areas I hadn’t been to before and noted places to go back and explore more.

3. Visit Audubon Zoo for the Christmas lights

UPDATE: The Audubon Zoo Lights do not appear to be on for Christmas 2022.

I wasn’t sure if illuminated life-size replicas of zoo animals would be a thrilling New Orleans Christmas experience but I was wrong. Audubon Zoo did a fantastic job of creating a wild, glowing wonderland.

You can walk around to view the animals, as well as enjoy the twinkling lights strung up all through the trees and the park, and visit arts and craft tents, gift vendors, and live entertainment.

You can see more of how great it was in our video.

4. See the Christmas Decorations Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans

One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit is to wander through the elaborately decorated lobbies of some of New Orleans’ finest hotels.

The Roosevelt Hotel lobby was the most recommended hotel to see for the Christmas light display. The lobby is dazzling during the holidays with birch branches and Christmas trees with more than 60,000 twinkling lights.

If you’re visiting with kids, make sure to check out the Teddy Bear Tea at The Roosevelt. This is a dining event with good food and champagne for mom and dad, plus some keepsake gifts to take home. Best of all, Santa and his friends will be there to sign holiday books for the children. 

5. See the Decorations at The Ritz Carlton New Orleans Christmas

Probably my favorite of the Christmas-decorated hotels in New Orleans was the Ritz Carlton. Santa’s Toy Shop takes center stage at the Ritz-Carlton.

I especially loved the gingerbread streetcar with famous New Orleanians depicted as passengers and twinkling lights across the lobby ceiling.

 Holiday Teas can be experienced at places like The Roosevelt, Sonesta, and the Windsor Court Hotel.

6. Celebration in the Oaks, City Park

Wrap up your Christmas holiday in New Orleans with an evening at Celebration in the Oaks, known to be pone of the most spectacular Christmas holiday light festivals in the country.

Enjoy wandering New Orleans’ City Park to experience the sparkling holiday light display that engulfs dozens of 100-year-old oak trees for Celebration in the Oaks each holiday season. 

On one side of the celebration are fun amusement park rides and giant smores by the fire. In the other are stunning light displays in the botanic garden with the city’s famous oaks swathed in twinkling lights.

We really enjoyed this unique Christmas experience in New Orleans that bought so much holiday cheer.

7. Miracle on Fulton Street

UPDATE: Miracle on Fulton does not appear to be happening for Christmas 2022.

Miracle on Fulton Street is a short 5 min walk through a dazzling lighted boardwalk with a 30 foot Christmas tree and a gingerbread village.

It’s super pretty and one of my favorite (and easiest) things to do in New Orleans with kids at Christmas.

Be sure to stop into the German Biehouse next door first for some local craft brew. Time it for happy hour and you are looking at $4 21 oz.

Total bargain!

8. Ice Skate at NOLA ChristmasFest

For some indoor family fun head to the NOLA Christmas Fest, a fun-for-all-ages family festival.

You’ll find New Orleans’ only ice skating rink, the Kringle Carousel, carnival rides, and inflatables, Santa and holiday characters, children’s crafts, decorated trees, dazzling lights, and more. 

One of our favorite family things to do at Christmas is going ice skating. Savannah still shares her memories of ice skating in NYC at Christmas as her favorite thing ever. So it was good to go for a skate at this festival while listening to Christmas music.

We also loved the Mardi Gras-themed decorated trees and the giant ice slide.

9. Visit Christmas at Houmas House Plantation, Louisiana

Houmas House in the New Orleans Plantation area was decorated beautifully with Christmas decorations. We’ve done tours of many Southern homes before and this was one of my favorites.

Those oak trees. I could have stayed all day staring at them (and cuddling them).

It was just a shame that it was raining all day. I’d love to see that sun shining through the branches of the giant oaks.

I just want this property and those trees for my own.

The Houmas House tour was part of our New Orleans Sightseeing Pass. We also had Laura Plantation and Oak Alley recommended to us. We plan to return to visit the New Orleans Plantations.

We also attended a theater production of A Christmas Carol at the Le Petit Theater which was wonderful.

Then we did a few other New Orleans attractions using our sightseeing passes, such as a French Quarter walking tour, a hop on hop off bus tour, Mardi Gras World, and a steamboat jazz dinner cruise. See more of what is included in the pass here. 

10. Eat a Reveillon Dinner – A NOLA Christmas tradition

No one should need much persuading to eat out in New Orleans. It has the best food in the country – each dish has a story to tell.

It’s no different at Christmas time with Réveillon dinners, a New Orleans Christmas tradition that began in the early 19th Century.

Reveillon comes from the word ‘awakening’ and was a meal families traditionally served after midnight mass on Christmas Eve.

Many of the New Orleans restaurants bring out a special Christmas 4-course Revililon menu each year and typically starting after Thanksgiving Day. The feelings of togetherness and good cheer, coupled with the memories of all that great New Orleans food, will stick to the palate of your memory forever.

This is a true New Orleans-style Christmas experience.

Some of the best Reveillon prix fixe dinners in New Orleans for Christmas include: Arnaud’s (813 Bienville Street) Bayona (430 Dauphine Street) Broussard’s (819 Conti Street) Court of Two Sisters (613 Royal Street) Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse 

11. Try Dining at Dickie Brennan’s Tableau: Reveillon

It’s so good that Kalyra knows the Brennan family and their restaurants (legends of New Orleans food) and when we found out we were going to dinner at Dickie Brennan’s Tableau in the French Quarter she screamed, skipped and leg-kicked.

We enjoyed a Reveillion experience at our favorite New Orleans restaurant, Tableau.

12. Watch the Christmas Show at the La Petit Theater

We timed our meal at Tableau with a performance of A Christmas Carol at the LA Petit Theater next door. Watching the story of the Miserly and menacing moneylender Ebeneezer Scrooge learn lessons about love, generosity, and redemption was a wonderful way to get into the Christmas Spirit.

Another Creole tradition that’s stuck around through the years is the annual Levee Bonfires of St. James Parish, which is about an hour’s drive from New Orleans. The bonfire lighting is traditionally done on Christmas Eve.

13. Drink Hot Chocolate at Cafe du ‘Monde Beignets

There is no worthy visit to New Orleans that does not include beignets.

Café Du ‘Monde in New Orleans is famous for the beignets. We enjoyed several over our week-long stay. And they are super cheap – only $2.95 for three.

They pair nicely with their equally cheap black chicory coffee. The cooler Christmas vibe suits this NOLA tradition.

14. Have Breakfast at Cake Cafe and Bakery

We were due to leave New Orleans on the 21st but found out friends were coming into town the next day.

Can you stay an extra day so we can see you for breakfast?

Sure. That would be awesome! We ended up having breakfast at Cake Cafe & Bakery – don’t miss their crab omelets and specialty cupcakes – great local spot!!

The rush to get moving that I felt only hours ago disappeared as I realized the value of this lifestyle we have now chosen.

I have no constraints, no demands, no schedules. I can move at a whim. I can decide to stay an extra day if it means connecting with people I care about and having those richer experiences.

15. Enjoy a St. Louis Cathedral Concert

Church in New Orleans is unlike anywhere else. Having a huge catholic community means the cathedrals and churches are the places to be over the holidays as they are alive with joy, festive fun, and positive vibes only.

St. Louis is the oldest cathedral in New Orleans and its festive concerts have become somewhat legendary during Christmas in New Orleans.

The choral concerts take place in Jackson Square, as well as inside the historic church. You can watch free concerts hosting musicians, choral choirs, jazz singers, and gospel and pop singers.

If you plan your visit right, make sure to add this to your itinerary!

16. See the Bonfires Light the Way for Papa Noel

A Christmas tradition in New Orleans is to light bonfires along the Mississippi River on River Road. The bonfires are said to light the way for Papa Noel to navigate his way through the swamp and find his way to homes to deliver his presents.

This tradition has lasted hundreds of years and thousands of people travel all over the country to watch the bonfires light up on Christmas Eve.

The festival is now known as the Festival of the Bonfires, and is followed by live music and entertainment. Listen to gospel music, as well as songs by a New Orleans legend, Louis Armstrong, as the bonfires are set alight!

Where to Stay in New Orleans, LA

If you’re looking for places to stay in the ‘Crescent City’ during the month of December, you need to be prepared and book in advance to get better prices.

If you leave it to the last minute, prices will soar, especially if you plan to visit on a Saturday or Sunday.

If you can, stay in the French Quarter as this is where most of the festivities happen.

The French Market Inn is a good all-round hotel that offers comfortable rooms with French-inspired decor. It’s located in the heart of the French Quarter near where all the fun and excitement happens.

Campgrounds in New Orleans

Finding a campground in New Orleans was not easy. Most are not family-friendly and are in unsafe neighborhoods (as the reviews say).

There are a lot of unsafe neighborhoods in New Orleans. Don’t panic, you’ll be fine here, just stick to the main tourist areas.

The campgrounds are also expensive.

There are some state parks across the river recommended to us by several of our community, They sounded great, but there was no internet connection and we’re behind in work and need it.

We ended up choosing Pontchartrain Landing, now known as New Orleans RV Resort and Marina, as seeming like the best of the rest for what we needed.

It’s on the lake and marina. The gravel sites are clean and level.

Apart from that, it’s waaaaaayyy overpriced. $80.99 a night and possibly even more on the weekend.

The internet is non-existent and there is only one shower stall in the one bathroom, which has been so dirty each time we’ve visited.

We get it. It’s a camping lifestyle. We know campground bathrooms well.

But at $62 a night I want something as great as what we just got at the State Park in Huntsville for only $35 a night.

It’s all comparative and relative, but I just want you to know. Camping in New Orleans is doable but you’ll pay for it!

It’s about a 15-minute drive to the French Quarter which is pretty good. You do drive in on a bit of a goat track and through a dodgy-looking area to get to the campground. Full of abandoned warehouses on the water – looks like the setting of a CSI New Orleans episode.

Tips to Save Money in NOLA

Before you visit New Orleans at Christmas, I have just a few words of advice for you to help keep costs down.

• Park at The Basin Welcome Center. $5 for 10 hours, $10 for 24. Absolute bargain.
• Be sure to download the parking app. Soooo handy. You can easily top up from wherever you are instead of racing back to top up. I also loved how you could come and go out of this parking lot. It helped us maximize our time and reduce our costs. However, when we went to park there on a Friday night the price had doubled. I couldn’t find at what time the prices change. See if you can and use your app to book your parking time before that changeover!
• Happy Hours. We’ve randomly stumbled upon them. We were able to get 21 oz drafts at the German Biehouse for $4 when we visited – that’s local craft brew. Happy hours also extend to food. We had $3 gourmet tacos at The Rum House on Taco Tuesday in the Garden District. They were some of the best tacos I’ve had. And wait for this one, $1.50 pints of craft brew at Theo’s Pizza place on Magazine Street on a Tuesday. Yes. That’s local IPA. Pair it with a delicious pizza on a Tuesday and you’ve got a happy traveler.

• The Sightseeing Pass – we work with the Sightseeing Pass often as they are so great for saving money. They gave us passes to use in NOLA. If you intend on visiting a lot of attractions here, like Mardi Gras World, WWII Museum, and A French Quarter walking tour, it will save you money.
• Entry to the Science Museum in Birmingham was free thanks to our reciprocal museum annual membership we purchased through Marbles – our local Raleigh Kids Museum. (The ASTC Travel Passport Program)

Before You Go

So there you have it, those are the best things to do in New Orleans at Christmas and as you can see, there’s a lot of fun to be had!

Whether you’re visiting with kids or as a couple, you’ll never run out of festive fun in this vibrant city.

Before you go, remember to book accommodation early so you don’t run into any last-minute jacked-up prices.

Apart from that, have the best time exploring this incredible city over the holidays!

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So it begs the question; should you visit New Orleans with kids? Absolutely! There are so many attractions in New Orleans for families with small kids and you absolutely can bring the whole family!

And we will prove it! In this guide, we’ve listed all the top things to do in New Orleans with kids from our family trip to the Big Easy and list all the reasons why it’s fun for all the family!

Why Is New Orleans Great for Kids?

One of the many things we were excited about when moving to the USA from Australia was that the US has so much diversity, and nowhere is that more evident than in New Orleans.

New Orleans, or The Big Easy as it’s also known, has been the most unique US city we have visited so far. There is no place quite like it.

It’s got culture and soul, incredible food and music, history, charm, festival after festival, and all around great people.

Sure, you might be wondering if there are many things to do in New Orleans with kids, with its reputation as a bit of a party city – and well deserved.

But don’t start calling your babysitter yet, there is no reason to leave the kids behind.

There’s so much more to New Orleans than Bourbon Street and Frenchman Street. There’s also amazing architecture, delicious seafood (don’t miss out on the fried shrimp!) and even some spooky ghost stories to tell.

Another reason we know New Orleans makes for a great family destination is that we were fortunate to meet other families who live in NOLA and they love living here.

Besides all the family travel we do, we also homeschool our kids, and love to use travel as way to educate them about the world around us.

New Orleans was an incredible classroom. With the influence of the French, Spanish and African Americans, and its historic location, we had fun learning about the history and its people.

New Orleans is such a worthy destination it was included in several of our best USA road trip recommendations!

Down below are the highlights from our trip to New Orleans with kids.

Getting Around New Orleans

We loved that New Orleans is a walking city.

The only time we used our car was to drive to City Park and to do the swamp tour. Otherwise, we walked everywhere or took the streetcar to the Garden District, and twice we used an UBER.

If you are flying in, think twice about renting a car; it’s expensive to park your car, and finding a space is a nightmare. If you are staying in or near the Central Business District (CBD) or French Quarter you’ll be fine on foot or by streetcar.

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is 12 miles from The French Quarter, about a 30-40 minute drive.

Shuttle service is available from the airport to hotels and various locations in New Orleans for $24.00 (per person, one-way) or $44.00 (per person, round-trip). These fares include three (3) bags per person.

Passengers can purchase tickets at the Airport at Airport Shuttle ticket booths located on the first level throughout the Baggage Claim area. Visit www.airportshuttleneworleans.com for more information.

Taxis are located on the first level of the Terminal outside of Baggage Claim. Cost $36.00 to the Central Business District (CBD) or French Quarter for up to two (2) passengers. For three (3) or more passengers, the fare will be $15.00 per passenger

For a complete list of transportation options in New Orleans go here.

Things to Do in New Orleans with Kids!

Now you know why New Orleans is a great city to visit with kids, let’s take a look at what they think are the best attractions in the city for the whole family.

1. Yes! Do Mardi Gras with Kids

Our trip to New Orleans was timed to take in the Mardi Gras Festival, which has been on our travel bucket list for years.

A few people questioned if going to Mardi Gras with kids was wise and assumed it was best suited for adults or older teens, not our girls aged 10 and 6.

Yes, New Orleans is known for its party scene on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter, but most of the Parades have outgrown the French Quarter.

We watched the Mardi Gras parades on St. Charles Ave. near the intersection of Third Street in the family-friendly Garden District neighborhood and had a fantastic time.

In fact, our girls have voted the Mardi Gras Festival as one of the best things to do in New Orleans with kids! The day we left they were already plotting to visit New Orleans next year during the festival.

They loved getting dressed up in their own Mardi Gras costumes, seeing all the incredible floats, and catching all the beads and other goodies thrown their way!

We arrived in New Orleans on the Monday, the afternoon before Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras Day) and we took in three parades:

• The Krewe of Orpheus
• The Krewe of Zulu
• The Krewe of Rex Parade

2. Stroll the French Quarter

The most famous, and one of the most historic neighborhoods in New Orleans is the French Quarter.

Whilst you’ve probably heard of Bourbon Street and think the French Quarter is for grownups, there’s a lot of diversity to the French Quarter and it takes in a much larger area than you might expect.

There’s charm and history and a fabulous vibe you can experience as a family just by strolling around.

We loved seeing the different architectural mix of buildings, their colorful facades, rustic shutters, and their cast-iron balconies decorated for Mardi Gras.

We’d see horse and carts navigating the narrow streets just like they would have in old times, and street musicians playing their jazz tunes for those that walked by, adding to the ambiance.

There’s century-old restaurants and cafes, galleries, unique stores, a French Market, Jackson Square, St Louis Cathedral and Marie Laveau’s House of Voodoo.

And there’s something around every corner in the French Quarter. It’s mysterious, charming and photogenic and you’d think you were no longer in the USA.

We spent most of our time there either in the early morning before the crowds showed up, or late afternoon before heading to a nearby dinner spot – probably best to avoid Bourbon Street at night time with young kids!

3. Wander Around Royal Street

We particularly liked Royal Street, which actually runs parallel to Bourbon Street just a block away, but can feel like a world away from the party scene!

It has that Southern charm and more family-friendly vibe with cafes, colorful art galleries, and our fave restaurant, Brennan’s, which has an amazing courtyard and we felt like we were eating breakfast in Europe.

Mum and Dad, don’t miss their famous Bananas Fosters!

Royal Street stretches from Canal Street to Esplanade in the French Quarter, through the residential Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods all the way to the Industrial Canal.

4. French QuarTour Kids Tour

There may be a great ratio of adult-orientated tours in New Orleans, but our kids thoroughly enjoyed the French QuarTour kids tour.

Business owner and tour guide Jill is a former teacher with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and was fantastic in how she interacted with the kids and educated them on the history of New Orleans and the French Quarter.

Because we homeschool our kids whilst running our full-time travel business, we always look for interactive and learning experiences in every destination we visit.

And as busy parents, it was wonderful to sit back and relax as Jill took control of the day’s lesson.

Stops on the tour included the Mississippi Riverfront, Jackson Square, the Old Slave Auction House and other interesting places in the French Quarter.

They learned about New Orleans unique culture starting with French Creoles, Creoles of Color, and the newly arrived Americans, and why New Orleans played a pivotal role in military campaigns, trade, and the growth of America.

One of the best things to do in New Orleans with kids!

Details:

• Tours last 1 – 1.5 hrs
• Kids under 4 are free
• At least one adult is required to attend the tour
• Advance booking required
• Cost: from $20 per person (kids and adults)
• Website: www.frenchquarterkidstours.com 

5. Eat Beignets at Cafe Du Monde

Our kids were literally begging us once they heard about this famous place in NOLA that makes a French-style doughnut that’s covered in powdered sugar.

And the fact that it’s open 24/7 anytime we were in the French Quarter or Jackson Square area, the temptation grew!

AND if we weren’t avoiding gluten we would have been jointly enthused!

Cafe Du Monde is an institution in the French Quarter of New Orleans and has been in business since 1862, and as mentioned, is famous for its beignets (pronounced ben-yay).

You’ll be happy to know that the beignets are generously priced at three for $1.35, our kids shared them, so you can give your kids a treat without digging too deep into your travel fund!

And not only did our kids enjoy demolishing them in quick time, but getting messy in the process with powdered sugar all over the place, as you do! Oh, and the chocolate milk was a hit with them also.

A local waitress from another restaurant also suggested Cafe Du Monde as a great coffee spot. It was ok, not great. But I did get a coffee with the take home souvenir mug – when in NOLA!!

There are no reservations at this open air French Cafe, it’s first come, first served,  and you sit yourself down until a white-jacket waiter attends to your table.

If you’re lucky like us you’ll grab an outside table with a view overlooking Jackson Square which adds to this quintessential New Orleans experience.

Maybe this is all your kids need to declare the French Quarter and New Orleans family-friendly!

6. Ride a Streetcar

Locals have been getting around the city in a Streetcar since 1835, first in steam-powered cars and later in horse-drawn ones.

Our kids always enjoy riding the local transport wherever we go. In NYC we rode the subway daily, and in Melbourne, Australia the trams.

The public transport system in NOLA is not as extensive as some major US cities, but a historical and fun way to get around with, or without kids.

Canal Street is the starting point for all the major avenues that run from Downtown to Uptown and the street that divides north from south in the city street designations.

Streetcars do require you to have the correct change, $1.25 a ride, but what a bargain to enjoy a piece of history!

We jumped on the St. Charles Streetcar (Canal at Carondelet stop) and rode uptown into the Historic Garden District.

The St. Charles line at Canal Street is a famous route that takes you Uptown past gorgeous live oak trees and dozens of antebellum mansions, historic monuments, Loyola and Tulane universities, shopping centers, restaurants and hotels.

The St. Charles streetcar is the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world.

7. Walk The Garden District

We hopped off the streetcar at the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and Washington Ave.

Before exploring the Garden District, one of the top New Orleans attractions and a neighborhood famous for its 19th century homes and gardens and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974, it was time to grab some lunch.

Joey K’s came recommended from other locals and is a cool space, nice and casual with homestyle Creole eats & po’ boys.

To get to Joey K’s, walk along Washington Ave past Lafayette Cemetery and Commander’s Palace (a famous Brennan family restaurant in New Orleans since 1893 and winner of six James Beard Foundation Awards), then turn right on Magazine Street.

Next time in NOLA we will eat at Commander’s Palace!

Our kids are good walkers and we love to explore places on foot, and the Garden District is a beautiful neighborhood with oak-lined streets to stroll around in.

We found a self-guided free walking tour app on Google which guided us around the neighborhood.

We did feel a bit like paparazzi walking around taking sneaky photos of all the beautiful houses. Several of them are owned by celebrities. We stood outside of Sandra Bullock’s house, John Goodman/s and Archie Manning’s (Peyton and Eli’s dad from football fame).

The Garden District in easily one of the most beautiful places to visit in New Orleans.

8. See Aligators on a Swamp Tour

When we knew we were going to Louisiana, one of the first things we thought about doing was a swamp tour. Because that’s what the area is known for, am I right?!

Growing up in Australia, and after doing an 18-month road trip around Oz, we’ve seen plenty of Crocs in the wild before, but we’d never seen gators in the wild!

And we’d never done a swamp tour before which our kids were excited about.

Sure it’s a touristy thing to do, but things are touristy and popular for a reason, and we like to experience what the local area is all about.

So one of the iconic New Orleans tours is a swamp tour. We joined Cajun Encounters and did a bayou tour of the famous Honey Island Swamp.

To get there took about a 45 minute drive from the city, and the tour lasted about 1.5 hours and we saw baby gators (it was the wrong time of year for big gators), wild boar, snakes, and egrets.

It’s always great to see wildlife up close in their natural habitat, and we learned a lot about the Louisiana bayou from our knowledgeable guide.

And we loved cruising through the cypress-studded wetlands – so pretty and peaceful, we don’t really have landscapes like that back home in Australia. 

One of the best New Orleans kids activities for wildlife viewing!

Details:

• With hotel pick-up: Adults: $56 / Children under 12: $36
• Providing your own transportation: Adults: $29 / Children under 12: $19
• The Swamp tour is also included in the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass, which is a great way to save money on multiple New Orleans attractions.

9. Listen to Jazz at Preservation Hall

One question we had before heading to New Orleans was is it possible to see some live jazz with our kids?

Yes it is, and we did.

Getting to experience a jazz performance at an intimate venue in New Orleans, in the heart of the French Quarter, with our kids, was amazing!

Preservation Hall was established in 1961 to honor one of America’s truest art forms– Traditional New Orleans Jazz. Operating as a music venue, a touring band, and a non-profit organization, Preservation Hall continues its mission today as a cornerstone of New Orleans music and culture.

The great thing about Preservation Hall is that it’s an all ages, non-smoking venue with shows starting from 5pm. And the performance lasted 45 minutes, which when you have a 6-year-old, is a perfect length!

The musicians were great and engaging with the audience, and for a $5 tip you could request a song!

Definitely one of the coolest things to do in New Orleans with kids! (no photography or video was allowed).

Tickets:

• General Admission: cash only, $20, seven nights a week, with the exception of certain special events.
• Reserve seats – limited amount of reserved seats are available and allows you to skip the line. $35-50 with the exception of special events.
• Learn more from the website

10. Play in City Park

Several of our blog readers suggested we visit City Park with our kids whilst in New Orleans.

And after meeting another lovely local family on Mardi Gras day who live in New Orleans, we decided to have a follow up play date and so City Park it was.

And how perfect.

The 1300-acre City Park is one of the oldest urban parks in the country, and a true oasis. It’s within the city but a 45 minute Streetcar ride or 25 minute drive. We chose to drive.

City Park is home to Storyland (a storybook-themed playground), a lake for paddle boat rentals, a sculpture garden, the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, a Botanical Garden, biking paths, and the oldest grove of mature live oak trees in the world – which are incredible – and much more!

To our kids delight, we started off our visit at Morning Call which serves beignets 24 hours a day!

Whilst the kids indulged in beignets, we tried a gator sausage and a New Orleans favorite classic café au lait.

We then took a walk around the sculpture garden and hired paddle boats for a spin around the lake.

Looking for fun things to do in New Orleans with kids? You can enjoy an hour of fun here, or an entire day!

11. Tour Mardi Gras World

We didn’t personally go to Mardi Gras World as we’d just had two full days of Mardi Gras Parades and had a full schedule.

But this place came highly recommended as one of the top things to do in New Orleans by other travel friends and locals.

If you visit New Orleans out of Mardi Gras season but want to experience some Mardi Gras, you can get a real behind-the-scenes look at what goes into the festival all-year-round here.

You can meet artists and watch them build their floats for the next Mardi Gras, try on costumes, and try some famous King Cake.

This is where the oldest and biggest parade floats and attractions for each Mardi Gras season are built, with over 500 floats built and decorated each year.

Details:

• Open 7 days a week (closed Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and Mardi Gras Day)
• First tour begins at 9:30am, last tour at 4:00pm
• Adults and children $22
  Seniors, 65+ $17
  Students with college ID $17
  Children, 2-11 $14
• Learn more via the official website

12. Relax in Jackson Square

Jackson Square is part of the French Quarter, but I’m adding Jackson Square as a standalone attraction.

This square is a favorite place of ours to relax on the grass, or one of the seats under the gorgeous trees, and let the kids play whilst we take in people watching and the grandeur of St. Louis Cathedral – the oldest cathedral still in use in North America! 

We grabbed a coffee from Spitfire Coffee on nearby St. Peter Street, a recommendation from an Aussie barrister we met in Montgomery, Alabama (small world) and kicked back under the sun!

13. Have a Picnic at New Orleans Botanical Garden

If you’re looking for somewhere relaxing to hang out with the kids, then the botanical gardens is the place to be.

This 10 acre garden is open all year round and is an enchanting space full of over 2,000 plants and fauna.

Since we homeschool our kids, the Botanical Gardens offers a lot of value to us. It has educational programs and exhibits where you can learn about plant life, as well as how to distribute new plants to grow in the South region.

The Christmas light experience, Celebration in the Oaks is a popular thing to do in New Orleans for Christmas.

14. Visit the Oak Alley Plantation

If you have time to take a day trip from New Orleans, then a visit to the Oak Alley Plantation is a must visit! There are several plantations outside the city; we recommend visiting Houmas House, Laura Plantation, and Oak Alley. 

Oak Alley is one of the most visited and is where we would recommend if you only have time for one. It’s a former sugar plantation turned into a museum. Its mission is to preserve the mansion (Big House) and surrounding 63 acre site to be used for the education of slave history.

It has been open to the public since 1976 and is where you can learn all about this poignant piece of American history.

If you find plantations exciting, you can combine two plantations on this combo tour. 

15. Watch Live Music at the New Orleans Jazz Museum

Jazz is one of the biggest reasons to visit New Orleans, but for families looking for kid-friendly places to experience this soulful music, you should look at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

While the museum itself is fascinating, with exhibits dedicated to Jazz history and culture, including listening stations, movies, instruments, and a recording studio and dance floor, the highlight of the museum is the events.

It has live music and performances a few nights a week, usually Wednesday – Sunday, though it differs each week. Each event is dedicated to Jazz in some form, from Jazz yoga to performances from a full jazz band.

Make sure to check out the ‘events page‘ to see what’s happening when you visit.

16. See the Ducks at Louis Armstrong Park

Just outside the French Quarter is the Louis Armstrong Park. It’s a public space that is dedicated to the jazz musician, Louis Armstrong, and features a Congo Square, which was a historic meeting spot for slaves in the 1800s, several sculptures, and most importantly, duck ponds.

If you are looking for free things to do in New Orleans with toddlers, get yourself some bread and go and feed the ducks! This park is a great spot for relaxing and hanging out with your children.

17. Have an Educational Day at the National WWII Museum

Several of our readers and travel friends said the World War II Museum is an amazing museum (probably more appropriate if you have teens) and a great place to learn about WWII history.

What makes this museum such an amazing experience, is how interactive it is. With theaters, galleries and a room designed as a submarine, history comes alive and is way more exciting than just starring at objects behind glass.

And you can visit the Soda Shop inside the museum, which is definitely a good reason to visit.

18. Try Some Authentic Gumbo

Gumbo is the official food of Louisianna, so no trip to New Orleans would be complete without trying this iconic dish.

It’s a soup dish, traditionally made with seafood such as shellfish, which has been stewed in a strongly-flavored stock for several hours. It’s then topped with meat (usually sausage), thickener, celery, bell peppers, onions, and the number one ingredient, Creole.

A top-rated restaurant to try Gumbo is at the apty named, award winning Gumbo Shop on Peter Street.

19. Be Cultural at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA)

This may be more of an attraction in New Orleans for mom and dad, but it can’t always be about the kids, right? The New Orleans Museum of Art is an unmissable thing to do in New Orleans and is the oldest fine arts museum in the city.

It opened in 1911 with only nine pieces of art, but has grown to a collection of more than 40,000 today. It’s most famous for its collection of French and American art, as well as photography, glassware, and African and Japanese work.

Perhaps the biggest attraction is the 12 acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, which has over 90 sculptures that fill a stunningly manicured garden with reflecting lagoons and 200 year old, Spanish moss-laden live oaks.

The sculpture garden is a quiet and peaceful space, the perfect contrast to the busy streets of New Orleans.

Other Things to Do in New Orleans with Kids

We love getting tips from our readers and locals living in New Orleans. We asked them what is a must do in New Orleans?

These are things they suggested as the top New Orleans tourist attractions that we should go back and do:

• Steamboat Natchez for a riverboat dinner cruise down the mighty Mississippi. Dinner Jazz and Daytime jazz cruises.
• Audubon Zoo (rated one of the best zoos in the US) (they also have a great Christmas light experience)
• Audubon Park (across from the zoo)
• Woldenberg Park: Enjoy a stroll or picnic on the Mississippi River.
• Ride the Canal Street Ferry to Algiers Point  – for great views of New Orleans from the middle of the Mississippi River.

Where to Stay in New Orleans

We stayed at The Whitney Hotel which is located in Downtown New Orleans on the corner of Poydras Street and Camp Street.

It’s a converted bank building and a National Historic Landmark and the location was very convenient for us and we could pretty much walk anywhere:

• The French Quarter – 7 minute walk along Camp Street
• Canal Street – 6 minute walk
• Jackson Square – 15 minute walk
• St. Charles Avenue – 1 block away
• Mardi Gras Parade Route – 1 block from St. Charles Ave and 4 minute walk from Tchoupitoulas Street (great spot to watch the Orpheus Parade).
• The Garden District – 17 minutes in a Streetcar
• Superdome – 15 minute walk

Essentially you’re smack dab between the French Quarter, The Garden District, and The Warehouse District.

And this hotel is quiet. I’ve heard stories of people staying right in the French Quarter and it being incredibly noisy all night. And luxury hotels like Hotel Monteleone which is famous for its carousel bar, can be incredibly pricey for a family.

We also appreciated that our room was spacious and divided into two separate bedrooms. Although we spent little time there, when we did it had room for us to relax and get blogging work done. And the bathrooms are large.

They offer a complimentary continental breakfast, WiFi, and in-room bottles of artesian water.

And the reception staff were extremely helpful and friendly and offered great tips for New Orleans!

Valet parking is $32 per day.

• Book your stay at the Whitney through Booking.com 
• Read reviews on TripAdvisor
• Find more New Orleans Hotels and apartments here

Before You Go

So there you have it, those are some top things to do in New Orleans with kids and as you can see, there is a lot of family fun to be had! We hope this guide helped change your perception of New Orleans as a family-friendly city!

Now that we’ve shown you how many cool kid-friendly attractions in New Orleans you can visit, all that’s left for us to say is have a great trip!

More Ideas for Travel in the South

Are you visiting any other cities in the South? Then these other resources may be helpful to you:

• 6 Exciting Reasons Jackson MS is a soulful family getaway
• 15 Best things to do in Nashville with Kids
• 12 Fun Things to do on the Gulf Shores Alabama
• 11 insanely cool things to do in Memphis
• Fun and Interesting Things to do in Mobile Alabama
• 16 spectacular Florida vacation spots
• 19 Inspiring Things to do in Montgomery Alabama
• 18 Fantastic Things to do on a Natural North Florida Road Trip
• A Captivating day trip to Franklin, TN
• Things to do in Knoxville Tennessee with kids

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Read on because we have some great tips down below on how to make your New Orleans vacation great value whilst taking in all the best sites NOLA has to offer!

I totally geek out on discounted attraction passes.

Why? Because I love tours. They offer you insight into the local history and culture that you may not necessarily pick up on your own. Sometimes you can.

You can spend hours wandering and reading plaques, but that can be an exhausting experience.

Depending on your mood for the day you may only take some of it in. And you don’t get the local lore and myths woven in – those stories that leave you wondering if you’ve just been had, or the story was warped by the Chinese whisper effect, or they really did happen.

And parents, you know the truth. You ain’t got no time to be reading plaques. In 60 seconds flat there’ll be a tap on your leg, a pull of your sweater and a screech for “Mooooom, I’m hungry.”

So I love tours as I learn so much in an effortless way. I’m a great listener and can take in so much more.

Plus, there are far fewer taps and screeches from my children. They tend to listen and love what they learn as a process of tours as well. It usually amazes tour guides how well behaved they are.

It’s just what they’re used to!

Without these city attraction passes, I wouldn’t necessarily spend money on a bunch of tours as it works out to be expensive.

But, when I have a sightseeing pass and they are included, I do as many as I can.

Some end up being so interesting and I would have missed the opportunity to learn so many cool things without them.

3-Day New Orleans Sightseeing Pass

On our recent Christmas trip to New Orleans, we had a 3 Day Sightseeing Pass (gifted to us by the company who we’ve worked with before and are affiliate partners of).

We loved the Sightseeing Pass in New York and it’s a huge value for saving you money and time and were curious to check this one out to see if would do the same.

I think the NYC Sightseeing Pass is the MacDaddy of all and it’s hard to beat that value.

I’m not sure this one from New Orleans had as much superpower, HOWEVER, it does depend on what tours you want to experience.

AND, as I outline below in a couple of different scenarios, with some careful planning it will save you money, which is what you and I both want.

One thing to remember with these Sightseeing Passes is that you can often skip the queues, which will save you lots of time, especially during the busy seasons.

That makes them worth it alone. I hate queues!!

For New Orleans discount passes, there is also the New Orleans Pass. It works in pretty much the exact same way. I have outlined in a section below some significant differences including price.

Do your due diligence to choose which is better for you and what you want to see and do in New Orleans.

What’s Included in the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass?

The Sightseeing Pass is a city discount attraction pass that allows cash free entry to over 20 attractions.

It has the biggest choice of New Orleans attractions and offers a 1-Day Hop-on Hop-off Bus loop with over 18 stops.

Plus, the city attraction pass also has extra bonus inclusions such as retail and dining discounts.

Find out more about how the Sightseeing Pass works here.

Top New Orleans Attractions On the Discount Pass

As we had visited New Orleans previously there were some top New Orleans attractions included on the pass that we did not take advantage of.

I have included them in this list as they were terrific and really worth doing.

For each of the top attractions, I have included a link where you can buy tickets for them individually if you wanted to do them but decided the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass wasn’t valuable to you.

It’s the best sightseeing package you could have to explore New Orleans.

These are the 8 best New Orleans Attractions to visit with the Sightseeing Pass. 

Mardi Gras World

Mardi Gras World was awesome!

Strange that we didn’t visit earlier this year when we attended Mardi Gras, but we were too busy catching beads.

I’m so glad we did the tour this time as it was wonderful to see the creative design and work that goes into building those decorative, vibrant, and artistic floats.

Yes. This is a year-round production experience that brings in billion dollars each year. Mardi Gras is a phenomenon!

Kalyra has taken quite the interest in art recently, so I loved how she could learn a few artistic techniques on this tour. The tour also includes a sampling of King Cake, and a short video to learn the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

And if you didn’t think Mardi Gras was for kids, read our posts sharing how you can experience Mardi Gras in a kid-friendly way!

New Orleans Jazz Cruise Aboard the Steamboat Natchez

If the idea of cruising down the Mississippi River eating good food and listening to jazz is your thing, then you might like the Paddle wheeler Jazz Cruise dinner included in the Sightseeing Pass.

I was happy to see it on the New Orleans attractions list and immediately made a booking.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t as good as I anticipated. I thought it would be jazzier, but the music was pretty low key and in the corner of the restaurant.

In true New Orleans fashion though the food was delicious! I couldn’t believe how good it was for buffet food. I’m not a big meat eater yet I went back for thirds for the brisket.

Food and drink are not included in the ticket, you have to upgrade for that. Only the cost of the cruise is covered.

I don’t think it would be as good without the food. Perhaps in the summer months when it’s warmer to sit outside, but then you may not hear the music.

Hop on Hop off Bus

I’m not sure if you can get more touristy than a hop on hop off bus tour. I enjoy them and am always happy when they are included in discount tourist passes.

I probably wouldn’t pay for them otherwise, but always get a lot of value out of them.

I love how you can just sit back, relax, watch the city go by, and learn lots of cool things. You usually get history, culture and a few insider tips and local stories.

It gave me a wonderful overview and deeper insight into how rich the New Orleans culture is.

There really is no place like it and this incredible melting pot of cultures has bought a delicious experience of music, food, celebration, art, and culture unlike anywhere I have been.

The hop on hop off bus tour also lets you see places you might want to go back and explore more of. We learned more about Marigny, the eclectic, artists local community. (Which we also learned about on the cemetery tour.)

Thankfully, we managed to visit briefly a couple of days later for breakfast with friends, and discovered a delicious local restaurant within the neighborhood.

For those wanting to rent an Airbnb, this may be a good area for you to do it. It’s quite close to the French Quarter and has an abundance of cute cottages.

Top New Orleans Tip:

Park your car at the Basin Welcome center which is a Hop on Hop off stop. It’s the cheapest place to park in the city. $5 for 10 hours $10 for 24. You can read more about it in our weekly wrap post.

You can then jump on the hop on hop off to get to the other attractions so you don’t have to worry about driving and more parking fees (more savings!).

Or, you can walk into the French Quarter. It’s only 5 minutes away!

The hop on hop off bus is only valid for one day, but you can upgrade for more days.

I recommend going to the places that aren’t within walking distance on your Sightseeing Pass so you only have to use one day with the Hop on Hop Off. I think one day is plenty, although we have spent time in NOLA before.

Cemetery Walking Tour St Louis 1

Cemetery tours are a thing in New Orleans.

The most popular and well known is the self-guided tour of Lafayette cemetery in the Garden District. That is free to do.

The Louis 1 cemetery, however, the oldest in the city, is not free, nor open to general walk-ins. You can only visit on a tour. This was in order to protect the graves that were subjected to vandalism, especially of the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau.

I knew little of voodoo, or this lady, and was fascinated to learn more on this tour. I quite enjoyed it. Kalyra and Savannah did as well, which surprised me although Kalyra is quite fascinated with ghosts.

We enjoyed learning more about Bernard de Marigny who got into gambling debt and had to sell off small lots of his plantation, which is now the community of Marigny – I can’t imagine how much he must have made selling off all those parcels of land as it’s a big community.

We also enjoyed seeing Nicholas Cage’s pyramid tomb. Yes. He is not dead yet. But, he wants to leave his spirit in New Orleans. I told you this city is good!

It was here I also learned about the Battle for New Orleans, and how the pirates helped the Americans win in return for a pardon.

Help the government meet their objectives and you can get away with anything!

French Quarter Walking Tour

You can definitely walk around the French Quarter on your own, soaking up the atmosphere and appreciating the unique French and Spanish style architecture, pausing to listen to the jazz buskers on Royal Street as you are meandering. (Perhaps exploring Bourbon Street if you AREN’T visiting New Orleans with kids.)

However, a French Quarter walking tour is a fantastic way to learn more about the history of the first city of New Orleans.

I absolutely love the French Quarter and have spent hours walking around, with many pit stops for beignets at Café Du Monde, not to mention fancy and delicious meals at many of its restaurants.

Oh, and a jazz concert or theater show or two!

This trip was the first time we dove a little deeper into the culture and history of the area on this tour.

I didn’t know much of it at all from my own wanderings. I wouldn’t have done this tour without the New Orleans sightseeing pass and I really enjoyed it.

We even went to areas I hadn’t been to before and have noted places to go back and explore more.

Top Tip:

If you love beignets, don’t miss the ones at Morning Call in City Park as well. The locals argue they are better. Let us know in the comments what you decide?

Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour

We did not do the swamp tour on this visit to New Orleans but did when we visited for Mardi Gras.

I highly recommend it as the bayous are unique to the New Orleans area and story. We did a swamp tour through Honey Island Swamp so this one is slightly different.

It goes through the heart of Southern Louisiana swamplands in the protected Jean Lafitte National Park and Barataria Preserve.

Tours are on private property, which means no competition in the area, less boat traffic to scare the animals.

Houmas House

Houmas House was another delightful surprise we only discovered as a result of the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass.

Id’ always wanted to experience the New Orleans plantations – you know those spectacular avenues of oaks that you see pictures of. Houmas House is not the one you have most likely seen, that is Oak Alley.

Houmas House is just as beautiful though and I thoroughly enjoyed the house tour.

It was educational and super interesting. Kalyra was quite entranced especially when she learned that a husband could challenge another man to a duel if he saw his wife’s ankles!!

Houmas House has magnificent oak trees and if it wasn’t raining I would have been hugging every single one. They were gorgeous!

We stayed for lunch in the cafe after which was delicious – a pumpkin crabmeat soup.

Oh my, Louisiana you’re food is off the charts.

The National WWII Museum

Although I would really love to see the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, as it gets rave reviews and is massive, we skipped visiting on both trips to New Orleans.

We’ve had so many different war experiences over the past year, with Gettysburg, Franklin, Pearl Harbor, and Williamsburg and while we loved all of them, even the girls did, we were a bit exhausted by the story of the war.

I am typically fascinated by museums like this and have explored war history a lot in my global travels. I am just a little worn out with negativity and hatred at the moment.

I don’t think my psyche at this point can deal with any more stories of how awful the human race is. Although within those stories you do also learn of the courageous, triumphant spirit of the human race.

For now, I’m looking for it in everyday moments instead.

But the WWII museum is absolutely a top New Orleans attraction and well worth a visit, especially if you have the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass.

Why not? It will save you money on it.

Other New Orleans Attraction Included in the Pass

• Audubon Aquarium
• Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium
• Audubon Zoo

Again, we do so many of these type of experiences on our travels, we tend to bypass them now unless they are super unique and extraordinary.

We did go to Audubon Zoo for the evening Christmas lights which were fantastic. and many people recommend the Insectarium which we attempted to go to, but unfortunately, it was on the day it was closed)

You can see all the Sightseeing Pass New Orleans attractions here

How Much does the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass Cost?

You have two different options with the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass.

You can either purchase a flex ticket or day passes. It depends on how many New Orleans attractions you want to visit and how much time you have.

Be sure to do your research and planning first so you can purchase the right NOLA sightseeing pass and maximize your value and time with it.

The website provides plenty of details on each included New Orleans attraction.

Be sure to check out operating times and how to claim your tickets, as for some you may need to phone ahead first or go to a different location to check-in.

The New Orleans Sightseeing FLEX Pass

The Sightseeing FLEX Pass, you select the number of attractions you would like to see and then build a custom itinerary to fit your exact interests as you go.

This option is recommended for visitors who have already been to New Orleans and want to enjoy a more customized experience on their subsequent visits.

It’s great for those who are short on time or have a limited sightseeing budget.

• Visit 3, 4, 5 or 6 Attractions
• Choose as you go from 25 top spots
• Pass valid for 30 days
• Save 54% or more

Flex PAsses start at $54 for 2 attractions

The New Orleans Sightseeing DAY Pass

The Pass can be used for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive calendar days.

It becomes activated when it is used at its first attraction, then expires at midnight of its last valid day

The Sightseeing Pass is recommended for first-time visitors to New Orleans, as well as active travelers who like convenience and visitors with an open itinerary who like to control their sightseeing budget.

Pay one price, then visit as many attractions as you wish with The Sightseeing Pass.

• Unlimited sightseeing
• Choose a 1, 2, 3 or 5 Day Pass
• See all you can for one low price
• Save up to 56%

Day prices start at $79 for a 1 day, The more days you purchase the better value the pass is.

See the various passes and prices here.

How the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass Save You Money

Let’s look at how much each of the tours above would have cost us if we paid individual admission.

For ease, I’m just basing it on the adult price. If you save with the adult Sightseeing Pass you will with the kids.

The cost of the 8 attractions above was $255.50

The 3-day Sightseeing Pass costs $169. Currently, there is a sale for 20% which means it’s $135. (They frequently have sales)

So that’s a savings of $120.50 at the sale price, or $86.50 at full price.

We had plenty of time over the three days to see all these attractions and could have easily fit more in.

Although we did not do the WWII Museum or the Lafitte swamp tour so if you do all of the above it probably would take up the three days.

If you wanted to add an extra day on, the next level would be the 5-day flex pass @ $207 $165 (20% off)

Now, if I didn’t have the Sightseeing Pass I wouldn’t necessarily pay for all these attractions. So let’s look at what I think are must-see attractions for families in New Orleans.

These are the most popular tours and attractions. The others are just bonus attractions you get to experience because of the pass.

So I’d say:

• Mardi Gras World: $21.50
• WWII Museum $28
• Swamp Tour: $52
• Houmas House $26

For a total cost of $128

The 4 attraction Sightseeing Pass would cost you $109, saving you $19.

Not a huge difference, but the Sightseeing Pass will be cheaper. If it were me, I’d buy the 2 day Sightseeing Pass instead at $110.

Same price but you’ll get access to 25 attractions so it’s a way better deal.

You never know what you may enjoy and discover simply by visiting an attraction you otherwise wouldn’t have just because it’s on the pass.

Buy the right New Orleans Sightseeing Pass for you here. 

Benefits of the Sightseeing Pass

1. Most popular tours often sell out. Sightseeing Pass online purchase confirmation allows you to secure your place. There are over 10 tours you can book in advance with Sightseeing Pass.
2. Sightseeing Passes can be purchased up to 12 months before your New Orleans trip. Should your travel plans change, Sightseeing Pass insurance gives peace of mind, offering a full refund on non-activated Passes. No questions asked.
3. Your Pass gets activated in New Orleans the moment you use it at an attraction or service. It is then valid for the number of consecutive days it was purchased for or number of attractions selected.
4. You can use the pass on your smartphone. You can show the pass on your mobile, which makes it easy for those on the go and don’t have access to a printer, or just don’t want to bother!
5. Allows you to plan in advance (they have a handy itinerary planner). A lot of time and money is wasted from a lack of planning and organization. I love how the Sightseeing Pass forces me to plan and run off a daily schedule. It makes for a better experience when exploring a city.
6. You have access to the Hop On Hop Off bus. The Hop on Hop Off Bus ticket is a great way to get from one attraction to the other without fussing about with traffic and parking.

Learn more and get your New Orleans Sightseeing Pass here.

Visiting Other United States Cities?

Check out our review of the NYC Sightseeing pass vs New York Pass

If you’re traveling to multiple cities over a 30 day period, you may be interested in the USA Sightseeing Pass. Choose from over 300 Attractions in 12 USA destinations saving you up to 70% on attraction fees.

New Orleans Sightseeing Pass vs New Orleans Pass

I have not had personal experience with the New Orleans Power Pass, which is very similar to how the New Orleans Sightseeing Pass works.

Research the New Orleans attractions included in both passes and list out which ones are your must-sees.

From there you can work out, which pass will give you the best access to those at the best price

From my quick research on the New Orleans Pass website, here’s what I have found to be the most significant difference.

The New Orleans Pass seems to have a greater variety of attractions included, but it does depend on what you’re interested in seeing. The New Orleans attractions and tours that grabbed my attention the most was:

• Oak Alley Plantation (normally $25) – as this is on my dream list, I’d possibly lean more towards this Pass.
• 2-hour bike rental – although we have our own bikes. If you didn’t this could be a cool way to see the city.
• New Orleans School of Cooking Demo – learn how to make dishes like gumbo and jambalaya and taste them!! Yes please

Both passes may have separate attractions you want to do.

In that case, choose the card that will give you the most value and savings and then purchase individual admission tickets for the others. Yes.

It will involve a little bit of math for you but it will be worth it to save money on New Orleans Attractions.

You can purchase your New Orleans Pass here

Where to Stay in New Orleans

New Orleans has an abundance of accommodation options from hotels to apartments and

Whitney Hotel

We’ve previously stayed at The Whitney Hotel located in Downtown New Orleans on the corner of Poydras Street and Camp Street.

It’s a converted bank building and a National Historic Landmark and the location was very convenient for us and we could pretty much walk anywhere:

We appreciated that our room was spacious and divided into two separate bedrooms.

They offer a complimentary continental breakfast, WiFi, and in-room bottles of artesian water. This is an affordable  New Orleans accommodation and great for families.

Book your stay and read reviews here.

The Mercantile Hotel

This 3-star hotel is situated in the New Orleans Central Arts Warehouse District, in the middle of New Orleans.

The Arts -Warehouse District is a great choice for travellers interested in restaurants, culture and sightseeing. This location is great for couples.

Book your stay and read more reviews here.

Bourbon Orleans Hotel

Bourbon Orleans Hotel offers hotel in the French Quarter within walking distance to the Louisiana State Museum, St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square

French Quarter (Vieux Carré) is a great choice for travelers interested in live music, history, and jazz.

Book your stay and read more reviews here.

Roosevelt Hotel

This 5-star hotel is the dream hotel for Christmas with their photo-worthy and popular Christmas decorations.

The New Orleans Roosevelt Hotel is off Canal St a short walk to the French Quarter. It features restaurants, bars, and live jazz.

Book your stay and read more reviews here.

Some other New Orleans hotels you may want to try

• Airbnb homes in New Orleans
• For hotels and apartments check booking.com

Is New Orleans a Good Place to Take Kids?

You’ve probably heard about how New Orleans has epic bars or is a party town. So is it a place you can take kids? Definitely! Bring the entire family. In fact, read about all the different things to do in New Orleans with kids.

More New Orleans Tips

• How to enjoy Mardi Gras with kids
• Best things to do in New Orleans with kids
• 11 Places to Eat in New Orleans to Taste Some of the Most Delicious Food in the US
• Dallas to Boston road trip itinerary

Bonus New Orleans Travel Video

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What’s your favorite New Orleans attraction?

You have been the best “foodie” destination we have visited so far on our travels in the USA since moving over from Australia.

Seriously, we did not have a bad meal during our five day visit to The Big Easy, in which we ate out three times a day and have one very fussy six year old.

You may already know that the main reason for our trip to New Orleans was to experience Mardi Gras with our kids, and if you’re considering going to Mardi Gras, do it.

We absolutely loved experiencing Mardi Gras as a family and if you haven’t read our blog post with all our tips for Mardi Gras, you can do so here.

And if you can’t visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras season, there are still plenty of awesome things to do in New Orleans with kids at any time of the year! (Christmas in New Orleans is also awesome )

But today we’re talking about the incredible New Orleans FOOD.

When you think of New Orleans you might think of jazz music, of the party scene on Bourbon Street, of the architecture, and of course Mardi Gras.

But New Orleans consistently ranks as one of the best cities for foodies in the country. And eating your way through a destination is one of the best things about travel.

You can learn so much about a place and its people through its food. And by eating out in New Orleans it might just be the best way to experience the city.

Before our trip to New Orleans, we hadn’t eaten this much shrimp, oysters, and fish since we left Australia. And being Australians, we are picky when it comes to seafood and I’m happy to say that New Orleans does seafood very very well.

And it was our first time eating crawfish, a Louisiana favorite, and down below we share some great seafood restaurants in New Orleans to get your fix!

Our friends in Raleigh have a vacation property in New Orleans and visit often. They love it there and say New Orleans is unlike any city in America.

They especially love the cultural diversity, which is woven into the food, and we totally agree!

When you hear about food in New Orleans you’ve probably heard about Cajun and Creole food, which are both native to Louisiana.

But what exactly is it?

Cajun food is robust, rustic food, found along the bayous of Louisiana, a combination of French and Southern cuisines.

It was brought to Louisiana from the French who migrated to the state from Nova Scotia 250 years ago and used foods, right from the land.

Creole food is cosmopolitan food, created in New Orleans with European, African and Native American roots.

The French influence is strongest, but vestiges of Italian, Spanish, German, and even Caribbean can be found in some dishes.

Both Cajun and Creole can be found in many restaurants throughout New Orleans!

What to Eat in New Orleans?

Some of the famous New Orleans dishes that we ate, and are sharing tips down below on where to find them, are:

• crawfish
• jambalaya
• gumbo
• beignets
• Bananas foster
• Po-boys (one thing we didn’t eat due to gluten)

We visited NOLA in partnership with the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, who have a wealth of tips for New Orleans on their website.

They helped us create a dining itinerary so we could experience some of the best restaurants in New Orleans.

Keep reading to follow in our footsteps so you can dine on some of the best food in New Orleans.

11 Places to Eat in New Orleans

1. Brennan’s Restaurant

If you love eating breakfast outside in cute courtyards, and authentic Creole cuisine, then you’ll love Brennan’s on Royal Street.

It’s one of the classic New Orleans French Quarter restaurants.

All four of us thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast in their gorgeous courtyard, a setting that made us feel like we were in Paris, and we could have sat there for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Anytime we can sit outside with our kids, we jump at it, as it usually entails a more family-friendly vibe!

Their interior dining option looked lovely too, but sitting in the fresh air and sunshine was just too inviting!

We ordered:

• French toast for the kids (all kids meals includes a kid’s drink, fresh fruit, & a scoop of vanilla ice cream)
• Crawfish omelettes
• New Orleans style coffee (French Pressed Blend of Chicory & Dark Roast)
• Bananas Foster

Ok, mom and dad, don’t miss their famous Bananas Fosters!

If you’ve never had Bananas Foster before, or heard of it, it’s a must eat dish in New Orleans and is original to Brennan’s and the most ordered item off their menu.

It includes: bananas, rum, cinnamon, brown sugar and ice cream – and the cool thing is they cook it cooked in front of you at your table which is always fun.

And it was delicious!

For an iconic NOLA experience, dining at Brennan’s is a must on any places to eat in New Orleans list!

• Location: 417 Royal Street
• Menus

Watch the video to see how you make Bananas Foster – A Brennan’s recipe

2. Briquette

We finished our Mardi Gras with kids experience with a quiet and delicious seafood dinner at Briquette, one of the best new restaurants in New Orleans.

Located in the Warehouse district, Briquette is housed in the former Rodd Brothers Molasses Refinery, which dates from the 1800’s.

We loved the character of the place, contemporary yet casual. The tables and beams are all made from refurbished wood, there’s an open styled kitchen and a very cool looking wine display.

We ordered steamed Prince Edward mussels, oysters, Alaskan Halibut Fillet, whole black bass, and dark Chocolate Crème Brule.

It was the best seafood meal we’ve had since leaving our home in Australia to move to North Carolina!

• Location: 701 South Peters St
• Menus

3. Cafe Du Monde

One of the best things to do in New Orleans with kids is take them to Cafe Du Monde for beignets – they will love you even more!

But even if you don’t have kids, this place is an institution in the French Quarter of New Orleans, right across the street from beautiful Jackson Square.

Cafe Du Monde was established in 1862 and is on every best places to eat in New Orleans list there is, for good reason.

Is it touristy? Yes, but this historic New Orleans cafe is touristy for a reason.

The Cafe is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they are busy every single day so they must be doing something right!

Cafe Du Monde is a traditional coffee shop. Its menu consists of:

• Dark roasted Coffee and Chicory
• Beignets
• White and Chocolate Milk
• Freshly squeezed Orange Juice

The coffee is served Black or Au Lait, which means that it is mixed half and half with hot milk.

What is a Beignet?

A beignet (pronounced ben-yay) is a square French-style doughnut.

It’s a square piece of dough, fried and covered with powdered sugar. They are served in orders of three.

And your kids will love getting the powdered sugar all over their faces and your table – it comes with the scene!

Our kids ordered a serving of 3 (generously priced at three for $1.35), with a hot chocolate, whilst we settled for a coffee in a souvenir mug (we are avoiding gluten otherwise would have demolished our own serving).

There are no reservations at this open-air French Cafe, it’s first come, first served, and you sit yourself down until a white-jacket waiter attends to your table.

We recommend an outside table with a view overlooking Decatur Street and Jackson Square which adds to this quintessential New Orleans experience. Cafe Du Monde now have a location inside City Park.

• Location: 800 Decatur St

4. Dickie Brennan’s Tableau

It just so happened that we were in New Orleans on Valentine’s Day, and dinner at Dickie Brennan’s Tableau was the perfect setting.

We don’t normally do “fancy” when eating out with our kids, and I guess dinner with a ten and six-year-old is not that romantic, but we loved this family experience and felt very welcomed.

Tableau is a member of the famed Brennan restaurant family and offers classic French-Creole cooking in an elegant 3-story townhouse with an open kitchen & balcony.

First of all, the location is fantastic, right on Jackson Square, and upstairs features balcony dining with a view of the Square.

There’s a grand staircase spanning the three stories connecting the dining rooms, plus courtyard seating –  you can’t get a more authentic New Orleans dining experience than this.

We ate in the more formal downstairs dining room and had a lovely meal served by attentive and friendly staff.

Delicious starters include the Grand Royale (crabmeat ravigote, shrimp rémoulade, truffled crab fingers, oysters):

An example entree is the Chicken Tableau (herb roasted chicken breast, crispy thigh, potatoes Tableau, Béarnaise, chicken demi-glace):

Tableau is one of the great restaurants in New Orleans, and a dining experience that you’ll be sharing with family and friends that are planning their own trip to The Big Easy.

Oh, and if you love Mimosas, they serve bottomless Mimosas for $15 during brunch (with the purchase of an entrée)!

• Location: 616 St. Peter Street
• Menus: 

5. Willa Jean

A fellow travel friend suggested Willa Jean, as did several of you from our online communities on Facebook and Instagram, and our first breakfast experience in New Orleans didn’t disappoint.

When you first enter, if you can get your kids to walk past the counter display of fresh bakery treats then grab a table in the cafe area and order off the menu.

Our kids ordered what I think was the thickest avocado on toast we have ever seen, whilst we went with a colorful and healthy quinoa bowl (quinoa + farro + white beans + avocado).

We then relented and allowed the kids to enjoy one of the chocolate chip cookies on display (it may have been two!)

What we liked about Willa Jean is that it offers a real locals vibe – just be warned this place was packed on weekends. And they served up GOOD coffee too! We loved it that much we ate there twice!

The restaurant and bakery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the week, and offers Saturday and Sunday brunch.

• Location: 611 O’Keefe Avenue
• Menu

6. Casamento’s Restaurant

As you know, New Orleans is not short on seafood restaurants and if you’re looking for a casual but authentic experience consider Casamento’s.

Way back in 1919, Joe Casamento blended Italian tradition and Louisiana seafood to create this New Orleans icon.

The interior is not fancy or modern, making for a super casual and affordable dining experience on fresh local seafood.

We ordered oysters on the half shell, crab claws, fried calamari and trout with fresh homemade fries.

Casamento’s is one of the top places to eat in New Orleans for authentic and affordable fresh seafood.

Casamento’s does not take reservations and is cash-only. Closed June, July and August and all Major Holidays.

• Location: 4330 Magazine St
• Menu

7. Joey K’s Restaurant & Bar

One of the best things to do in New Orleans is explore the Garden District, a neighborhood famous for its 19th century homes and beautiful gardens.

We timed our visit for just after lunch. After we hopped off the streetcar from downtown at the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and Washington Avenue we headed to Joey K’s.

This place came recommended by other locals and is a cool space decorated with lots of fun slogans and festive phrases.

It’s nice and casual with homestyle Creole eats and po’ boys and really good lunch specials.

Apparently they have the best red beans and rice in town. We settled for a good Jambalaya!

• Location: 3001 Magazine St
• Menu

8. Grand Isle Restaurant & Oyster Bar

The Grand Isle Restaurant & Oyster Bar, located just outside the French Quarter, was our first dinner experience in New Orleans and a nice introduction of what was to come seafood wise!

We wandered around the lower part of the French Quarter after our first day of Mardi Gras parades before stopping for dinner at the Grand Isle.

The Gulf waters around Grand Isle have been the place to find the finest quality fish and seafood in the country, and our first dinner in New Orleans hit the spot nicely.

On the menu for us: shrimp, oysters, PEI Mussels (white wine, garlic & saffron broth, malt vinegar aioli) and a hearty Fishermen’s Stew (gulf fish, shrimp, calamari, mussels, creole seafood broth & brown rice). 

We found Grand Isle to be a real family-friendly New Orleans restaurant.

• Location: 575 Convention Ctr. Blvd
• Menu

9. Morning Call

UPDATE: Morning Call is no longer in City Park. Cafe Du Monde is now opening in City Park in their place. The original Morning Call coffee stand was established in 1870, in the French Quarter, by Joseph Jurisich.

They are however opened to the end of the streetcar line, at the intersection of Canal Street and City Park Avenue. 

We met a lovely local family on Mardi Gras Day who invited us for a play date with their kids at City Park, which is awesome by the way!

Besides all the fun activities you can do in City Park such as rent pedal boats or kayaks, play mini-golf, ride a carousel or miniature train, and visit Storyland’s colorful storybook sculptures, it’s also home to Morning Call which serves beignets, and New Orleans style coffee, the classic café au lait, 24 hours a day!

Also on the menu are other NOLA favorites like jambalaya and gumbo.

Our kids did prefer the beignets at Cafe Du Monde, but Morning Call has shorter lines and the prime location within City Park.

Whilst the kids indulged in more beignets, we tried a gator sausage (when in New Orleans).

We’ve eaten croc before, and had kangaroo sausages back home in Australia, but this was our first time eating gator.

10. The Galley

Speaking of our friends from Mardi Gras Day, after our play date at City Park they took us to dinner at The Galley, one of their favorite seafood restaurants in New Orleans.

Now this is a real locals restaurant, and popular too, especially known for their crawfish tails!

We dined on a Friday night and folks were lined up out the door into the car park waiting for a table, enjoying a cold beer and a chit chat in the process.

There’s seating inside and out, a super casual atmosphere, and the food was fresh and plenty of it.

We let our friends order for us, and boy did they order some food. I think we had like 8 lbs of crawfish, plus shrimp, corn on the cob, pork sausage and potatoes.

The Galley is also the home of the famous soft shell crab and catfish filet po-boys served at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since 1977.

It is a 20-minute drive from the city center, so you will need a car.

But if you’re looking to get out into the neighborhoods, put this restaurant on your places to eat in New Orleans for seafood list!

• Location: 2535 Metairie Road
• Menu:

11. The Daily Beet

Almost across the street from Willa Jean is The Daily Beet, and we also stopped in here twice for a quick breakfast.

Not Creole or Cajun, but if you’re in this area and looking for a healthy cafe serving salads, grain bowls, cold-pressed juices, and smoothies check this place out.

• Location: 1000 Girod St
• Menu

More New Orleans Tips

New Orleans is a fantastic all-round destination that offers incredible music, festivals, history, people and food.

Wherever you go, plan on eating your way through The Big Easy. Here’s a detailed New Orleans Travel Guide to help you plan your trip!

Check out these cool food tours of New Orleans

Check out our videos of our time in New Orleans. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel:

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