We are taking the kids to NOLA this year for our 6th visit...1st time with the kids...suggestions?

Question

1. We love Jacque Imo's what compares and is good for kids?

2. Any establishments okay for kids AND music besides Preservation Hall?

3. If we want to drive to Cajun Country for an experience..where should we go?

4. Any interesting ideas? We already know which areas of the quarter to avoid. :)

Answer 1

I don't know how old your children are, but here are some of my kids (11, 7, 3) favorite things to do when visiting Grandma in NO:

Zoo and aquarium cruise.  

Mulate's across from RiverWalk and has a live zydeco band on weekend nights. Kind of touristy, but the kids will love dancing.  

Cafe du Monde is always a winner.

Mardi Gras World in Algiers is fun.

Try this website for more ideas:

http://www.experienceneworleans.com/newo...

Enjoy your trip!

Avery Island is about 2 1/2 hours away, but is a great tour for kids.

Answer 2

Petunias to eat.

Louis Armstrong park

the out door cafe where they serve powdered pastries

no

Really i don't know about taking kid's to the french Quarter.

Some areas yes.  But not Bourbon Street.

Answer 3

Kid-friendly things to do in New Orleans:

Mardi Gras and the Jazz Festival are world famous events, but New Orleans hosts many festivals and celebrations throughout the year:  www.nola.com/festivals

The Saint Charles Streetcar is the oldest continuously operating street railway in the world and is a "tourist attraction" in its own right.  It is part of the public transit system, as are the Canal Street and Riverfront streetcar lines:  www.norta.com

Wander around the French Quarter, enjoy the architecture, watch the street entertainers (do tip), and visit some of the historic buildings that have been turned into museums (go to www.frenchquarter.com and click on Historic Attractions).

Assuming the weather is good, you can collect a sandwich lunch and eat in the riverfront park (watch the shipping) or in Jackson Square (a very nice park).

The Riverwalk shopping center has an air-conditioned food court with dining overlooking the river (www.riverwalkmarketplace.com).  The Canal Place shopping center is in the French Quarter and has a cinema and higher-end shopping (Saks 5th Avenue, Brooks Brothers, etc.).  

The lobby for the Westin Canal Place Hotel is on the 11th floor and overlooks the French Quarter. It is a great place for an afternoon drink/snack:(www.westin.com).

Cafe du Monde is in the French Quarter and you shouldn't miss having cafe au lait & beignets (www.cafedumonde.com). Another great coffee shop is the Croissant d'Or (at 615 Ursulines Street), which is open from 7:00am to 2:00pm and has food in addition to pastry.

The Palm Court restaurant is very nice, has moderate prices, and traditional live jazz starting at 8:00pm: 1204 Decatur Street, tel [phone] (reservations are important and they are not open every day). The Palm Court is closed from about July 25th to about September 25th each year.

Maximo's Italian Grill has great food and atmosphere: 1117 Decatur Street in the French Quarter, [phone].

Tujaques Restaurant (823 Decatur Street) is very traditional and has moderate prices:  www.tujaguesrestaurant.com

Cafe Degas is a very French restaurant near City Park at 3127 Esplanade - which is not within walking distance of downtown (5 to 10 minutes by taxi). They are closed on Mondays & Tuesdays (504-945-5635).

The Napoleon House restaurant is at 500 Chartres Street in the FQ, and has a menu of great local dishes:  www.napoleonhouse.com

New Orleans has ballet, opera, a symphony orchestra, and theatre:

www.nobadance.com

www.neworleansopera.org

www.lpomusic.com

www.lepetittheatre.com

There is a free ferry across the Mississippi at the "foot" of Canal Street. It is a short trip but like a harbor cruise w/o a guide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/canal_stree...

The Aquarium, Audubon Zoo, and the new Insectarium are world-class attractions (www.auduboninstitute.org) and you should see them if you can. The Zoo is several miles from downtown. You can drive to the Zoo (which has free parking) or take public transit from the French Quarter.

The Louisiana State Museum is in the French Quarter:  http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/  New Orleans is also home to a number of other museums, such as the National World War II Museum (www.ddaymuseum.org) and the New Orleans Museum of Art (www.noma.org). Both can be reached by public transit: The WWII museum is in the central business district but a long walk from the French Quarter. NOMA is not within walking distance of downtown but has free parking.  Go to www.neworleansmuseums.com for info on more museums.

New Orleans City Park has a variety of attractions, including an amusement park with rides and attractions for children + free parking.  City Park also presents "Celebration in the Oaks" from late November to early January: (www.neworleanscitypark.com).

Check www.frenchquarter.com for ideas about other things to do.

Hope you have a great time!