Your first instinct might not be to book a trip to New Orleans with kids but think again! New Orleans is a great place to visit with families! It may be best known for beer, beads and Bourbon Street, but there is plenty for families to enjoy together.
Exploring the French Quarter
The French Quarter is the oldest part of the city, and was founded by French settlers in 1718. You’ll notice that the architecture here is more Spanish Colonial since, after a series of fires, many of this neighborhood’s buildings were rebuilt under Spanish rule during the late 1800s. There is a lot of history to take in here so you might want to look into a kid friendly tour from French Quartour Kids. Started in 2012 by teacher Jill Dresser, she started the company so she could combine all of her great loves: New Orleans, teaching, kids, and history!
Dresser has a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and also worked at the Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses in New Orleans, designing and coordinating education programs and getting lost in this city’s mysterious past. She and her staff are great and have various kid friendly tours to choose from.
Food
Touring the French Quarter will make you hungry! Make sure to take in some of the local Cajun and Creole dishes New Orleans has to offer! Creole is known for being fancier city food whereas Cajun is more rustic country food. Creole cuisine is a blend of New Orleans’ diverse history with French, Spanish, West African, and Southern U.S. influences. If you want to go super fancy a must try is Commander’s Palace. This is classic and quintessential New Orleans. From seafood to strawberry shortcake, this place is always great. The absolute highlight of the meal though for us with the Bananas Foster flambeed at our table!
Your family will find an abundance of treats to tempt your sweet teeth in New Orleans but an absolute must is beignets. These square-shaped deep-fried fritters are made from choux pastry or yeast dough and topped with a wealth of powdered sugar. Café du Monde is the most famous option, with several locations throughout New Orleans.
Time Outside
Never having been to Louisiana before, we really wanted to explore one of the plantations. We chose Oak Alley as it’s not too far from New Orleans and small enough to visit in a few hours. Oak Alley Plantation is a historic plantation located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, in the community of Vacherie, St. James Parish. It’s named for its distinguishing visual feature, an alley or canopied path, created by a double row of southern live oak trees about 800 feet long, planted in the early 18th century. The tree avenue runs between the home and the River. The property was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architecture and landscaping, and for the agricultural innovation of grafting pecan trees, performed there in 1846–47 by an enslaved gardener.
We took a guided tour of the plantation house originally owned by the Roman family and, most recently, by the Stewart family.
We made it a point to spend some time, reflect and discuss at the Slave Cabins. Before entering the cabins, we listened to one of the docents who guided us through the daily lives of the enslaved people on the plantation which left a huge impression on all of us. Inside there is a museum setup with lots of great information about the south and facts about the slaves that worked on the plantation.
They also had a wall covered with the names of the enslaved people that worked there. It was incredibly impactful to learn about their lives.
We ended our time in Oak Alley by taking a walk down the avenue of Oaks. The trees are so magical and majestic and nothing beats paying a visit to the grand Mississippi River at the end of your walk!
Closer to the city is another wonderful outdoor New Orleans must visit, Longue Vue House and Gardens. Longue Vue, is a historic house museum and associated gardens in the Lakewood neighborhood of New Orleans. The former home of Edgar & Edith Stern, the four facades of the house have four different appearances and out each of the four sides there is a different garden. The gardens include a plethora of vegetation and we were lucky enough to see the irises in bloom. Longue Vue was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, and further was declared a National Historic Landmark in 2005. Again, the grounds aren’t too large and the perfect place to visit with a multigenerational group. They even have a tangible children’s garden!
Floats
What is a trip to New Orleans without floats?! We didn’t visit during the notorious Mardi Gras period but we made it a point to visit Mardi Gras World and check out some fun floats! Enjoy the excitement and pageantry of Mardi Gras without the crazy crowds. It’s the only place you can see the amazing artistry of Mardi Gras parade floats up-close. Bonus: they give you a yummy slice of king cake!
Art
Our amazing server at Commander’s Palace told us not to miss JAMNOLA and she had me sold at “totally Instagram-able”! Joy/Art/Music NOLA is amazing and very fun to do with kids of all ages. Embracing the personality and feel of the city’s many cultural gems, JAMNOLA is a 5,400 sq. ft experiential pop-up that engages audiences in a topsy-turvy journey celebrating the culture of New Orleans. The exhibit takes you on an Instagram-able journey throughout a magical New Orleans that explores art, music and the people who have made the city what it is. The purpose of the museum is to make you happy, and it seems that there is no better time than now to spread a little joy through local art. This experience will make you smile and you’ll leave with a new appreciation for the Big Easy and its people.
History and WWII
You might not associate New Orleans with WWII but it, in fact, houses the National WWII Museum and it is a top-notch destination for history lovers. Traveling with my history buff son, husband and father who lived through WWII in Italy, this museum was a must visit for us. The museum is full of historical artifacts and personal stories from those who fought in the war. Exhibits highlight battles in Europe and the Pacific, but also tells stories of the challenges faced in the United States.
Rest
The official hotel of the National WWII Museum, The Higgins Hotel’s name reflects the contributions of the extraordinary entrepreneur, Andrew Higgins, who designed and built over 20,000 boats in New Orleans that were used in every major assault of World War II. The hotel is located in the vibrant Arts District which is the ideal location for families. It’s conveniently located directly across the street from the WWII Museum and offers era-inspired guest rooms and specialty suites. The Hotel pays tribute to a historic time when all Americans came together to secure victory and help change the world.
Through artifacts, artwork, photography, and personal story plaques, the hotel tells a powerful story of the WWII generation who contributed to the war effort.
Each room is uniquely crafted with stories of soldiers, civilians and historic moments. It’s a Hilton property and our family was extremely comfortable in a suite. The hotel is walking distance to the French Quarter but, in all honesty, it was nice to be in a quieter neighborhood. And while there’s not as much hustle and bustle, there are plenty of family friendly restaurants and stores nearby. We loved it here and highly recommend it!
