1. Tour Those Swamps In Comfort
Guided tours through the swamps in the New Orleans area is a great way to explore New Orleans wildlife in its natural habitat and add a touch of adventure to your life.
On most trips you’ll see animals like alligators, turtles, and owls. If you’re not sure what company to use, Ultimate Swamp Adventures is always a safe bet.
2. Spin A Story At Storyland
Stretching for more than 1,300 acres, Storyland features larger than life statues and props from more than two dozen children’s books, including a giant pirate ship, huge dragons, and Jack and Jill’s hill.
3. Belt It Out For The Pelicans
The Pelicans always put on an exciting show, and a trip to one of their games is sure to be a memorable experience for the whole family.
4. Everyone Loves The Zoo
With over 1,300 animals, New Orleans’ Audubon Zoo is one of the best attractions of its type in the country. They’ve got tons of unique animals like Komodo dragon, tigers, and a very rare family of white alligators.
5. A Trip To The Beach Never Gets Old
You might be in a huge city, but don’t forget about all the awesome coastline destinations in the nearby area. New Orleans has some of the prettiest beaches in the world, including Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.
6. Take A Ride On A Streetcar
With various versions of streetcars operating in New Orleans since 1835, this mode of transportation is a huge part of this city’s past.
They’ve since been updated, of course, but a ride is only a few dollars and kids are sure to love it. Plus, it’s actually a great way to get from one part of town to another.
7. Walk Through A Graveyard
Known around town as the “cities of the dead”, historic cemeteries are scattered all around New Orleans. Thanks to the low elevation, these graveyards are unique in that the tombs hold the bodies above ground.
There are tons of cool tours through these areas, but it’s also easy to go it alone with the help of Google.
8. Go For The Hands-On Experience
One of the most popular attractions around for families, the Louisiana Children’s Museum makes for a perfect day activity. It features over 30,000 square feet of space filled with over 100 exhibits, and you’ll get a firsthand look at things like rock climbing and tug boats.
9. Treat The Whole Family To Some Awesome Food
It’s no secret that one of the coolest things about New Orleans is the local cuisine. It’s hard to go wrong when you’re sampling the local fare. A couple of the more notable places include Short Stop Poboys and Jacques-Imo’s Café.
10. Learn A Little Voodoo
Super unique and relatively cheap, the whole family is sure to enjoy a quick stop by the New Orleans Historic Voodoo Museum. It’s an awesome, educational way to learn about the fascinating history behind this mysterious topic.
11. Catch Some Tunes
There’s probably nowhere else in the country that’s better for live music than New Orleans. If you’ve got the whole family with you and you’re looking for a place to enjoy some smooth jazz, Preservation Hall is perfect for all ages.
Unlike most venues in this city, they don’t allow smoking or drinking, making this a particularly family-friendly environment.
12. Show Some Love For The Saints
It’s hard to visit New Orleans without feeling a little bit of love for the Saints. If you happen to be in the Big Easy during football season, a trip to one of their games is a must, even if it’s just to see the huge Mercedes Superdome.
13. Take A Trip To This Underwater World
Home to four huge sea life habitats, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is definitely one of the top attractions in New Orleans. Not only do they have tons of unique species, they’ve also got an enormous 2,600 gallon stingray touch pool.
14. Mardi Gras, Minus The Beads
While it might not be the best idea to lead your kids down a street full of partiers when Mardi Gras is in full swing, a trip to Mardi Gras World is the next best thing.
Here you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at this street fest, complete with exhibits of some props and costumes from the event.
15. Float On A Boat With Style
When it comes to floating around New Orleans, you’ve got a couple options worth considering. First, you could take a ride on the Natchez, an old school steamboat that will take you around the harbor for a couple hours, with live music and an optional dinner.
For a cheaper option, hop on one of the local water ferries, which delivers some cool views of the Mississippi and the New Orleans skyline.
16. Coax Out Those Inner History Buffs
If you love history and find World War II compelling, the National World War II Museum is a must-see. They do a great job of keeping the exhibits lively and fun for all ages.
With plenty of planes, weapons, and artifacts, this is one of the best places in the country to learn a little about our world’s grandest war.
17. Flex Your Sweet Tooth
While New Orleans is known for having the best pralines in the world, no one seems to be able to decide which candy shop is actually their favorite. In other words…you’ve got to try the praline every time you see it.
If you want to start out with some of the best, you’ll have to grab some of these caramel-esque pecan loaded candies at either Leah’s Candy Kitchen or Aunt Sally’s Pralines, or praline covered bacon at Elizabeth’s.
18. Get Your Daily Dose Of Literature
With the rich artistic history in New Orleans, there are plenty of cool places all around town that have been touched in some way by famous writers.
The Maple Street Book Shop is a great place to get in touch with your literary side, frequently featuring special author appearances and storytelling lectures.
19. Stare At Some Wax
The Musée Conti Wax Museum isn’t filled with your typical celebrity wax models. Instead, this place focuses on telling the very intriguing story of New Orleans with over 150 intriguing historical figures.
20. Think Your Kids Will Eat An Oyster?
It’s just wrong to visit New Orleans without trying oysters, one of the most delicious local dishes. The best place to get them is probably the Acme Oyster House.
It’s one of the oldest, coolest joints in the city and it has been featured on several television shows throughout the years because it’s simply that good.
21. Kick It With Some Ghouls
If your family doesn’t mind things getting a bit spooky, the Lalaurie House is one of the most haunted places in New Orleans. It became famous when neighbors stumbled on a torture room in the attic that rich socialite Madame Delphine Lalaurie used to punish her slaves.
While she was able to escape to Europe after it was discovered, the house still stands and it’s said that the spirits still linger behind.
22. Don’t Be Afraid To Get A Little Buggy
If you’re looking to get an up-close look at some creepy crawlies, the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium is the place for you. With 50 exhibits spanning over 23,000 square feet, this is the largest free standing museum in the country dedicated to insects.
23. Hunt Some Vampires
Spooky things tend to be a huge part of the New Orleans culture and one of the coolest ways to get a hands on experience with this city’s past is by taking one of the many vampire tours.
Need help finding a company to take you? Spirit Tours will show you a great and educational time.
24. Pedal Your Way Through The City
One of the most vibrant cities in the country, one way to cover a lot of ground is in the saddle of a bike. This gives you a lot more freedom to stop and go, while cutting your travel time significantly compared to walking. The Mississippi River Trail is a cool journey to get you started.
25. Take a Stroll Through Jackson Square
One of the liveliest blocks in town, Jackson Square is a great place to get the perfect taste of New Orleans. Filled with tons of local artists, musicians, and unique shops, simply walking around this place is entertaining. Just make sure to bring your people-watching skills with you.
26. Don’t Be Shy–Get A Little Artsy
With over 40,000 pieces in their collection, the New Orleans Museum of Art, often called NOMA, is a great stop for anyone interested in the creative side of life. It’s easy to do a self-guided tour here and you’ll see famous pieces from all the greats.
27. Add A Little Culture To Your Night
If you’re looking to mix things up for family night, consider a trip to see a performance by the New Orleans Ballet Association. They put on several shows throughout the year and also host dance workshops for all ages.
28. Create Something With Your Own Hands
Making a trip to Chez Clay is always a blast. At this place, you get the chance to find a piece of pottery, give it a custom paint job, and then eventually take it home with you.
It’s a great weekend activity and you’ll walk away with a few new hand-painted dishes you’ll probably treasure forever.
29. Practice Your Short Game While Keeping The Kids Entertained
A new attraction in City Park, City Putt is a pretty sweet miniature golf course. With 36 holes and tons of cool obstacles, it’s hard not to have a great time here.
30. Take A Trip To The Market
It might sound a bit strange, but New Orleans is home to some of the coolest grocery stores and shopping in the country. Often locally owned and operated, these shops are definitely worth checking out simply to see the unique ingredients behind the local cuisine.
One popular market area that’s a little bigger is the French Market with 6 blocks of shops open daily.
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