After taking a trip to New Orleans to celebrate my husband’s birthday one year, we promised we would return with her. A year later, when the kids had off from school, my best friend and I planned a family weekend getaway to New Orleans. We were excited for the kids to get out of New York to experience New Orleans’ Creole culture. You’re probably thinking, “You brought children to New Orleans?” We did, and they had fun. To ensure your kids have fun should your family visit New Orleans here is a list of kid-friendly activities to do in New Orleans.
Kid-Friendly Activities to do in New Orleans
Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour
I have always heard that when visiting New Orleans, you have to do a swamp tour at least once. After some research and then finding a Groupon deal, we settled on the Jean Lafitte Swamp Tour to take the kids on. On the tour, we learned about the area and its history, gators in the swamp, celebrities that have visited and even the movies and shows filmed there.
*Jean Lafitte is located in Marrero, LA., about 25 minutes outside of New Orleans (35 minutes from where we were staying). Shuttles are offered from your hotel to the location of the swamp tour.
For more information visit: https://www.jeanlafitteswamptour.com/
Storyland New Orleans City Park
Here, your kids can see life-sized sculptures of their favorite storybook characters and scenes. Our kids enjoyed climbing into Cinderella’s Pumpkin and Little Red Riding Hoods’ Grandmother’s house, building their own structures and more.
Storyland is open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm with the last entry at 4:30 pm.
For more information visit: https://neworleanscitypark.com/in-the-park/storyland
Adventure Quest Laser Tag
Kids love arcades and laser tag. Parents are always looking for ways for kids to release energy. This is how we ended up at Adventure Quest Laser Tag in New Orleans’ Elmwood Park shopping center. It has a 6,000 square foot laser tag arena, mini-golf, an arcade, bumper cars, and an outdoor maze.
During our visit, our kids first completed the maze, and thankfully it wasn’t too hot. They then did the bumper cars and ended their time playing laser tag. The kids loved it and we were happy they were worn out, which gave us a break.
For more information visit: http://www.lasertagnola.com/
Cool Off with an Authentic New Orleans Sno-Ball
Kids love ices. Even as an adult I love good ice, especially shaved ice. However, a New Orleans native will quickly tell you a sno-ball is NOT shaved ice; it’s different. How? It is all in the shave of the ice! Sno-ball ice is extremely fine shaven. Like shaved ice, it is topped with flavored syrups, condensed milk, or even a bit of alcohol. The kids enjoyed this extremely sweet treat after we left Willie Mae’s to have some of their famous fried chicken.
Big Bus Tours
Big Bus sightseeing tours are great when visiting a new city and when traveling with kids since most kids do not like to walk. Bus tours allow you to see and learn about the most interesting parts of an area, and you get to hop on or off at your leisure. They’re one of our favorite things to do.
Get a Groupon deal for City Sightseeing New Orleans – http://www.groupon.com
RELATED: Travel Guide: Five Days in New Orleans – Eat, Play, Sleep, Repeat
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
Before we went on this trip I talked so much about how I loved the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and couldn’t wait to take my daughter. I told my best friend we should take the kids when we get to New Orleans because aquariums and zoos are kid-friendly. Guess what? When we got to New Orleans, the kids were NOT interested! Listen, I was so disappointed because aquariums are ‘my thing’. But when four kids would rather go to the park and then have ice cream, you are basically overruled. I mean, the trip was planned just for them. I couldn’t help but wonder the type of lame kids we were traveling with lol. Of course, I don’t mean it in a hurtful way.
Next time, maybe when we do an adult-only trip, we will get to do the aquarium and the Audubon Nature Zoo.
