How to Spend Five Days in New Orleans with Kids
Five days in New Orleans with my spouse and 10-year-old!
Day One: Story Land and Botanic Gardens
Our first stop was City Park, a great place for families. Story Land, a cute garden filled with characters from Disney movies and fairy tales, was a hit. We went in the morning and returned in the afternoon (keep your sticker on). The whale from Pinocchio, Cinderella's Pumpkin, and the Jack in the Beanstalk play structure were favorites.
Adjacent to Story Land, the Botanic Gardens were blooming with azaleas in the spring. I liked the sculpture garden (most from the 1920s) and a WPA greenhouse full of cacti. As a bonus, we were able to gain admission through our reciprocal membership.
Botanic Gardens
Day Two: Magazine Street and Swamp Boat Tour
Magazine Street, a local hotspot, was our destination for day two. This eclectic area has an array of funky shops, art galleries, and fun restaurants. It was a refreshing change of pace from the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter, and we thoroughly enjoyed the local atmosphere.
I’m a city girl, but I do enjoy nature (and my spouse is a birder), so a swamp boat tour in Slidell was on the itinerary. The bayou scenery was lovely, particularly the cypress trees, and we were thrilled to spot a variety of wildlife, including gators, raccoons, and an assortment of birds.
Raccoon in the swamp
Day Three: Children’s Museum and NOMA
On day four, we returned to City Park. The Louisiana Children's Museum is a fun building with some outdoor activities as well. My 10yo was probably at the top of the age meant for the Children’s Museum, but she particularly enjoyed the Mississippi River interactive exhibit and the interactive music room.
The New Orleans Museum of Art does a good job of layering in contemporary artists with traditional art. There was a fresh floral arts exhibition going on while we were there. An early painting of a New Orleans free woman of color, Lincoln’s cabin, and a collage exhibit were highlights for me. Outside, there is a massive - and I mean massive - sculpture garden. It’s beautiful to walk through and there’s a big variety of art.
New Orleans Museum of Art
Day Four: Herman-Grima House and French Quarter
With St. Patrick's Day weekend upon us, we joined the street festival in the Irish Quarter. We went at 10 am and the party was already in full swing. We ended the day later with the St. Joseph’s Day parade in the French Quarter, which I found very entertaining. My kiddo of course liked catching beads from the floats.
The urban enslavement tour at the Herman-Grima House is a must-do. This eye-opening experience shed light on the lives of the enslaved and offered a perspective on New Orleans' history that is often overlooked. The tour starts in the back galleries and shows you the work spaces to ground you in the toil and surveillance of the enslaved. You experience the house from this perspective as well. It’s an emotional tour and a hard history. I felt it was appropriate for my 10-year-old, although I hugged her tighter hearing stories of enslaved children.
We went to the Jazz Museum, which is a lot of fun. It's small, so you can get through it in less than an hour. But they have some rotating exhibits that are really nice. There are a few interactive exhibits where your kid can play on a drum, for example. And the building is actually in the former U.S. Mint, so you can see some historical machines.
After the jazz museum, that put us right at the entrance to the French Market. Lots of vendors selling a lot of touristy things, some handmade jewelry, socks, t-shirts, things like that. There are some food places as well. We picked up some souvenirs of spiced pecans and pistachios.
Herman-Grima House Urban Enslavement Tour
Day Five: Southern Food History Museum and Preservation Hall
Our final day started with lots of rain, which was okay because we had indoor activities planned. I wanted to visit the Southern Food History Museum because I teach a food history class and it’s a great way to learn about culture.
Finally, we enjoyed a show at Preservation Jazz Hall. A must do! It’s all ages, only 45 minutes, and features some of the best musicians playing Nola style jazz.
Southern Food History Museum
We also had beignets at least three times, ate shrimp po-boys and gator bites, and sampled various New Orleans cocktails. Such a vibrant city with a distinct identity!
