20+ Things To Do in New Orleans with Kids

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New Orleans isn’t just a city for us grown-ups to party in during Mardi Gras! There is so much more that the city has to offer for kids and parents alike. You’ll want to visit at any time of the year! From discovering the local culture, tasting the best beignets you have ever had, enjoying a fairytale playscape, to taking a ride on an iconic steamboat, there is something for everyone to enjoy in New Orleans.

Here are 20+ things to do in New Orleans with kids picked by local parents of the Gowhee App for their kid-friendly amenities. 

New orleans music scene on Bourbon street
Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

1. Enjoy Mardi Gras with Your Kids All Year Long

At Mardi Gras World, you and your kids can see where the magic is built. Take a guided or self-guided tour of the studio where the parade floats are built and see how the parade comes to life each year.

Key Information: $22 admission for adults, $14 admission for kids – free shuttle from Canal Street – Wheelchair and stroller accessible

Good To Know: Guided tours take about an hour.

2. Get Spooky In the Cities of the Dead

New Orleans’ cemeteries have been made famous by countless books and movies. If you’re up for a little haunted fun, you can take a guided tour or leisurely stroll through one of the many beautiful “cities of the dead.” 

Key Information: $20 admission to Cemetery 1; all others are free – Stroller friendly – Temporary closed from recent damages, check re-openings.

Good To Know: Cemetery number 1 offers guided tours only, so young kids might be a little bored, but the number 2 cemetery is self-touring. 

3. Eat World Famous Beignets

Café Du Monde has been serving beignets since 1862. These sweet, powdered squares of fried dough will delight kids of all ages, as well as Mom and Dad!

Key Information: An order of beignets starts at $2.73 – several locations – some have changing-tables in the restrooms.

Good To Know: The line can be long but worth it. Don’t forget to get an extra wet wipe to clean up, they are messy!

>>> Discover more kid-friendly restaurants in NOLA here

Child eating a beignet at CAfe du monde in New orleans
Famous beignets of Cafe du monde. Source: Gowhee App

20+ Things to do in New Orleans with kids

4. Dive Into the Local Culture at Jackson Square

Jackson Square is one of the most recognizable landmarks in New Orleans and is surrounded by historic buildings. Whether you want to shop at the French Market, marvel at the St. Louis Cathedral, or simply watch the many artists who set up their easels in the square, there’s lots to see and do here.

Key Information: FREE – wheelchair accessible and stroller-friendly – no public restrooms in the square 

Good To Know: Jackson Square is an open-air location and can get very hot during the day– you can cool off in one of the many nearby buildings.

>>> Take a look at other locals favorite places for kids in the Gowhee App

5. Learn the History of Jazz

Jazz is a truly American tradition, and nowhere is as steeped in jazz history as Louis Armstrong Park. Home to Congo Square and other historic locations, you might just be lucky enough to hear a jazz combo or see a jazz marching band parading through the park.

Key Information: FREE – Wheelchair and stroller accessible – no bathrooms onsite

Good To Know: Lots of free concerts and festivals, like the Treme Creole Gumbo Fest and the Louisiana Cajun & Zydeco Festival, are held in the park.

6. Learn About WWII

At the National WWII Museum, you and your family can experience the epic scale of “the war that changed the world.” You will see from the perspective of both world leaders and ordinary citizens. You will witness the extraordinary strength and courage that Americans showed during WWII. 

Key Information: $29.50 for adults, $18 for children – Food onsite – Accessible for all disabilities and sensory-inclusive

Good To Know: Some of the galleries can be a little overwhelming for the youngest kids- this museum is best for kids ages 7 and up.

 

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7. Discover Nature & Wild Animals at Night

Every weekend, the Audubon park holds a Nature At Night event… exclusively for kids! Kids ages 6-12 can enjoy an up-close animal encounter, pizza party, and a flashlight tour of the zoo.

Key Information: $50 per child – events take place from 6-9 PM – adults do not attend with their children 

Good To Know: Each weekend has a different theme, so look at the schedule to see when your kiddos’ favorite animal is coming up!

8. Cool Off in a Lazy River

There is only one water park in New Orleans, and it is in the zoo! The cool zone at the Audubon Zoo is a water park that includes the popular Gator Run, a lazy river that’s perfect for beating the heat.

Key Information: $10 plus zoo admission – must have appropriate swimwear – children who aren’t potty trained must wear swim diapers.

Good To Know: The park provides free life jackets.

>>> Find tons of Water parks near you here.

9. Discover the Train Garden

Tucked away in a corner of the botanical garden at City Park, the Train Garden is an enchanting model of New Orleans during the early 19th century. 1300 feet of track carry streetcars and trains like those that traveled the city at the turn of the 19th century, and buildings in the style of New Orleans homes and businesses can be seen at 1/22 of their full size.

Key Information: FREE with Botanical Garden admission – restrooms onsite – food nearby.

Good To Know: The train garden is always open for viewing during park hours, but the trains only run on the weekends and during certain festivals.

 

10. Get Creative with Arts & Crafts

At the New Orleans Museum of Art in Mid-City, Studio KIDS! activities let kids hone their creative skills. At these monthly workshops, kids can take a look at artworks in the galleries and practice their own art-making skills with a NOMA teaching artist. The family can even take a stroll in the 11-acre sculpture garden. 

Key Information: $30 per workshop – for kids ages 6-10 – staff go above and beyond to make programs accessible

Good To Know: This is a kids-only program; grownups can enjoy the museum on their own while their kids get creative.

11. Enjoy a Round of Accessible Putt-Putt Golf

City Putt in City Park is a 36 hole miniature golf experience that everyone can enjoy. This is a great family activity for all ages.

Key Information: $10 admission for adults and $8 admission for kids over 4 (depending on if you want to play one course or both) – stroller friendly- 100% ADA accessible

Good To Know: If you want to play both courses in the same visit, the second course is 50% off ($5 for adults, $4 for kids).

12. Romp In a Fairytale Playscape

Your kids can jump into their favorite fairy tales at Storyland in New Orleans City Park. Nestled amongst live oaks, kids can climb Captain Hook’s pirate ship, ride the dragon slide, and play among other beloved storybook characters.

Key Information: $5 per person over 36 inches tall (kids under 36 inches tall get in free) – restrooms nearby but not directly onsite – concessions nearby.

Good To Know: Admission to Storyland includes admission to Carousel Gardens Amusement Park.

 

>>> Discover more kid-friendly places for train-loving kids here

Playground of Storyland in New Orleans
Playground in Storyland. Source: Gowhee App

13. Take a Nature Break at City Park

If you and your family want to take a break from the bustling central business district of New Orleans, Couturie Forest in City Park is the green oasis you need. The forest and Scout Island are a 60-acre nature preserve. It has habitats for dozens of species of plants and animals. How many can you and your family spot?

Key Information: FREE – mulch and gravel trails – bathrooms nearby.

Good To Know: You might want to reserve a full day here since City Park has endless kid-friendly activities!

 

14. Take a Cruise on an Iconic Steamboat 

The Steamboat Natchez is famous as the last authentic steamboat cruising on the Mississippi River. Kids will especially enjoy watching the paddle wheels, learning about the local history, listening to live Jazz music, and even dancing along.

Key Information: Children under 6 are FREE – Buffet onboard with Creole food.


Good To Know: Make sure to tour the steam room for extra excitement. 

15.  Move With the Mississippi River

At the Louisiana Children’s Museum, kids can learn all about the Mississippi River by playing in the museum’s second-floor water room. Kids of all ages can splash in the 100-foot-long water table and touch a wall of flowing water.

Key Information: $14 admission – Changing tables in the bathrooms – Food onsite

Good To Know: The museum’s community spaces, like the Labyrinth and Lagoon Footbridge, are free for all to access.

 

Kids playing in Louisiana children museum
Louisiana Children's museum. Source Gowhee App

16. Take an Exciting Swamp Tour

The swampy environment around New Orleans is home to a diverse array of wildlife. This unique ecosystem is best experienced with a guide. You and your family can enjoy a boat tour led by an expert local captain and see the truly wild side of New Orleans.

Key Information:  $31.50 for adults, $20.50 for kids – free parking – no bathrooms aboard boat 

Good To Know: Kids will have to wear a lifejacket once onboard.

>>> Discover more outdoor activities for kids here

17. Ride a New Orleans Streetcar

New Orleans should not be visited with a car rental! Instead, get day passes and hop on and off the historic St. Charles Streetcar. For a leisure ride, grab the streetcar at the beginning of the lines to get seated and enjoy this unique experience.

Key Information: Jazzy Passes offer unlimited rides – Not stroller friendly, come prepared.

Good To Know: Get onboard the Greenline and experience the oldest streetcar in the world. 

18. Learn About Daily Life for Creole Children

Visit the French Quarter, St Louis Street, and other iconic areas of NoLa with a guided tour made for kids. Educational and interactive, this tour takes the whole family on the discovery of what life was like for children both free and enslaved in the 1830s.

Key Information: $20 per person – Best for kids 7-12 – It takes approximately 90 minutes.

Good To Know: It can be really hot in the summer so come prepared with water and sun protection.

Discover More Places for Kids in New Orleans

Try the Gowhee App for FREE today.

19. Earn a Junior Ranger Badge

Your kids can become National Park Junior Rangers at any of six sites that make up the Jean Lafitte National Park. To earn their Junior Ranger badge, kids can play with Creole musicians, spot wildlife, learn about Cajun food and culture, and more!

Key Information: FREE – Bathroom onsite – All sites wheelchair accessible

Good To Know: The outdoor trails at the Barataria Preserve can close due to flooding, so check the park’s website before you go.

20. Take a Sweet Break at a French Patisserie

Experience New Orleans’s French heritage by stopping for a croissant, Napoleon, macarons, or other traditional French pastries. Croissant D’Or is a classic New Orleans patisserie or pastry shop that is famous for their sophisticated sweets.

Key Information: Prices start at $2.25 – Bathroom onsite – Stroller-friendly.

Good To Know: One of Croissant D’Or’s specialties are sweets that look like animals, which are particularly popular with kids. 

Did we miss your favorite kid-friendly New Orleans spot? Let us know below.

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