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New OrleansFamily-friendly activities

Our most recommended New Orleans Family-friendly activities

New Orleans: High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride

1. New Orleans: High Speed 16 Passenger Airboat Ride

Embark on a high-speed adventure through the swamps and marshes just 35 minutes from New Orleans and experience the amazing scenery by airboat. Slow down or stop to take pictures and get a personal tour from your local captain. Avail of airboats with stadium-style seating so that the person in front does not obstruct your view. Be amazed as alligators come so close to the boat that you can stare into their reptilian eyes! Encounter magnificent birdlife, including bald eagles, pelicans, ospreys and owls. Every tour is unique and you never know what will be around the next corner! Reach speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, propelled by a huge fan that blows air from the back of the boat in excess of 200 miles per hour. Ride in shallow water and access areas where traditional boats cannot go.

New Orleans: Day Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

2. New Orleans: Day Jazz Cruise on the Steamboat Natchez

Savor the beauty and romance of New Orleans on a cruise aboard the Sternwheeler Steamboat Natchez, the only authentic steamboat in New Orleans. Cruise along the Mississippi River, listen to live jazz music, and enjoy an optional lunch of local fare. Your cruise from the heart of the French Quarter and takes you back to a time when life was as slow and graceful as the current on the Mississippi. Set out to see New Orleans from the Mississippi River, one of the world's most active ports. While on board, visit the museum-quality engine room to learn how steam powers this magnificent boat through the "Mighty Mississippi." Add an optional Creole lunch to your cruise, prepared fresh on board and served with your choice of coffee and iced tea. Savor the tastes of New Orleans before docking back where you started the tour. Sample Menu Lunch (subject to season and availability) • Southern fried fish• Red beans and rice• Jambalaya• Salad du jour

New Orleans: The National WWII Museum Ticket

3. New Orleans: The National WWII Museum Ticket

Designated by Congress as the official WWII museum of the United States, the National WWII Museum is located in downtown New Orleans, where 5 soaring pavilions house historical exhibits, on-site restoration work, a period dinner theater, and restaurants. Purchase your timed tickets in advance to secure your desired entry or movie time. Housed in 5 buildings, the museum tells the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today. The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion features the “D-Day Invasion of Normandy” exhibit and an exhibit telling the story of the war experienced on the Home Front.  The "Campaigns of Courage" area features the “Road to Tokyo” exhibit, which retraces the grueling trail from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo. It also houses the “Road to Berlin” exhibit, recreating actual battle settings and villages as America campaigned to defeat the Axis powers. A two-hour guided tour of these two exhibits, led by an expert docent, is also available to book as an option. The U.S. Freedom Pavilion features actual WW2 airplanes restored to their wartime glory, including the B-17E Flying Fortress, as well as wartime tanks and trucks. Liberation Pavilion, which opens in 2022, will explore the closing months of the war and immediate postwar years, concluding with an explanation of links to our lives today.  In the Solomon Victory Theatre, you will be able to see, hear and feel the epic story of World War II in the exclusive 4D experience “Beyond All Boundaries”, narrated by Tom Hanks. This movie experience requires the purchase of the option which includes the 4-D film.

New Orleans: French Quarter Sightseeing Carriage Ride

4. New Orleans: French Quarter Sightseeing Carriage Ride

Discover the French Quarter of New Orleans on a traditional mule-drawn carriage ride. Admire sights like Napoleon House, the French Market, and Bourbon Street. Hear about local culture and facinating historical anecdotes from your guide. Learn the basics of New Orleans's history as you travel in style around its vibrant streets. Discover fascinating anecdotes about the people and places that have contributed to making New Orleans truly unique and unforgettable from your licensed local guide. See French Quarter sights like the Saint Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square, Napoleon House, the French Market, and Bourbon Street. Ride through the Faubourg Marigny with its unique architecture and live music venues. Enjoy peace of mind knowing that group carriage tours travel at a leisurely pace. Choose from a private or shared carriage tour depending on which option you book as you enjoy a day out to remember in a horse and cart.

New Orleans: Manchac Bayou Swamp Cruise with Optional Pickup

5. New Orleans: Manchac Bayou Swamp Cruise with Optional Pickup

Join this tour in the Manchac Swamp on a real life adventure for the whole family. Your local captains will take you on an exciting journey to explore Louisiana's abundant wildlife in the bayous of Cajun Country. Journey by boat, Cajun-style, for a tour through the heart of Southern Louisiana's swamplands. Your swamp boat will take you into the meandering bayous where you'll see moss-draped cypress trees, fascinating plant life, and the creatures who make their homes here. Listen to informative commentary as you sail into the bayou. Swamp creatures are used to seeing the tour boats, so you'll likely catch a glimpse of various birds, snakes, deer, and fish, and possibly even an alligator. As your boat drifts through the waterways, you will learn about the Louisiana Wetlands, the inhabitants of the swamp–particularly the life and habits of the American Alligator–as well as the unique history of the local Cajun town of Frenier.

New Orleans: Mardi Gras World Behind-the-Scenes Tour

6. New Orleans: Mardi Gras World Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Discover Mardi Gras magic on a self-guided or guided tour of Mardi Gras World, where artists and craftsmen have designed and built the oldest and biggest parade floats and attractions for each Mardi Gras season in New Orleans since 1947. Begin your tour by receiving your ticket in form of a bead necklace and watch a film which gives an overview of the history of Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the role Mardi Gras World plays in it to this day. Then, enjoy a slice of the traditional Mardi Gras cake, King Cake, before your self-guided or guided tour leads you through the float den. Explore where Mardi Gras World artists work year-round to build spectacular, one-of-a-kind floats and props, with over 500 floats built and decorated each year. See how the various themed elements are created from scratch or are adapted from elements created for previous themes — from sculpting the elements, to finishing and painting them. There is even an electronic robot that can carve 3-D sculptures. Take photos with some of the finished pieces from various themes over the years, then tour the floats themselves. Get up closer to the floats than is possible during Mardi Gras parades, and find out how these amazing pieces come to life each year. See floats in various stages of completion as they prepare for the upcoming Mardi Gras as much as a whole year before. At the end of the tour, stay and take more pictures with any of the floats if you like. For your convenience, a complimentary shuttle service is provided from stops in Downtown.

New Orleans: Bayou Tour in Jean Lafitte National Park

7. New Orleans: Bayou Tour in Jean Lafitte National Park

Bring your cameras and adventurous spirits as you explore the Barataria Preserve of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Meet your guide at the meeting point and go to the swamp. Embark on a pontoon boat ride around the waters of the area. Get the chance to spot alligators, local wildlife, and two other friendly creatures, Sunshine the Pig and Patrick the Possum.  Listen to stories and legends told by your informative local guide. Following the tour, enjoy a delicious Cajun lunch (not included) at a local eatery down the street, the perfect way to refuel. After lunch, you’ll be driven back to New Orleans and dropped off at the original meeting point.

New Orleans Swamp Tour by Tour Boat

8. New Orleans Swamp Tour by Tour Boat

Drift slowly past 2,000 years of Louisiana history on this boat tour. Encounter the beautiful nature and wildlife of the swamp in the company of your expert captain guide. Set sail with your captain, a native of the Barataria Swamps with a background in alligator hunting, fishing and trapping. He will tell you all about the ecology of the swampland. You'll also learn about the culture and lifestyle of the Cajuns of the Bayou and see plenty of wildlife, including birds, snakes, turtles and alligators.  The boat passes calmly through beautiful, moss-draped trees and soft waterways for ample opportunities to take pictures. Enjoy an entertaining, educational and exciting tour with a relaxing view of this unique landscape. Note that in the winter, gators mostly hibernate, except to soak up some sun on warmer days, but your local tour can sometimes spot a sunbathing gator for you on the tour. 

New Orleans: Sunday Jazz Cruise Aboard a Steamboat

9. New Orleans: Sunday Jazz Cruise Aboard a Steamboat

Journey back in time aboard the Sternwheeler Steamboat Natchez, the only surviving authentic steamboat in New Orleans. Sit back, relax and soak up the New Orleans atmosphere as smooth jazz fills your ears. Set sail from the heart of the French Quarter with seating available indoors and on deck for the very best views of the river and city. The indoor areas are climate-controlled and the outdoor space allows for tours of all levels of the boat. Experience a charming afternoon on Steamboat Natchez. Choose to simply relax and take in the sights or enhance your cruise with brunch served on board. Sunday Brunch Menu Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, made with a traditional Louisiana roux and served with rice Natchez Tossed Salad, mixed greens, tomato, cucumbers, red onions and croutons with a sugar cane vinaigrette Shrimp and Grits, shrimp sautéed with onion, bell pepper, and garlic served alongside hot butter grits Grillades and Grits "Gree-yahds", a traditional Creole dish with braised beef and homemade brown gravy, over stone-ground "corn" cooked to a smooth texture Crescent City Eggs, baked egg casserole with spinach, red onion, tomatoes, mushrooms, andouille sausage, green onions and cheese Turkey Sausage Patties Pain Perdu Thick Cut Bread, slices soaked in sweet custard mix, cinnamon swirl, and whipped cream topping, the French cousin of America's "French Toast" O' Brien Potatoes, served with peppers and onions Creole Creamed Spinach, spinach with mozzarella, parmesan, and cream cheese Mini Croissants and Biscuits, served with jellies and preserves Fruit Salad Bananas Foster, a New Orleans original! Fresh sliced bananas sautéed in butter, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and rum. Served warm atop vanilla ice cream.  White Chocolate Bread Pudding, a soufflé of local Leidenheimer French bread in rich custard with a decadent white chocolate sauce Community Coffee and Iced Tea included *Menu items are subject to change

New Orleans: 1-Hour Escape Room Adventure

10. New Orleans: 1-Hour Escape Room Adventure

Put your teamwork skills to the test and work together to find clues and solve puzzles in order to complete your mission. You'll need communication, wits, and a sense of adventure to escape from your 60-minute challenge. Choose from 4 thrilling adventures. Become a spy sent to recover a stolen painting or a falsely accused prisoner determined to break out of jail. Once you arrive, a dedicated game guide will take you to your adventure and help you as needed. After entering the room, the countdown is on. Complete the mission in 60 minutes to escape. After you and your group have emerged victorious, you’ll be conveniently located in the French Quarter, so feel free to celebrate with a bite to eat.

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Family-friendly activities: Things to do in New Orleans with kids

You might be surprised at the many things to do in New Orleans with kids. The land of Mardi Gras and all-night jazz is also quite family friendly. Share the joys of people-watching from Café Du Monde over hot chocolate and beignets. Then take that sugar energy on a walk through the French Quarter. Older kids may want to take a ghost tour through the streets and above-ground cemeteries. And the whole family can enjoy Mardi Gras floats and King cake, or a cooking class to learn how to make traditional Creole and Cajun dishes.

City Park: Fun for the whole family

Something for everyone is not an exaggeration here. City Park is brimming with activities for the whole family. Enjoy golf courses, tennis courts, botanical gardens, lakes, and more for the perfect day out. Now, for the kids: The Train Garden enchants the little conductor in everyone. Storyland is a maze of sculptures from nursery rhymes like Humpty Dumpty and fairy tales like Cinderella. Carousel Gardens has over 15 amusement rides, from classics like the Tilt-a-Whirl to Slime Buckets. And for those who like a little flair with their golf, there’s City Putt. This mini-golf course takes players on a mini-tour of New Orleans with each hole.

Strollers are welcome and recommended around the park. Some attractions cost extra for entry, and you should check schedules ahead of time, especially during the rainy season. Depending on where you go in the park, you may want to keep a changing mat with you. The visitor’s center and most attractions have food and drink for sale.

New Orleans Museum of Art: Discover art, inside and out

Follow the history of New Orleans through art at NOMA. Paintings travel through time from the Renaissance to modern Louisiana. Artifacts from Africa and Central and South America may remind kids of things they see today. They can see how memories were kept in lockets and the importance of glassware before plastics with the decorative arts. Then they can join in the act by creating their own works of art for the family’s private collection. But not before taking a walk outside in the sculpture garden, where massive installations give creativity an extra breath of fresh air.

You can bring a stroller inside and store umbrellas and bags at a coat check. You must check any large bags. Food and drink are not allowed inside, but you can purchase drinks from the café. Baby changing facilities are available.

Mardi Gras World: See behind the scenes of the festival

Even if you’re not in New Orleans during the Mardi Gras Festival, you can still enjoy it year-round, only with fewer people around. Together with the kids you can meet the artists and see how they build the colorful floats that take part in the parade. You can also dress up in costumes and take lots of selfies. To make your experience even closer to the real thing, you’ll get a slice of King Cake. Your family can join a tour of the Mardi Gras World where you will learn about its creation, the history of the festival, and how much preparation goes into it.

Remember that you can order a free shuttle to the Mardi Gras World, so you don’t have to worry about getting there on your own.

Louisiana Children’s Museum: Kids can play everywhere 

As its name states, the Louisiana Children’s Museum is for kids. From toddlers on up, there are indoor and outdoor activities to distract, intrigue, and educate. They can get wet wandering around the mighty Mississippi, watching life along the river. Or they can learn some cooking skills. Maybe they’ll be able to make you something tasty when you get home! Outside, they can make music with steel drums or just run around the tunnels and play. Finally, they can take a ride on the floating classroom and learn about the wonders of water.

Children of all ages are welcome, although older teens may not find the activities very engaging. Strollers are welcome, with parking areas available as well as storage lockers for bags. Outside food and drink aren’t allowed, but there is a café.


Other Sightseeing Options in New Orleans

Want to discover all there is to do in New Orleans? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about New Orleans

Our tour guide, Jason, was phenomenal! He’s from the area and gave so much more than a sightseeing tour! He’s so knowledgeable, articulate and passionate about what he does! We learned so much about the area, saw some wildlife and even had the chance to hold Nubby, a rescued alligator! We went during the winter, so we only saw 2 alligators, but still totally worth it! Me and my mom are a little wild, so we were cracking up the entire time we were speed drifting through the water! What a blast! Will definitely book this tour again the next time we travel to New Orleans! Thanks for the great experience!

Every body should see this ahhhmazing Museum. Clear, accurate ,interactive experience with meaningful, authentic and visually appealing displays. Loved it!!

It was a great great day. Do you our boat driver bishop. He was very informative. Very funny. Ultra ultra personality plus.

Very informative tour from a true local. Our guide was proud of her city.

I love it!!! I had so much fun. I would definitely go back… great team m