15 Ideas for New Orleans Family Vacations

Between the famously good jazz music, bayou landscapes, fascinating folklore, French Creole cooking and rich African-American heritage, The Big Easy is one of the most interesting and vibrant cruise destinations that I’ve ever visited as a travel writer. New Orleans family vacations specifically are set up for success, offering something for outdoorsy groups, history-loving kiddos, teen musicians, foodies and, thanks to plentiful hands-on museums and spacious public parks, toddlers. There are just so many things to do in New Orleans with kids, regardless of interests or age group. Parents and children alike can savor Cajun flavors and Caribbean dishes in between exploring their favorite cultural sites, the scenic waterfront and jazz-filled streets that look straight out of Europe. Needless to say, New Orleans vacations are hard to beat.

Whether it’s the festivals, the music or the perfectly spiced treats calling your name, it’s worth following the pull of this Louisiana gem. And doing a New Orleans vacation with family is the best way to do it — imagine getting to listen to piano tunes drifting into the streets with your artistic kids, impress your teenagers with some epic cemetery wandering or share snow-white beignets with sweets-happy tots, all in one city. So, next time you’re heading in or out of the Louisiana cruise port with Royal Caribbean, here are some ideas for a flawless New Orleans family vacation.

Jazz It Up: Why Pick New Orleans For Family Vacation?

There’s so much to do in New Orleans with kids, making The Big Easy an easy pick for a family vacation. The cultural sites are plentiful, the history is interesting even for the most apprehensive learners (pirates, anyone?), the food is known for being phenomenal, locals are friendly and there always seems to be a festival or event going on. Whether you plan on going full-out for Mardi Gras or opting for a spooky ghost tour, there’s something for any age group and comfort level.

Plus, if you’ve dreamed of taking your kids to Europe but don’t want to cross an ocean or face visa hassles, long travel days and language barriers to do it, a New Orleans family vacation is the best alternative for North Americans. It’s got that Spanish and Greek Revival architecture, exuberant Old World festivals, cobblestone streets, lots of pastry shops and the French language is present everywhere. And, for Americans, it’s all more accessible.

So, if you’re wondering, “Is New Orleans good for families?” the quick answer is absolutely yes. However, here are some New Orleans family vacation ideas that are particularly apt for each age group:

● For toddlers: Streetcar rides, public parks, watching riverboats and dancing with the family to street musicians are sure to keep littles happy, engaged and energized.

● For kids 4-10: “Cities of the Dead” cemeteries, interactive museums, the French Quarter and po’boys appeal to both curious and adventurous kiddos.

● For tweens and teens: Ghost tours, Cafe Du Monde, football games and street art will delight those young social media users, sports fans and thrill seekers.

● For parents: Creative New Orleans cocktails, Jackson Square, European vibes and gumbo come together for the perfect mix of relaxation and engaging family time.

● For multigenerational groups: The walkable riverfront, The National WWII Museum, swamp scenery and jazz music are accessible and captivating for all ages.

1. Visit the New Orleans Jazz Museum

A New Orleans vacation with family members who love music wouldn’t be complete without visiting the city’s jazz museum, situated right near the French Quarter in the old U.S. Mint. Throughout this historic building, visitors can trace the start and modern legacy of jazz through photographs, artifacts and more. With exhibits meant to engage all ages with the roots of this iconic music genre, the New Orleans Jazz Museum paints a local picture of what now has global influence. 

● Address: 400 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70116.

● Cost: $$.

● Time needed: 1-2 hours. 

● Age group: Kids 8 and up.

2. Wander Jackson Square (and Maybe Snag Souvenirs)

Called the Place d'Armes in the 1700s, Jackson Square now features statues dedicated to Andrew Jackson, who beat the British in the Battle of New Orleans. Today, visitors can wander amidst street artists, magic shows, musicians and other creatives selling their wares or performing. Make sure to check out the St. Louis Cathedral and the Lower and Upper Pontalba Apartments, the oldest existing American apartment buildings, while you’re here.

● Address: 751 Decatur St., New Orleans, LA 70181.

● Cost: Free.

● Time needed: 15 minutes-1 hour. 

● Age group: All ages.

3. Sail the River Onboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen

The Mississippi River is calling, and anyone taking a New Orleans family vacation will be itching to get on the water when they see the gorgeous waterfront. Luckily, there are multiple river cruises to pick from, including the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen. Take the family-friendly historic tour led by local historians, who tell the story of the city, from the Le Moyne brothers who founded New Orleans to the establishment of the French Quarter to Chalmette Battlefield (which guests can actually explore via an hour-long excursion on land) — and lunch is available for purchase!

● Address: 1 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA 70130.

● Cost: $$-$$$.

● Time needed: 2-3 hours.

● Age group:  All ages (toddlers will enjoy being on a boat, but older kids will find the history interesting).

4. Explore the “Cities of the Dead”

Those considering New Orleans vacations have likely heard of “Cities of the Dead,” the striking cemeteries that pepper the metropolis. To avoid flooding, New Orleans residents have long embraced the use of marble above-ground tombs, giving the cemeteries a decidedly gothic and haunting feel that kids of all ages will be entranced by. Some of these are free and open to the public (like St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, Greenwood Cemetery and St. Patrick's Cemetery No. 1), and others require a paid tour (like the famous St. Louis Cemetery No. 1), so pick a few and plan ahead based on how long and how much you’d like to spend at these sites.

● Address: Various.

● Cost: Free-$$.

● Time needed: 30 minutes-3 hours.

● Age group: Kids 3 and up.

5. Attend a Kid-Friendly Festival

Geared more toward adults, Mardi Gras isn’t the most kid-friendly festival. However, those taking a New Orleans family vacation will find that there are loads of free or ticketed festivals in this merriment-happy town better suited for kiddos. Go to the free French Market Creole Tomato Festival in June if your kids are foodies, or the French Quarter Festival in April if music is the name of the game — the best paid festivals include the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival the last week of April through the first week of May. At the end of May, the Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo celebrates food and the arts.

● Address: Various.

● Cost: Free-$$$.

● Time needed: 1-4 hours.

● Age group: All ages.

6. Savor Seafood, From Ettouffee to Po’Boys

The Big Easy is famous for its food, but the seafood really stands out thanks to stunning spicework, European-inspired preparations, original fusions and deep traditions. If you’re considering New Orleans for family vacation fun and your group even remotely likes coastal fare, this is the destination for you. Older kids will adore Louisiana foods with depth like crawfish ettouffee, Gulf oysters and gumbo, while tots will likely love BBQ shrimp and golden specialties like fried catfish and po’ boys (come to Domilise's Po-Boy & Bar for something traditional, and Killer PoBoys for something contemporary and decked out). 

● Address: Various.

● Cost: $-$$.

● Time needed: 20 minutes-1 hour.

● Age group: All ages.

7. See Where the Battle of New Orleans Took Place

History buffs and mini historians in training will fancy a New Orleans family vacation stop at Chalmette Battlefield, where the 1815 Battle of New Orleans took place. Through self-guided tours or daily ranger talks, explore outdoor exhibits, monuments, reconstructed ramparts, historic buildings and, at the visitor center, indoor exhibits and films. The Chalmette National Cemetery, meanwhile, was set up on-site during the Civil War and is home to the graves of thousands of American soldiers who fought in battles between the War of 1812 and the Vietnam War. 

● Address: 1 Battlefield Rd, Chalmette, LA 70043.

● Cost: Free.

● Time needed: 1-3 hours.

● Age group: All ages (toddlers will love running around the fields outside, while older kids will appreciate the context).

8. Listen to Free Jazz at New Orleans Musical Legends Park

There are a lot of places in which to enjoy jazz music in the city, but one of the best things to do in New Orleans with kids is to listen to it for free in a park where they can engage with locals and enjoy some fresh air. Kids who play instruments or love listening to music will adore New Orleans Musical Legends Park, where local musicians are invited to play and park-goers are encouraged to linger (seriously, pack a picnic). Check out the plaques and installations while you’re there, as these displays offer a great chance for the whole family to learn about legends like Louie Prima Jr., Al "Jumbo" Hirt and more together.

● Address: 311 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130..

● Cost: Free.

● Time needed: 5 minutes-2 hours.

● Age group: All ages.

9. View Mardi Gras Indian Regalia at the Backstreet Cultural Museum

The Backstreet Cultural Museum houses all kinds of fascinating artifacts that shine a light on the African American history of New Orleans. The permanent Mardi Gras Indians exhibition is the best place for families to learn more about Carnival. The rainbow-hued, intricately beaded and feathered regalia will dazzle those of all ages, and the displays that detail New Orleans folk music traditions and the tied histories of enslaved Africans and Indigenous Louisiana tribes provide education that’s both accessible and engaging.

● Address: 1531 St. Philip Street, New Orleans 70116.

● Cost: $$

● Time needed: 30 minutes-2 hours.

● Age group:  Kids 10 and up.

10. Skip the Line and Get Beignets Where Locals Do

There’s no such thing as a bad beignet; however, there are spots that do them better than others. If you want to skip the lines and crowds that plague spots like Café Du Monde, head to the bakeries where locals get their fill. Teddy’s Cafe in The Roosevelt hotel serves beignets with powdered sugar and chocolate sauce, while those at Morning Call and Streetcar Café are massive and ideal for dunking into coffee. 

● Address: Various.

● Cost: $.

● Time needed: 10-30 minutes.

● Age group: All ages.

11. Put Wartime in Context at The National WWII Museum

Between family-friendly programming, the hanging airplanes and ultra-immersive exhibits, The National WWII Museum is a hit for all ages. Older audiences will connect with the wartime tales and interactive mission briefings, while littles will enjoy hands-on workshops and getting to board a submarine. Check out the 4D films if your kids are 10 or older, and make sure to grab some lemon meringue pie from The American Sector Restaurant & Bar on-site, which used a recipe from a 1940’s USO Cookbook to make it. 

● Address: 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130.

● Cost: $$.

● Time needed: 1-3 hours.

● Age group: All ages.

12. Stroll Through the New Orleans Botanical Garden

If you’re doing a New Orleans vacation with family, you’ll want to schedule in some outdoor time, especially if you have tots who need to get out the wiggles. The New Orleans Botanical Garden, planted in the 1930s, is stunning and offers 10 acres of over 2,000 plant varieties. There are Art Deco moments, restrooms, a sculpture garden, fossil and tropical rainforest exhibits in the on-site conservatory, a Japanese garden, dining options and, for any kiddos going through a train phase, the Historic New Orleans Train Garden.

● Address: 5 Victory Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124.

● Cost: $$.

● Time needed: 30 minutes-2 hours.

● Age group: All ages.

13. Step into Fairytales at Storyland

Storyland is situated in City Park near the botanical garden and amusement park, and since the 1950s, has been enabling children to engage with their favorite storybook characters. Tots will be thrilled to board the ship of Captain Hook or meet the Cheshire Cat beneath the oak trees. Visiting this shaded outdoor space is one of the best things to do in New Orleans with kids who love to read or are imaginative.

● Address: 5 Victory Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70124.

● Cost: $.

● Time needed: 25 minutes-1 hour.

● Age group: Kids 8 and under.

14. Learn Together at the New Orleans African American Museum

Come and celebrate the African Diaspora at NOAAA, which, in total, spans a whole city block. Exhibits explore complex ideas such as Afro-surrealism, the human cost of Hurricane Katrina, women’s power in Black Masking Indian culture, Afrofuturist literature and human geography of the Faubourg Treme neighborhood. This is definitely a New Orleans site best suited for older kids who can digest these multidimensional themes and their importance.

● Address: 1418 Governor Nicholls St., New Orleans, LA 70116.

● Cost: $$.

● Time needed: 1-2 hours.

● Age group: Kids 12 and up.

15. Hit the Trails at the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center

Everyone taking a cruise from New Orleans or to it should slot in time for some serious outdoor time. If jetting out to the wild bayous is too much, cruisers should head straight to the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center for more accessible natural spaces, wildlife, wetland trails and free educational programming. Outdoorsy kids will soak up the stunning habitats and green learning.

● Address: 11000 Lake Forest Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70128.

● Cost: Free.

● Time needed: 1-2 hours.

● Age group: All ages.

Consider the Season

Pack Well

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More Tips for Visiting New Orleans as a Family