{"id":34748,"date":"2019-12-30T17:29:18","date_gmt":"2019-12-30T17:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/?p=34748"},"modified":"2020-01-07T17:16:30","modified_gmt":"2020-01-07T17:16:30","slug":"top-things-to-do-with-kids-in-new-orleans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/top-things-to-do-with-kids-in-new-orleans\/","title":{"rendered":"Top things to do with kids in New Orleans"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bourbon Street and beads are New Orleans staples, but there\u2019s plenty to do in the Crescent City that doesn’t involve booze and bosoms. Traveling to NOLA with kids? Here are 7 places they’ll love.<\/p>\n

RELATED<\/strong>: How to entertain your kids on really hot days<\/a><\/p>\n

Louisiana Children\u2019s Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This brand new museum<\/a> (opened at the end of August 2019) teaches kids about sustainability, the environment and global warming\u2014in a fun and interactive way. Interactive exhibits abound including a 100-foot Mississippi River replica that lets kids learn how the river flows, or a model-making area that lets them decorate and design their own mini New Orleans, just like city planners did post-Katrina. Little ones can also learn the effects of taking care of the environment through exhibits such as the eye-spy stations that peep the parks’ wildlife or the edible garden. There\u2019s also a hands-on vet area (where kids can dress like vets and take care of the stuffed animals in their charge) an arts station and a massive grocery spot.<\/p>\n

Audubon Aquarium of Americas<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Photo: Courtesy of Audubon Aquarium of the Americas<\/p><\/div>\n

Located downtown, steps from the French Quarter, is this smallish but fantastic aquarium<\/a>. It\u2019s got tons of hands-on exhibits, but our favorite is the Maya Snorkel Adventure ($125 for non-members), which allows visitors to snorkel with the cownose rays, lobsters and other marine life. Essentially, you\u2019ll be inside the exhibit. This aquarium is one of the rare aquariums in the country to have sea otters (they cost about $30-$40,000 annually to feed, as they eat often and require fresh fish), so take advantage and splurge to actually meet the otters up close ($75 for non-members).<\/p>\n

Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"

Photo: Courtesy of the Audubon Insectarium<\/p><\/div>\n

The absolute best part of the insectarium hands down is the buffet, aka the Bug Appetit. It\u2019s free with the price of admission, and hungry kids (and adults) can dig into the Hoppin\u2019 Hummus (roasted crickets, ground chickpeas and red pepper), the Mango Chutney (mangos, apples and waxworms), Crispy Cajun Crickets and more.<\/p>\n

Mardi Gras World<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Go behind the scenes of Mardi Gras where the magic happens\u2014in the workshop where the floats and props are created! You\u2019ll see artists working, learn about the history of the festival and even get to sample some Louisiana-style king cake (a cake eaten throughout Carnival season). Mardi Gras World is colorful, loud and exciting\u2014so it\u2019s wonderful for kids.<\/p>\n

Cafe Du Monde<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Cafe

Cafe du Monde’s famous beignets<\/p><\/div>\n

This iconic spot lets your kids learn that New Orleans offers something that\u2019s a million times better than a doughnut: a beignet. It\u2019s fried dough dusted with heaps of powdered sugar and served hot all day (Du Monde is open 24 hours), even though it\u2019s technically a dessert. Outside of Cafe Du Monde, there\u2019s a volunteer jazz band that sets up every morning to set the perfect New Orleans scene.<\/p>\n

French Quartour Kids’ Creole Kids Tour<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We always book a walking tour when visiting a new city and we drag the kids along. The Creole Kids Tour<\/a> is totally different. It\u2019s designed specifically for kids, and is led by a teacher who knows how to engage them. Children learn all about the history of New Orleans in a way that’s appealing to them. They will learn that some kids were actual slaves back in the day, how the chamber pots worked and why the gutters look like they do and how sugar was traded via the Mississippi River.<\/p>\n

Cajun Encounters Swamp Tour<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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A Louisiana swamp gator<\/p><\/div>\n

Hop aboard and try not to fall off and get eaten by the gators. Just kidding. You\u2019ll be on a flat-bottomed boat in the swamp, where you\u2019ll spot and learn all about alligators, who will be friendly as long as they\u2019re not threatened. This is the true Louisiana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Introducing NOLA’s child-like side.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":154,"featured_media":34763,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[160,161],"tags":[275],"class_list":["post-34748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city","category-family","tag-new-orleans"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nTop things to do with kids in New Orleans - Inspire | Travelocity.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Hang with 'gators, go behind the scenes of Mardi Gras and much more. 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