When we were planning our route from Houston, TX to the Orlando, FL area, we noticed that we would be passing by New Orleans, Louisiana. While Jasmin and I have always wanted to visit New Orleans, we didn’t know if it would be a good idea since we travel with a nine-year-old. 

If you have a similar hesitation, let me tell you, don’t let traveling with children hold you back from visiting New Orleans. There are plenty of things to do with the whole family despite the reputation of being a party city.

City Sightseeing New Orleans (Hop on Hop Off Tour)

The first thing we did when we got to New Orleans was a city tour with City Sightseeing New Orleans. We love doing city tours when we first get to a new city. It’s a great way to see the whole city quickly. We always use the tour to get our bearings and figure out what places we want to explore more in depth. 

The City Sightseeing New Orleans tour was a hop on and hop off style tour. The tour lasted about 90 minutes and had about 15 stops. We took the full 90-minute tour so we could see everything the city had to offer. Then we stayed on and got off at places we wanted to walk around a bit more. The nice thing about this tour compared to others we’ve been on; it’s narrated by an actual person and not a recording. This gives you the ability to ask questions from people who know the city well. 

Obviously, the most popular spot is the French Quarters. The tour starts from across the street from Jackson Square in the French Quarter. If the French Quarter is all you want to explore, then you don’t need to take the tour. However, if you’re with children, there isn’t much for them to explore in the French Quarter. Walking around for pictures and things is a must, but besides that, there isn’t much else. It’s more of a nighttime scene. 

The tour introduced us to Magazine Street. On this street there were tons of restaurants and shops. It was also one of the stops on the tour, so we were able to walk around and get back on the tour bus later to take us to the starting point. 

We were also taken to Canal Street. We did not walk around here but this is also a great street to shop and eat on as well. There are lots of high end and historic restaurants to enjoy. At the end of Canal Street was the Aquarium and Riverwalk. 

For a one-day pass, (what we did) the cost was $46/adult and $10/child (3-12). Infants are free and seniors as well as military are $43. The tours operate between the hour of 9am to 5:30pm daily. The buses come around to the stops every 30 minutes or so depending on how traffic is around the city. 

Beignets at Café Du Monde

This is actually the very first thing we did. Café Du Monde is located right across from Jackson Square at the French Market and only half a block from where the tour started. Café Du Monde was founded in 1862 and is the Original French Market Coffee Stand. 

The menu is simple, beignets, juice, and coffee and is cash only. Café Du Monde is iconic for their beignets, and they are delicious! During the busy season there is a long line just to order them to go, never mind sitting down. 

Luckily, we were there in a slower season and on a weekday. We were able to sit right down without having to wait. The vibe was just as amazing as the beignets. We were sitting outside on the covered patio with live jazz being played. It was a perfect way to start a day in New Orleans. 

Lunch at Landry’s Seafood House

We love trying local cuisine when we go to new places. We asked a family member and New Orleans native, where they suggested, and Landry’s was number one on their list. Jasmin experienced her very first Po’boy and I experienced southern fried fish (catfish) for the first time. 

I wish I could convey just how good the food was. Jasmin loved her Po’ Boy and Jaxon almost ate all the shrimp out of it. He doesn’t typically like seafood, but he was in love with the shrimp in the Po’ Boy. 

I love fried fish but as a New Englander I’ve only had haddock and cod but mostly haddock. In my 37 years of life, I’ve never had catfish. I’ve seen those big river monsters while swimming in ponds growing up but never ate one. I am so glad I tried it. It was delicious. The breading was perfect. Light, airy, and full of flavor. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. 

If you’re into cocktails and craft beers with your food, they had a great selection of both. All the craft beers were local to New Orleans which I always appreciate. They also have a nice outdoor seating area that overlooks the Mississippi River. Barges and boats are constantly going up and down the river, so it kept Jaxon entertained while we were eating. 

The restaurant is located next to Jackson Square as well. It was a great place to stop once we were off the tour bus. Since it was also in the French Quarter, we were able to walk around, take some pictures, and visit a couple of shops on Bourbon Street and Royal street after lunch.

City Park

Just like many cities, New Orleans offers a getaway from the hustle and bustle right in the city itself. City Park is located in the northern section of the city, close to Lake Pontchartrain. 

Inside the park, is the New Orleans Museum of Art, mini golf courses, regular golf courses, Botanical Garden, Pelican Greenhouse, Storyland, miles of hiking trails and more. We opted to go for a hike. 

We hiked a portion of the Couturie Forest Trail which brought us to the highest land point in New Orleans, Laborde Mountain. If you’re familiar with New Orleans, you probably already know the highest point isn’t very high. The trail rose to a whopping 27 feet above sea level. The area was marked with a beautiful map of the city built into the stone floor. 

The oaks and palms provided a breathtaking experience as we meandered our way through the forest. The sounds of birds serenaded us and really took us from the middle of the city, into a tropical paradise.

The full trail is only a mile long. It’s a very flat and easy hike to do with children of all ages. If you’re just looking to go to the highest point, it’s only about a quarter of mile. We were there in December and even then, the oaks and magnolias were still green. I can imagine during the warmer months the forest is even more lush. 

The best part about going into City Park for a hike is it’s free. There is no entrance fee to drive through or walk around. The museum, golfing, storyland and those type of attractions within the park do have their own admission. I suggest checking their website, here, if you’re looking to visit one of those attractions. 

The Joint BBQ

We love trying different BBQ’s in our travels and we knew we’d find some really good places in the south. New Orleans was no disappointment. Thanks to a suggestion from our family member, we checked out The Joint on the corner of Mazant Street and Royal Street. It is the same Royal Street as the one in the French Quarter, but it’s a considerable distance to the east. 

There was plenty of on street parking and it does give off “hole in the wall” vibes. Like I’ve said before though, holes in the walls are usually the best places. We really enjoyed our brisket and pulled pork. The mac and cheese complimented both perfectly. They carry several local craft beers on tap and have cocktails for those looking for adult drinks. 

The restaurant only has about 8 tables and a long bar. We were there on a Thursday early evening and it wasn’t busy. As we were leaving though, it was starting to get full. If you like BBQ, I highly recommend The Joint. 

Streetcar Ride

While on the city bus tour we saw streetcars or as we naively called them, “trolleys.” In Boston we have trolleys but the residents of New Orleans were very quick to correct us, so we were sure to call them streetcars after that. 

We had no idea New Orleans had any kind of rail system. I figured they’d have buses but that was the extent of it. I was very wrong. In fact, I would have never imagined that New Orleans was a commuter friendly city. Again, I was quite surprised to find out just how commuter friendly it is.

Between the streetcars, buses, and bike lanes, the city does cater very well to those looking to get around without a car. It’s perfect for tourist who are visiting by plane and don’t want to rent a vehicle. 

We parked in front of the Milton H Latter Memorial Library on St. Charles Ave and took the St. Charles Ave streetcar. The beauty of this line was that it went in a loop. So, for the price of one fair each, we were able to stay on the streetcar as it made its way downtown and then back uptown again without having to get off. 

If you are looking to explore New Orleans without a car, the fares are very reasonable. It was only $1.25/adult and $.50/child 5 years old to 12^th grade. The system seems very easy to navigate, and the streetcar operators are more than happy to help you figure things out if you need it. 

Conclusion

We had an absolute blast visiting and exploring New Orleans. I am so happy we made it a stop instead of just passing by. We spent 4 nights in New Orleans at the New Orleans KOA Holiday. We used two out of our three days to explore the city. If we added the aquarium, museums, riverboat cruise, etc. to our itinerary I think a week would be perfect.   

If New Orleans has been a place you’ve wanted to visit but visiting with a family has been holding you back, I say go for it. There are so many things to do with the whole family. 

I hope you all enjoyed this post. If you did, please consider giving it a like below. You can also subscribe to the blog, so you get alerts when other posts are released. 

If you want to watch our vlog about our visit to New Orleans, I’ve put the video below for you. 

Until next time, God bless and stay safe!