help planning last minute trip to New Orleans

[cemrn]

We just found out we''ll be going to New Orleans while my husband attends a conference. We are leaving Sunday. I want to do some things with the kids (7 & 10) while he''s at the hotel working. I know the zoo is great. I was wanting to take the on the steamboat company tour (steamboat Natchez). I was also considering a swamp tour but I am not sure since that is a ways outside of the city. I am wondering if anyone knows where I can get discount tickets for the boatride or other attractions.
What other attractions would be kid friendly. I''d rather do outside things since the weather is supposed to be great.
I am excited to hear your suggestions.

Also we are bringing our bikes because we are leaving for FL from New Orleans. Do you think it is safe to bike around the French Quarter rather than walk? It might help preserve the little one''s energy. What do you think?

 

[Gayletmom]

Hi Cemrn,

That sounds like you are planning a fun trip. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous this weekend and early next week so your timing is excellent. I have kids the same ages as yours so here are my thoughts. First, the zoo is great as is the NO Aquarium. My kids have really enjoyed the Audubon Bug Museum and while it''s not outside, it only takes about an hour or two to see and it is really well laid out. It''s a very unique place and the kids love it. The swamp tours are pretty terrific and this is the perfect time of year for it. You will need to drive about a half an hour but I think it''s worth it.

As for the bikes, it''s a great idea but I''m not sure that they are practical in the city. There is a fair amount of petty crime in NO and I''m not sure it would be worth the trouble to lock them up everywhere. Plus, the sidewalks in the Quarter are pretty crowded with pedestrians. Wear comfortable shoes and don''t hesitate to hop a cab or grab a buggy ride if they get tired-they would probably love the horse and buggy. Also, be sure to stop at Cafe du Monde at some point and have beignets-the kids will think it''s great. Good for breakfast or a snack. You may want to take the streetcar to the zoo, it''s a fun way to travel and very economical.

I don''t have any info on discounts but be sure to check the NO Convention and Visitors website. I also have found good info on the tripadvisor.com forum on NO. I''m glad to answer any questions but I am leaving town in the morning so my time is short. Hope I have helped.

 

[LAJennifer]

If the line is too long at Cafe du Monde, hop across the street and go to Stanley''s and get an ice cream sundae at their soda fountain or have a really great breakfast (served all day). It''s on the corner of Jackson Square and St. Ann in The French Quarter. There is also a Tour stand with discount coupons somewhere in the French Quarter (but I can''t remember where). Walk around and you should run into it.

 

[Clio]

I would ditto Gayletmom. My kids love Audubon Zoo and the Aquarium. Check and see if they still have the zoo/aquarium package - you go to one, then take a riverboat to the other. We haven''t been to the Audubon bug museum yet, but I''ve heard good things about it.

My kids also love taking the St. Charles streetcar. A round trip is the best $2.50 you''ll spend, especially if the weather''s nice. It''s also fun just to walk along the levee the Moonwalk/Woldenberg Park and watch all the river traffic. New Orleans is one of the biggest ports in the country.

I''ve never been on an organized swamp tour, but if you have a car and a sense of adventure, you could always drive down to Jean Lafitte Park''s Barataria Preserve. It''s maybe 45 minutes away, and they have boardwalks through the swamp/marsh. We''ve been there tons of times and always see alligators! Here''s the URL: http://www.nps.gov/jela/barataria-preserve.htm

 

[ChemGeek]

Definitely do the swamp tour if you can!!! The kids will LOVE it! There may not be too many gators out yet though, I went around this time two years ago and it was a very cold spring there, but it was still amazing to see the swamp. Our tour guide was outstanding as well! I even got to hold a baby gator at the end! Check with your hotel to see what kind of deals they have, they''ll even book all your tours for you! Also, with this tour, yes it''s outside the quarter, but the ticket price includes transportation and they''ll pick you up right in front of the hotel at a designated time, so it''s hassle and worry-free.

Also, a HUGE MUST (at least it was for me) was the WWII museum! A new part just opened with a 4D theater. If your children are sensative to loud sounds and lights and things of that nature though, I''d skip that part and wait until they''re a bit older maybe? I got to experience this last November and I thought the movie was stunning and done very well! Lots of voice overs by Tom Hanks, Toby Maguire and such. The museum itself is amazing-takes a long time to go through if you stop and look at everything, but well worth it and it''s educational as well!

Take a carriage ride through the Quarter, this is a lot of fun, and a good history lesson-New Orleans has one of the most fascinating histories (IMO!)

If you get a chance, do the night-time Haunted History Ghost Tour. It''s not scary, it''s about two hours and you walk through the quarter with a guide while they tell some really good ghost stories about the places that are supposedly haunted. I''ve been on it twice, and there were always children on the tour with their parents, I thought it was great! Also note that this is probably the only time kids should be walking around the quarter, after the tours are over (as you can imagine) it can get a bit rowdy in that area!

I''m SUCH a nerd and love love love any kind of historical or educational tours so I''ve suggested quite a few!

If you''re down for it, you gotta check out St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, it''s eerily cool! They also have tours of the cemetery, which I''ve never done, I''ve just always walked through it on my own.

The Garden District tour is also excellent, there are two: a regular one and a haunted one (both during the day, no night-time tours for this area). We chose to do the haunted tour. You still get the history of the Garden District with the added ghost stories. The houses there are absolutely to die for! Even if you don''t do a tour, it''s fun to just walk through and admire the beautiful homes!

I would also agree that bikes in the quarter is probably not the best-it tends to get very crowded, so walking is the best mode of transportation-bring comfy shoes!!

As for food: If you can you MUST get bignets at Cafe Du Monde! OH YUM! Just typing that has me salivating and wanted to go down there for some

Mother''s has some of the best food around-they''re known for their bread pudding. Oh. My. God. it is good! Acme Oyster House or Desire are the best places for oysters, I think. The chargrilled oysters at Acme are to die for! Get soft-shell crab somewhere if you can! Southern Candy Makers makes THE best Pralines!!! I made my FI order me a tin for Valentine''s Day this year, oh they are devine!

There is probably so much more I''m leaving out, but as you probably tell this is one of my FAVORITE places to visit. I hope you have a WONDERFUL trip!!! Let us know how it goes!

 

[cemrn]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I would love to hear more restaurant suggestions. After suggestions from various people this is what I am aiming for. Again we don''t have a lot of time.

Arrive probably 3 or 4 into NO. If the kids are interested I''d like to do a haunted walking tour. I am not sure my little one will like that though. If not they are dying over the rooftop pool at our hotel. Cool or not they will want to swim a bit.

Activites for the next 2 days: Riverboat cruise on Natchez, choice of zoo or aquarium, ride the St Charles trolley, Cafe du Monde of course, Jackson square (they LOVE street performers) these are in for sure. If we think we can squeeze it in I''ll look for a swamp tour. How much time can I expect that to take? Plan for more than a half day?

 

[Clio]

Hmmm, restaurants... We usually eat at places away from the Quarter, others will probably be more help, but here are some suggestions.

Cafe Du Monde is a total yes. I also love the poboys at Verti Mart, but it''s takeout only. We used to go to Croissant d''Or a lot for lunch, but I haven''t been in a while, so I don''t know if it''s still good. Ditto the soul food at the Praline Connection in the Marigny.

Camellia Grill is good, and you can take the streetcar there. I would try to go at an off-meal time, though, because the lines at lunch and dinner will be looooong.