This December, we spent a few days in New Orleans, Louisiana. When planning this trip back in July, we pictured ourselves having café au lait in a historic courtyard of the French Quarter and kids enjoying the sunny southern days (and maybe a little bit of rain).
Can you imagine December of 2022 being one of the coldest winters in New Orleans’ history 🥶? On some days, the temperature dropped to 20F (-4C), and it got quite chilly with wind gusts. Thus being said, we did what we could to explore this beautiful city. Although we had to miss out on some of the activities because of the weather, the girls and us accomplished a lot, and we can’t wait to share that with you.
1. Explore the French Quarter
The French Quarter is New Orleans’s oldest neighborhood, founded in 1718. It’s full of colorful historic buildings, bustling with live streets, restaurants, and jazz music from all corners!
💡Good to Know
If you are wondering where to stay when visiting New Orleans, consider booking a hotel close to the French Quarter, as that area holds all the main attractions. We stayed at The Eliza Jane, within walking distance of the French Quarter, and did not even need the car to get to places we wanted to visit.
Interestingly enough, despite having the word “French” in the French Quarter’s name, most buildings were actually built during Spanish rule.
The girls were fascinated by the joyful atmosphere, street performers, and windows of little shops.
This is how the famous Bourbon Street looks at night! I guess we were lucky to see it that empty, as it was pretty cold outside.
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2. Go to the Jackson Square
We walked to the Jackson Square to relax after the day of exploring to sit on a bench overlooking the St. Louis Cathedral. Did you know that Saint Louis Cathedral is actually the oldest Cathedral in North America, founded in 1720?
Right in front of the Cathedral, there was a live band playing jazz music and magicians showing their best tricks.
3. Attend a Jazz concert
It might sound a little complicated with the little ones, but trust us, attending a live jazz concert was definitely worth it. We went to Preservation Hall, which has been playing traditional New Orleans jazz since 1961.
We were happy to discover that since it was Christmas time, they had a special holiday performance – Creole Christmas!
The performance was only 45 minutes long, and they had several time slots throughout the day available.
You could either get a first-row ticket, a ticket with a seat (on the bench), or a standing one. We were a little late buying general admission seated tickets, so we had to get the standing ones.
We were a little worried about our 2-year-old Zoe, but luckily they let us in with a stroller, and she sat through the whole performance like a champ!
💡Good to Know
You definitely have to get the tickets to the Preservation Hall performance in advance since they tend to sell out pretty fast.
Plus, they recommend arriving 20 minutes before the show starts to scan your ticket and get seated (or to find a standing spot).
Kids under 3 can enjoy the performance at Preservation Hall free of charge.
There are no public restrooms at Preservation Hall, but you can use a restroom next door at Pat O’Brien’s.
4. Take a carriage ride with Royal Carriage
We took a perfect only 30-minute (also available in 1 hour) narrated carriage ride with Royal Carriage throughout the famous French Quarter! We boarded the carriage in front of Jackson Square and ventured on a ride through the historic neighborhood. We weren’t sure if we could ride the carriage since we had a stroller with us, but luckily the coachman offered to place it in the front of the carriage, which was very convenient.
Did you know that you are actually taking a ride with a mule, not a horse? Meet our mule – Professor Long Hair!
💡Good to Know
We did not make a prior reservation and simply showed up at the pick-up spot (the carriages line up on Decatur Street in front of the Jackson Square, you can’t miss that).
The 30-minute ride was $35 per adult, $20 per kid (5-12 years old), and babies ride free.
The Royal Carriage accepts cash and credit cards (but there’s a small surcharge if you use a credit card) for the rides.
We loved our easy ride and informative tour. Our coachman Mike told us a lot of interesting facts about New Orleans’ history, along with some funny jokes! We definitely recommend taking this tour!
5. Take the Steamboat Natchez Cruise on the Mississippi River
We took a 2-hour narrated cruise along the Mississippi River on the Steamboat Natchez Riverboat!
The girls usually get really excited about riding anything, so is this time 😅. This cruise was their highlight of the trip to New Orleans.
That day the weather permitted us to sit on the deck and enjoy the breeze from the river! You could walk around the boat freely; there was a narrator and a jazz band (that you could hear from anywhere on a boat through the speakers).
We got just the sightseeing tickets (as opposed to the ones with dining included) since it was a little early for us to have lunch, but they have food and drinks for purchase if needed.
💡Good to Know
Before getting on the Steamboat Natchez, please make sure to go to the kiosk and print your online bought tickets, as they only accept physical tickets at boarding!
Please arrive 30 minutes before your departure time since the line to get on the boat is pretty long, and it takes some time to board.
Zoe was fascinated and scared at the same time by the “red spin” and asked to go see the paddle wheel several times.
Along the way, we passed the French Quarter and downtown New Orleans. What a contrast!
6. Try local cuisine
You’d be amazed at how many unique dishes New Orleans’s cuisine has to offer! Influenced by French dishes and Southern cuisine, New Orleans’ dining experience is a must-have.
We have tried many things, from french onion soup and foie gras to gumbo, chargrilled oysters, and even blackened gator tail 🫢. Obviously, Sophia said everything was spicy (but she was excited to try everything) and preferred dessert over anything.
If you open Yelp, you’d be pleasantly surprised to see a good amount of restaurants with 4+ star reviews! Some of the restaurants require an advance reservation, so we recommend arranging that before your trip.
7. Have a beignet at Café Du Monde
The famous Café Du Monde has been operating since 1862 and is definitely a part of New Orleans’ tradition.
The cafe serves dark coffee, café au lait (half coffee / half hot milk), and most importantly, beignets – deep-fried puffed pastries covered in powdered sugar! Delicious and very much approved by the whole family!
You could sit outside on the cafe’s patio or order to go at the take-out window (which we did). Note that the cafe accepts cash only!
8. Visit a plantation
Oak Alley Plantation is a historic plantation about 1-hour drive from New Orleans. It used to be a sugar plantation built by enslaved men, women, and kids. The exhibits show their housing and the conditions they lived in. It indeed contrasts with the mansion (the “Big House”) that the plantation owners lived in.
While visiting the plantation, you can take a look into the American slavery history and horrific dehumanization. It is essential to teach our kids the importance of history lessons so we will never repeat them in the future.
💡Good to Know
Although you can purchase an admission ticket at the entrance of the plantation, advanced reservations are still encouraged as some of the exhibits, such as the “Big House,” might sell out quickly.
We got admission to the Historic Site with the “Big House” Exhibit. You can also purchase just the Historic site ticket, but honestly, the difference is only $2 per ticket, and the historic house is worth visiting!
Bottom Line
New Orleans is a city rich in history and culture, and there are plenty of kid-friendly activities and attractions to explore. From taking in the sights and sounds of the French Quarter and Jackson Square, to attending a jazz concert or taking a steamboat cruise on the Mississippi River, there is something for kids of all ages to enjoy in this vibrant and unique destination. Don’t forget to try some of the local cuisine and grab a beignet at Café Du Monde! No matter how you choose to spend your time in New Orleans, your family is sure to have an unforgettable and exciting trip.
