Essential New Orleans Kids Activities for Crescent City Fun!
Start your fun New Orleans activities for kids in Jackson Square.
These essential New Orleans kids activities will introduce your family to the fun, food, and flair that defines the Big Easy, one of my favorite cities in the world.
Yes, pretty much everyone does at least a few of these when they go to the Crescent City, and for good reason.
Each of these educational things to do in New Orleans will help you create a necessary framework to understanding the culture and history here, so you can get a good grasp of the city even if you only have a day or two.
As a general note, all of the stops on this New Orleans itinerary are in, or can easily be accessed from, the French Quarter.
I’d suggest staying in the French Quarter, preferably on Dauphine Street, to make all of your outings easy.
(And when you’re ready to try off the beaten path New Orleans, I’ve got suggestions for you as well!)
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Updated 4/2022 | Written 3/2015
What are the best New Orleans kids activities?
Take a kid friendly walking tour of the French Quarter.
You could spend hours wandering in the French Quarter!
While New Orleans is a great place to visit for families, parts of it can be, let’s say, uneven.
I’m looking at you, Bourbon Street.
Still, a trip to New Orleans without visiting the French Quarter just isn’t a trip to New Orleans.
Get your kids excited about the incredible history and culture in this part of the Crescent City while being assured that everything will be shared in a way they will be able to digest.
Each tour from French Quartours Kids is tailored to the ages of the children present, which means your family will get the perfect tour for you.
There’s a snack stop along the way and kids will get to participate in a recreation of a New Orleans tradition, the second line parade.
Visit Jackson Square.
Those spires of the St. Louis Cathedral are some of the most photographed architectural elements in all of New Orleans!
The 2.5 acre square has served many purposes over the years, including an execution area, an arsenal, a painters' hangout, and (more recently) a place to have your fortune told. Kids will love the wide paths to run around on. The bells of the Cathedral ring out every 15 minutes on the quarter hour, which is also a fun way to spend a few minutes.
If you’re using this as your starting point into New Orleans, you’re nicely set up to enjoy many of the essential New Orleans kids activities in this post.
Today, it's a great place to start your exploration of the French Quarter or see a few street performers. Around the edges of the square are local artists where you can grab a quick sketch of your family as a souvenir.
Address: 701 Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana
Eat a beignet (or ten) at Cafe du Monde.
You’re going to need more than the standard 3.
My sister preparing to dive into some sugary fried goodness
If you choose the latter at Cafe Du Monde, don't worry--I won't judge. They're just that good.
So, what is a beignet?
Beignets are essentially square doughnuts without the hole. If you’ve ever had an elephant ear or a funnel cake at the fair, they have that same consistency.
The beignet dough is cut and then thrown into hot oil, where they’re quickly fried. As they’re brought out, they’re tossed in powdered sugar.
Go ahead and plan for your kids to eat their weight in beignets. Each order of beignets comes in threes, and they’re each fairly small.
Plan accordingly so there’s not any fighting between the kids!
The cafe is really casual with lots of foot traffic, so your kids will feel right at home.
If the parents in your group like coffee, try a cup of their brew; it's mixed with chicory in a throwback to when the French Revolution occurred.
Coffee was scarce, so people mixed in chicory to make it go further.
Turns out, it adds a unique taste to the coffee, and French settlers loved it so much that they continued to make the blend well after they'd made their home in New Orleans.
The original Cafe Du Monde is located across Decatur Street from Jackson Square: you can’t miss the open air building with the green and white striped awning.
There are several other locations throughout New Orleans, including at the City Park (read more about that in the off the beaten path New Orleans post).
Phone: (504) 587-0833
Address: 800 Decatur Street, New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 7:30AM-11PM Monday-Sunday
Take a riverboat cruise.
My kids love an activity where they get to try something new, and a riverboat is something they definitely don’t get to ride everyday!
The Natchez riverboat makes daily family-friendly tours of the Mississippi River, and guests can move freely around the 3-story boat for the best views of Louisiana.
Along the way, your tour guide shares bits of information about the city, river trading, and the history of steamboats on the Mississippi River, making this one of the best fun educational things to do in New Orleans.
This would be a great time to chat with your kid about Samuel Clemens, whose pen name (Mark Twain) was literally a measuring device from his time working on a Mississippi River boat.
The sailor would call “mark twain” if the river was at least 12 feet deep, and another person would note (or mark) that the water had come up to the second line on the measuring pole.
Even without the history and literature lesson, this boat ride will please any kid who loves boats, transportation, and adventure.
Stay classy, Bourbon Street!
Wander down Bourbon Street.
Despite popular opinion, you don't have to drink your way down Bourbon Street to have a great time.
This famous street in the French Quarter runs much further than the typical tourist would want to explore, so I’d stay between Canal Street and St. Ann Street for the most accessible jaunt.
I could spend days people watching on this boulevard of bars, shops, restaurants, and hotels.
In terms of family activities here, there’s not a lot specifically to do other than get a picture and duck into a couple of the gift shops.
I love all of the fun masks and Mardi Gras-themed souvenirs everywhere, and you’ll find plenty of those around Bourbon Street.
While you'd be mistaken to think that Bourbon Street is all that New Orleans has to offer, skipping this part of town all together would leave your trip with a serious gap.
Grab a photo of your family on Bourbon Street (probably not next to the Huge Ass Beers sign!), and then head elsewhere in the city.
Grab your FREE New Orleans Scavenger Hunt and learning printables here!
Explore the mausoleums at one of the cemeteries.
While many people think that the mausoleums are used because of New Orleans' high water table, they're more likely used because of tradition and space issues.
Above ground burials date back to the Old World and the idea came to Louisiana with the first French and Spanish settlers.
Interestingly enough, the first burials in New Orleans were in-ground, but a huge fire in 1788 that left so many people dead that burials had to take place in a swamp.
This lack of space led city officials to build the St. Louis cemeteries--and the mausoleums which we now associate with New Orleans.
Entire families could be buried in a space just larger than an in-ground grave. What was once old was new again!
If you have older children or teens, I’d recommend taking a formal cemetery tour like this one as this is a great way to hear about some of the local lore, ghost stories, and fun facts.
If you have smaller kids, I’d still visit, but I would skip the tour and walk around the cemetery on my own. They will like the spooky atmosphere and the beautiful trees.
Lafayette Cemetery #1 is the closest to the French Quarter, but it is in the Garden District, which is more than walking distance away. You’ll need to take the St. Charles Streetcar (below) to get to this area. 2022 update: Lafayette Cemetery #1 is still closed after damage from Hurricane Ida, but repairs are underway.
Address: 1427 Washington Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana
Lafayette Cemetery #2 is also a good distance from the French Quarter and will require a streetcar ride, too. It’s located in Central City, and is slightly younger than No. 1.
Address: 2110 Washington Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana
As a word of caution, the Lafayette Cemeteries are fine to visit during the day (especially if you’re with a tour group), but I would avoid going into the grounds after dark.
Quick NOLA family travel tip: I love the Dauphine Orleans hotel for our trips to New Orleans for its quiet location, great saltwater pool in the courtyard, and location steps away from Bourbon Street and Jackson Square.
Head into the swamp on a boat tour.
The first time I did this tour was I went to New Orleans as a teenager, and I thought it was so much fun! We’ve done a couple more since then, and they never get old.
Your trip to the Big Easy isn’t complete without a swamp tour in Jean Lafitte National Park! It’s fascinating to see just how close the swamp is to the hustle and bustle of the French Quarter.
You can add on a transportation option from your hotel, which makes the process of getting to the boat super convenient for those without a rental car. (If you want a rental car for your stay in New Orleans, book one here.)
You’re guaranteed to see at least a few alligators on your trip along with old growth cypress trees, possums, deer, snakes, and wild pigs.
The boat allows kids of all ages, but preschoolers and up will get the most out of this tour. Keep in mind that the total time on the boat is about an hour and half, but you can get up and move around if your child gets antsy.
>> Get your Jean Lafitte National Park excursion tickets here. <<
Try some Louisiana recipes.
Shrimp Po’ Boy
Muffaletta
Trying new food is a fun (and delicious) way to introduce your kids to an unfamiliar culture, and New Orleans has some fantastic food!
Before visiting New Orleans, I'd never tried a muffaletta (also spelled muffuletta)--or even heard of it.
But then I read a small line in our guidebook about the tastiness that awaited me at the Corner Grocery at 923 Decatur Dtreet, and I was a fan for life.
This cold sandwich has an olive tapenade, salami, Provolone, mozzarella, mortadella, and prosciutto piled high on a crispy piece of french bread.
My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
2022 Note: Central Grocery was damaged in 2021’s Hurricane Ida and hasn’t reopend yet. You can still order muffalettas through the mail, though!
I’ve since introduced my kids to the muffaletta, and they both like it as well.
I'm horribly allergic to shrimp, so I’ve never had the chance to try that time-honored New Orleans favorite, the shrimp po' boy. However, I have it on good authority (the rest of my family) that they are delicious.
After introducing beignets to your kids, maybe they’ll be more likely to try more New Orleans staples like these.
Then, maybe go in with some heavy hitters like etoufee and meat pies!
>> Explore more of the state with stops at the best plantations in Louisiana. <<
Ride the St. Charles streetcar.
Need a little literary inspiration to help you along on your New Orleans family vacation?
Then, jump on the St. Charles line, and you'll be screaming, "STELLA!" before you know it. (Your kids will be super embarrassed, but having a weird parent builds character.)
This streetcar is identical to the one that used to run on the now-defunct Desire line--which was the inspiration behind Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. If you want more literary fun in New Orleans, I've got some great suggestions.
Even if your kids have no clue who Tennessee Williams is, they will love riding the streetcar.
My younger kid is obsessed with all things transportation and would gladly ride the streetcar all day long.
We’d never even have to do anything else!
The St. Charles line starts at Canal Street and Carondolet Street, and runs down Carondolet through the Central Business District, Garden District and all the way past Loyola University and Audobon Park Golf Course.
Bring exactly $1.25 per person as the driver won’t make change. You have to pay per person per ride, but the city transportation does offer discounts on multi-day Jazzy passes.
Play at the Louisiana Children’s Museum.
This museum is worth at least half a day of your New Orleans family vacation. Located in City Park, the museum has plenty to keep your kids busy for hours, and, hands down, it is one of the best things to do in New Orleans with kids.
Your kids will love the water play as they learn about the Mississippi River (just make sure they don one of the bright blue smocks!).
There’s also a music-themed interactive space that pays homage to the NOLA musical heritage, and series of areas where they can learn about fresh produce, cooking, and grocery shopping.
On a nice day, head to the outdoor portion, where kids can check out the lagoon, walk the paved path around the property, and play the outdoor instruments.
Check with the front desk to see the daily activity schedule, which includes baby-centric play time, storytime, art programs, and more.
To get there, you can drive your rental car or take the #48 Canal Street streetcar route. In the latter case, look for the streetcar stop outside Harrah’s Casino on Canal Street, then take the streetcar 25 stops to the terminus. You’ll be able to look at Canal Street along the way, which is super wide and pretty all the way down.
Phone: (504) 523-1357
Address: 15 Henry Thomas Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana
Hours: 9:30 AM-4:30 PM Wednesday-Saturday, 11:30 AM-4:30 PM Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday)
Admission: $14/person, $12/seniors and military, free for kids under 12 months
>> Explore elsewhere in Louisiana with a trip to do the best things in Natchitoches! <<
Take a ghost tour.
The city of New Orleans definitely capitalizes on its spooky side, and several tour companies offer jaunts around the French Quarter at night.
Having taken a couple of them, I can tell you that there are some seriously creepy tales and legends associated with that area from Marie Leveau (an actual Voodoo priestess) to Delphine LaLaurie (a high society woman who supposedly performed horrible experiments on her slaves).
You'll also learn fun tidbits like the fact that Nicholas Cage used to own the LaLaurie mansion, but spent exactly one night in it before he sold it, purportedly because he was terrified.
Now, I know that some kids will be able to hand all of that—and more—but most parents don’t want their kids to be so terrified that they’re up all night afterwards.
The traditional ghost tours are good for ages 12 and up, but what if you have younger kids who want to experience a ghost tour, too?
I’ve got the perfect solution for you: a family-friendly spooky ghost tour of New Orleans. Going on one of these will allow your kids to get that thrill without being overly scared.
The tour guides know their audience and will balance along that fine line well for your family during this walking tour.
Have you taken your family to the Big Easy? Which of these New Orleans kids activities would they enjoy the most?
