UCB Parents Recommendations for Places to Go
Going to New Orleans
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July 2002
We're planning a trip to New Orleans with our 14 month
old. Does anyone have recommendations on places to stay
or things to do? For instance, are babies welcomed at
Galatores or Commanders Palace? Any info or
recommendations will be welcome.
tadashi
I've lived in New Orleans for a few years and we're
taking our 2 1/2 year old for the first time next month.
We're actually renting a house Uptown (not in the French
Quarter). It was a little hard to find something - we're
meeting friends so we needed four bedrooms. There are
many smaller places available in the French Quarter.
Someone gave me a New Orleans guidebook for kids that
looks terrific. I don't have it in front of me, but
if you e-mail me directly I'll send you the title. I
wouldn't take my child to Commander's or Galatoire's.
She's great in restaurants, but these places are pretty
formal and I'm ultra sensitive about disturbing other
patrons. They are also expensive and I'd hate to have
to duck out quickly. You might consider brunch at these
places instead of dinner. The zoo and Audobon Park are
very nice. You can take a steamboat from downtown to
the zoo and then cable car back. I'm sure we'll go to
the Aquarium too. I'd be happy to give you more recommendations
if you want to e-mail me directly.
Jane
Commander's or Galatoire's with kids.... No. Not unless
I could guarantee they would be quiet. Very formal, very
expensive.
NOLA'er
May 2000
We are going to New Orleans in the fall for a wedding. I hear so much
about adult activies there. Are there any good places to go, things to
do for preschoolers or toddlers? Thanks.
Lucy
There are a number of things to do with children in New Orleans. We were
there last June with our then 19 month old son. The two main things that
stood out for us were the Louisiana Children's Museum (on Julia St.) and
the Aquarium. The Children's Museum seemed a bit expensive, but may now
be participating in the reciprocal children's museum program. It has
a great toddler area upstairs, however, that has a fair amount of space
and lots of different things to do. The rest of the museum is aimed at
older kids and we didn't explore it particularly. I took my son there
several times while we were there. The Aquarium is small,but was
actually just about the perfect size for a toddler. He was interested
in what we saw, but didn't get overwhelmed (like he has sometimes at
the Monterey Bay Aquarium). There are also a large number of swamp
tours available. I don't know how well a toddler would do with one
of those trips, though.
Fran
The Audubon Zoological Gardens outside the Garden District are really great.
It's a zoo, but there is a lot of lush greenery so it doesn't seem so much
like one. We particuarly enjoyed the swamp area, mostly because it was so
"southern". We got there by street car from the hotel district adjacent the
French Quarter, and the ride alone was interesting.
Ann
My husband and I have been to New Orleans about 8 times in the last 13
years (including our honeymoon!). Obviously, we love the place. We
always go in the summer (the humidity reminds me of my childhood in
Alabama), since it's less crowded then. We didn't take my daughter (who
is 8 now) until she was 6, but she loved it too. We always stay at a
place in the French Quarter called The Provincial. It is on Chartres
Street, just down from Jackson Square and a stone's throw from Cafe du
Monde (which is a must for any small one who likes sugar -- they serve
beignets (French fried dough puffs covered in powdered sugar) and chicory
coffee (not my favorite, but worth a try if you've never had it)). The
hotel has a pool, which is a great relief after a hot day wandering around
the quarter.
As for things to do with kids, I second the recommendation for the
aquarium, but my first stop would be the Audubon Zoo which is in the
Garden District. You can take a street car (an adventure in itself)
there, or you can take a river boat from the River walk area where the
aquarium is (also fun, but a very short ride and expensive). There's a
wonderful old cemetery close by too which is worth walking
through. Preservation Hall is on Bourbon Street, (a very raunchy area),
but it does have great New Orleans style jazz, which I think a child of
any age would enjoy, and there is no alcohol sold there (although you can
bring it in from some where else). My six year old loved it. We did take
a swamp tour, and that was quite an experience, but you have to drive at
least 1/2 hour or so to get to the bayous where they offer them.
The Big Easy is everything you've heard it is - beautiful, raunchy,
flamboyant, quaint, relaxed, dangerous, colorful. I think you either like
it or you don't. Hope you will find it as magical as we do.
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