Thinking about something different to do over spring break this year that'd be an easy drive from Austin and my wife suggested New Orleans. Is there enough to do there for a few days with an 11 year old and 8 year old?

I don't think the 8-year old is old enough to drink on Bourbon St.

Half kidding, I would keep driving east another few hours to a beach.

I'd say there's enough to do to keep yall busy a few days. Off the top of my head there's Audubon Zoo, WWII Museum (if thats something your kids would like then you could easily spend half a day there), City Park (Children's Museum, mini-golf), Mardi Gras World, ride the streetcar down St. Charles, walk around the French Quarter and get beignets, there's an aquarium/insectarium downtown, could do a picnic at either City Park or Audubon Park, maybe could do an airboat swamp tour.

I travel regularly to NOLA for work. Here right now actually.

My daughters are 9 and I would not bring them here. I feel mostly fine walking around on my own (I stay in the CBD), but I would be more nervous with my kids in tow. There are some unsavory characters and you don't have to go more than a few blocks off Bourbon street to be in a pretty bad area.

Also, while the food is pretty great there's just not a lot for kids to do here. I'm not sure how I could keep my kids engaged and interested here.

I say keep driving and go to Destin.

We were there a few days before Christmas. I grew up in Biloxi, and New Orleans has always struggled with crime and filth.

I was genuinely surprised during our visit at how calm and clean the city was - probably because it was right before Christmas. We didn't really venture off the beaten path, but it wasn't crowded or dirty, and there were very few homeless people and no one at all who seemed sketch or remotely dangerous.

We went to the WWII museum for an entire day - could have spent two. I think the trip is worth it just for that one museum. It was fantastic, and I'd love to go back, but it might be a bit much for the 8 year old. It's just a lot of information, and I could see a young kid getting bored after a couple of hours, depending on what interests them.

Don't get me wrong, I think every kid (and adult) should see it, just maybe not quite that young.

Edited to add: if they've been to the Nimitz museum in Fredericksburg and enjoyed it, then they should like this museum.

Was there years ago for cheer competition with my girls. Favorite quote from the trip, "Mommy, why is that woman only wearing paint ".

I took my 3 kids a couple of years ago over night on our way to Florida. Stayed at the JW Marriott on Canal. Would not take them again. Too much sketchy activity going on..

It will be funny when they are in college and road trip to New Orleans.... "this isn't nothing like I remember it when my parents took me as a kid"

I agree with the above and definitely wouldnt suggest staying in a hotel in the CBD or anywhere near the French Quarter. Stay in a hotel along St. Charles, or find an Airbnb in uptown/Audubon area or in the Garden District. You probably realize but New Orleans can be night and day depending on the neighborhood/street you're on (same as any city to an extent, but even moreso in New Orleans because you have multi-million dollar houses and rundown areas within throwing distance).

If you do go the Airbnb route, definitely look on streetview to see how the surrounding area looks. There's places that are super nice and renovated but are right in the middle of a sketchy area, so dont base it only on the pictures of the inside.

thenational said:

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I took my 3 kids a couple of years ago over night on our way to Florida. Stayed at the JW Marriott on Canal. Would not take them again. Too much sketchy activity going on..

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We did this years ago on our way to Destin.

Took about five minutes of walking that first morning to realize it was a mistake.

I agree. We did a little 3 day trip where we went to Long Beach, Mississippi and stayed at The Inn at Long Beach. Spent a day or two on the beach. Little to no wave action, pretty slow paced. Some decent restaurants.

New Orleans is 1:15 away so we came back thru New Orleans and did WW2 Museum (incredible), Mother's, Cafe Du Monde and Jackson Square and our kids loved it.

Did Cafe Du Monde, Mardi Gras World, and Mothers with 8 and 10 year old Sunday. Great time was had by all. I wouldn't have them out after dark though.

Drive east toward New Orleans.
Then keep going.
Hit the beach in Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, AL. A lot more fun for the kids.

I will never forget when my parents decided to stop in New Orleans for dinner at the French Quarter on our way to Destin. I was 15 and my brother was 13. It was like Hell's Disneyland.

"Hell's Disneyland"? Isn't that redundant?

aggiedata said:

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I will never forget when my parents decided to stop in New Orleans for dinner at the French Quarter on our way to Destin. I was 15 and my brother was 13. It was like Hell's Disneyland.

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The first time we took our kids to New Orleans was kind of a similar situation, we were driving thru and stopped for dinner in the Quarter. It was Halloween weekend and our kids were like 11,9, and 6 and they were chastising us, "Mom and Dad, this is NOT appropriate for children!!"

New Orleans for a day during the day. WWII Museum and Aquarium. Cafe Du Monde, then keep going.

The things you would find interesting now as an adult, old churches, architectures, history, people watching, just aren't going to be interesting to your kids.

It's a great place to visit, not to vacation or live.

nkc1981 said:

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I agree with the above and definitely wouldnt suggest staying in a hotel in the CBD or anywhere near the French Quarter. Stay in a hotel along St. Charles, or find an Airbnb in uptown/Audubon area or in the Garden District. You probably realize but New Orleans can be night and day depending on the neighborhood/street you're on (same as any city to an extent, but even moreso in New Orleans because you have multi-million dollar houses and rundown areas within throwing distance).

If you do go the Airbnb route, definitely look on streetview to see how the surrounding area looks. There's places that are super nice and renovated but are right in the middle of a sketchy area, so dont base it only on the pictures of the inside.

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This is what we did, the St Charles thing. Kids loved the streetcars, and totally felt safe at night. We did the Quarter in the morning with Cafe Du Monde thrown in. Out of there by mid-afternoon, no problems.

Oh, also did one of those Alligator boat rides outside of Slidell, everyone loved it.

I wouldn't take kids to NOLA but if you do, the airboat swamp tours are cool. Spring Break may be too chilly for the alligators.

Which boat ride did you do?