12 Activities to do with Kids and Grandparents in New Orleans

In 2006, I lived in New Orleans for a few months, working on Hurricane Katrina recovery plans. The city quickly became one of my favorite places because there’s nowhere else in the country where you can experience its unique music, food, architecture, and culture. I went back numerous times over the years, always wishing I could stay longer.

To many, New Orleans brings thoughts of excessive drinking and debauchery. When I think of New Orleans, though, I jump to memories of eating Alligator Cheesecake at Jacques-Imo’s, shopping on Magazine Street, buttering potatoes at Deanie’s, and drinking an Abita while listening to music on Frenchmen Street. For years, we wanted to bring our kids to experience the magic of the Crescent City. Finally, in May 2026, we took a five-day multigenerational trip to New Orleans with kids and grandparents. This itinerary was designed around introducing our kids to all the reasons we love NOLA while also visiting our southern family.

Practical Takeaways

• This probably goes without saying, but choose your timing wisely. We were there in May, and the temperature wasn’t wildly different from back home in Virginia, but the humidity was intense. Thankfully, the storms that had been forecast never materialized, but in NOLA you never know when you’ll need an umbrella.
• In addition to the weather, take a look at the festival calendar when planning your visit. Everyone knows about Mardi Gras in February. Jazz Fest is a fantastic reason to visit in April, but if you’re not going specifically for Jazz Fest (which is absolutely worth experiencing at least once!), you may want to choose another time. Smaller festivals throughout the year provide wonderful opportunities for families to experience New Orleans culture without feeling overwhelmed. Some favorites include French Quarter Fest and Creole Tomato Fest. 
• The Uptown neighborhood is a great place to stay with kids if you don’t mind taking the bus to the French Quarter or renting a car. We had a car for the five days we were there because we planned to drive to Baton Rouge to visit family. Parking in the French Quarter was easy to find along Decatur Street, though it was expensive.
• I often stream New Orleans radio station WWOZ to fill our house with jazz and brass bands. I listened even more while planning this trip so I could catch the “Live Wire” segment every hour, where they announce that night’s live music lineup. It was a fun way to reacquaint myself with the city’s music venues and plan our evenings.

12 Things We Did with Kids and Grandparents in New Orleans

1. Eat at Jacques-Imo’s

Of all the amazing restaurants in New Orleans, none rises above Jacques-Imo’s in my mind. This is typically the first stop I make whenever I visit NOLA. Its fun, quirky decor screams New Orleans, and the food is truly something I dream about.

Hear me out here…start with the Alligator Cheesecake. I know, it sounds gross, but you just have to try it. It’s actually a savory appetizer made with alligator sausage. My mom says they serve the best fried chicken she’s ever had, and I never skip the coconut bread pudding.

Take note: there’s almost always a line, but parties of five or more can make reservations by phone if you call one month in advance at 10 a.m. Afterward, stop next door at the Maple Leaf Bar for live music.

2. Visit Preservation Hall

This legendary music hall in the French Quarter has been ground zero for traditional New Orleans jazz since 1961. Several performances are held each night in the intimate one-room venue. This trip, we saw the Preservation Hall Jazz Legacy Band. 

It’s a wonderful place to introduce kids to New Orleans music because the show is only about 45 minutes long and often includes interactive call-and-response songs. We purchased standing-room tickets while my parents opted for reserved seats.

3. Take a Kid-Friendly Ghost Tour

Wanting to experience a little of New Orleans’ spooky side without giving the kids nightmares, we signed up for the French QuarTours Kids Ghost Tour. Led by an elementary school teacher, the tour took us through the French Quarter with age-appropriate stories about pirates, spirits, and haunted buildings. Our kids (9 and 12) were the perfect age for it. My son thought it would probably be too scary for anyone under 7.

4. Go on a Swamp Tour

Years ago, my husband and I took a raft swamp tour in Lafayette, Louisiana. Frankly, it terrified us because our guide brought us far too close to mama alligators.

This time, we wanted something a little more family-friendly, so we chose a covered swamp boat tour through Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. The 90-minute tour was great for kids. As we floated beneath the cypress trees, five alligators swam toward our boat to say hello from what felt like a very safe distance. We drove about 20 minutes to the park, though shuttle buses are also available from the French Quarter.

5. Dine at a Fancy Jazz Brunch

Nothing captures the French Quarter quite like an elegant Sunday jazz brunch with the family at a restaurant like Arnaud’s. A friendly jazz trio wandered from table to table taking requests, which our son, a budding trumpet player, loved. The food was equally memorable. The menu featured gourmet egg dishes with incredible sauces, while my dad, a lifelong fan of New Orleans cuisine, enjoyed the famous chilled shrimp with remoulade sauce.

But the highlight was definitely Bananas Foster, flambéed tableside with plenty of brown sugar and flair.

6. Visit Mardi Gras World

Even if you can’t make it to New Orleans during Mardi Gras, you can still experience some of the magic at Mardi Gras World.

This is one of the city’s warehouses where parade floats are built, updated, and stored. After watching a short film and sampling king cake, we toured the warehouse and learned how the elaborate floats are created. It’s a great activity for all ages, especially if you’re looking to escape the heat or a rainy afternoon.

7. Check Out Frenchmen Street

When I lived in New Orleans, coworkers introduced me to Adolfo’s on Frenchmen Street. This tiny Italian restaurant, tucked inside what was once a one-bedroom apartment, is famous for its “ocean sauce” and outstanding pasta dishes. It’s located above the Apple Barrel Bar, where live music always spills onto the street.

Back then, before kids, we’d wander in and out of music venues all night. My favorites were The Spotted Cat and d.b.a. This trip, our options were a bit more limited because Three Muses was the only venue we found that welcomed kids. Frenchmen Street also gets a little livelier, and attracts a few colorful characters, as the evening goes on. After dinner at Adolfo’s, we explored the Frenchmen Art Market and picked up a few unique handmade souvenirs.

8. Stop by the New Orleans Jazz Museum

With vintage instruments and multimedia exhibits celebrating music legends like Louis Armstrong, Clifton Chenier, and Professor Longhair, the New Orleans Jazz Museum tells the story of how this cultural melting pot became the birthplace of jazz. It’s also within walking distance of Frenchmen Street, making it easy to learn about the music before hearing it performed live.

9. Learn to Cook New Orleans Food

My mom and daughter took a cooking demonstration at the New Orleans School of Cooking, where they learned to make gumbo, pralines, and pecan pie. They sampled everything along the way, trying foods and flavors they’d never had before. My mom adds that they also enjoyed meeting friendly fellow students from various parts of the country who shared a passion for cooking.  This ended up being my daughter’s favorite activity of the trip, and I’m looking forward to seeing them recreate the recipes at home.

10. Stroll Magazine Street

Magazine Street, which runs through Uptown, is lined with independent shops full of things you’d only find in New Orleans. A few favorites include Dirty Coast, Mignon, Peaches, and Mignon Faget.

You can also continue to the end of Magazine Street to visit Perlis, where you’ll find embroidered crawfish shirts and classic seersucker suits.

Just keep in mind that the shops are spread across a six-mile stretch, so it’s easiest to explore one section at a time by car or bus.

11. Visit the National WWII Museum

The National WWII Museum remains one of New Orleans’ premier attractions for visitors of all ages.

Now spread across seven connected buildings, it features an incredible collection of exhibits and artifacts highlighting America’s role in World War II. Among the highlights are aircraft and landing craft built in New Orleans for D-Day. One experience I highly recommend is the Tom Hanks-narrated film, which uses vibrating seats and immersive sound effects to bring history to life. Just be prepared to dedicate plenty of time. We spent an entire morning there, and it still wasn’t enough.

12. Gawk at the Garden District Homes

Whenever we traveled between Uptown and the French Quarter, we made a point of driving through the Garden District to admire the incredible mansions. The biggest attraction for the Ole Miss and Giants fans in our family was the D’Arcy Manning House, better known as Archie Manning’s home, where Peyton and Eli grew up.

Where We Stayed in NOLA

I wasn’t keen on staying in the French Quarter with kids, and we wanted an Airbnb with more space. I loved living in Uptown during my time there in 2006, so that’s where we returned. Our recently renovated rental was perfect for our family. It was clean, airy, and convenient. After spending the day exploring the French Quarter, it was nice to come back to a quieter neighborhood.

Every morning we walked to Congregation Coffee on Magazine Street for biscuits and lattes. We were also just a few blocks from Octavia Books, where we spent an hour on one rainy afternoon. (I’ve added Octavia Books to my list of favorite independent bookstores here). Gus’s Po’Boys, my cousin’s favorite po’ boy shop, was only a block away.

Helpful Hints

• There are a few places I’d be remiss not to mention. No trip to New Orleans is complete without beignets at Café du Monde or a ride on the St. Charles streetcar. You should also spend some time in Jackson Square, pop into Voodoo Authentica, browse the Dutch Alley Artist Co-op, and wander through the French Market.

• If you’re staying in Uptown on a Sunday, be aware that some shops don’t open and restaurants may close earlier than expected. We had planned to eat at Frankie & Johnny’s after hearing so many recommendations, but we arrived too late. Fortunately, we ended up at Red Dog Diner instead. They served excellent food and drinks and were incredibly accommodating to our party of ten, including four high-energy kids. I’d recommend the tamale meatballs.
• In my twenties, I loved spending Sunday afternoons at Bacchanal in the Bywater for food, wine, and live music. If you scroll down their website, you might even spot a photo of me from those younger days. Unfortunately, they don’t allow kids, but if you’re visiting without little ones, it’s absolutely worth the trip.
• Lastly, I’ll mention that several famous French Quarter restaurants have locations elsewhere in the city. If you have a car, you can often enjoy the same great food without the crowds. One of our favorites is Deanie’s. Instead of eating at the French Quarter location, we always meet our cousins at the Bucktown restaurant, where we order shrimp, gumbo, and their carrot soufflé, which tastes more like marshmallow-covered sweet potato casserole than carrots (as if we’d eat something healthy while in NOLA!).