loangalsal

Two 40 yr old moms with two 12 yr old girls have chosen NO for our annual girls trip next month! Staying at Chateau Sonesta. Have 4.5 days to see it all! Tons of research leaves me with many questions! First, looking for live music venues that start music EARLY in evening (by 8pm at latest to start, or even in afternoon) that will let us in with the kids. Any tips?. Any kind of music will do. Next, is a carriage ride best appreciated in the daytime or evening? Is Honey Island Swamp tour worth the time? Aquarium and Zoo seem to be recommended for kids, but are these any better/different that the typical aquarium or zoo? They are currently last on my list, should they be? Mardi Gras Museum vs. Mardi Gras World? If we do to Mardi Gras World and take the ferry, is that as scenic a ride as the riverboat cruises (kill 2 birds w/ 1 stone)? Are any of the many museums in NO entertaining for 12 yr olds? Is the Cemetary & Voodoo walking tour from the Royal Blend Coffee & Tea house the best way to do cemetery/voodoo? Where is the best (most interesting or entertaining) place to get our fortunes told? Heard that the Voodoo museum or Bottom of the Cup has good ones, but the V. Museum?s phone is disconnected and website non functioning, is it still open? We like to get started in the morning, can we find anything going on at Jackson Square in the morning? What time does the French Market open? Can we get into St. Louis Cathedral to look around any time of day? Plan on taking streetcar down St. Charles Ave. and shopping on Magazine. We plan on doing the Natnl Park service walking tour the first day, HOB Gospel Brunch on Sunday, already have a dinner reservation at Galatoires. Tell me the hidden gems for activities and dining, want to keep away from tourist traps. DON?T need to take the kids to chain restaurants, they love good food! On my dining list is: Quarter Scene Restaurant, Pascal Manales, Stella!, GW Fins, Croissant D?or Patisserie, Magazine Poboys, Bayona, Café Beignet, Pere Antoines, and RioMar. Food doesn?t have to be fancy, just GOOD. What are the best places to eat on Magazine and in the Garden District? Any suggestions/tips much appreciated!

wsoxrebel

Honey Island Swamp tour is worth the time. Aquarium is nicer than most and can be a nice air conditioned break with kids. Mardi Gras Museum was very well done and enjoyable. We were turned away at the Natnl Park service walking tour because it filled up so quick.
Favorite NO tip - don't wear black to eat beignets!
Most practical NO tip - carry a flashlight. We entered the St Charles streetcar at dusk but it was dark before our stop. We were panhandled/semi-accosted getting from the stop across the street to our hotel as there are no lights on those tracks. That was spookier than any voodoo or cemetary tour. Be safe.

loangalsal

topping...

J_Correa

We took the cemetery/voodoo tour with the New Orleans Historic Walking Tour Co, and were very satisfied with it. The majority of the time is spent in the cemetery, which is really interesting. Stops were also made at a church, Congo Square, Louis Armstrong park, and a voodoo temple.

We went to the aquarium, which was pretty good. It was a nice break from wandering around outside.

For jazz music, check Preservation Hall. I think the music sets start around 8 and since they don't serve drinks there, I don't believe there are any age limits. I think the Mid City Lanes (bowling alley) has live Zydeco music at least once a week and cajun music other nights. I don't remember specifically, but look into it. It's a popular place.

We did a swamp tour with Capt Nick, which was definitely worth the time. I have heard good things about Honey Island as well.

Carriage rides - we took one at night, which was really fun. I don't know whether it would be better during the day or at night. Obviously during the day you can see more detail. At night it has a certain romance to it. Since most of the evenning and night activities are aimed at adults, this might be a good thing to do in the evenning because it is something the kids can do - maybe one evenning after dinner or something.

If you want a hole in the wall place, check out Rita's on Royal (I think it was Royal, either that or Chartres). Good food, nice people. Another great meal we had was at Pere Antoines - I think it was at the corner of Royal and St Ann. Casual place, nice, good food, reasonable prices.

I think that the cathedral is open to visitors except when mass is being said.

pepper131

The zoo is probably one of the best in the country - highly recommend. Aquarium is good too. If I had to pick one, I'd do the zoo. You can take a riverboat to it.

My favorite breakfast is at the Bluebird on Prytania near the hospital. I forget what the cross street is, but you can take the street car up St Charles and walk over to Prytania.

On Magazine St (near Napoleon?), I ate at Nirvana - they have an Indian food buffet - Thought it was great.

In the Quarter I love to eat at the Napoleon House. They have a wonderful courtyard.

Taking the ferry to Algiers - the other side of the river - is a quick ride. You don't see much other than cargo ships. But you can go to Mardi Gras World and have a bite near the ferry landing. I believe a van from Mardi Gras World picks you up where you land.

HOB is a good bet. Make sure you check out the amazing outsider art on the walls.

DeborahB

The Voodoo museum is still open. We were there 2 weeks ago and went in.

SaraLou

I agree that the zoo and the auquarium are nicer than most. You can buy the package that includes the boat trip up to the zoo from the aquarium (don't have to do all in one day) but the boat trip is NOT scenic, pretty industrial. To pare down on time, skip the boat trip and take the free ferry boat ride across from the end of Canal St and back instead. To get to the zoo, you can take the St. Charles St. streetcar to Audobon Park and take the shuttle that runs from the edge of the park on St. Charles to the zoo. The zoo is behind the park so you can also walk through the park to get there. It's a beautiful park but also very big so if you're in a hurry, take the shuttle. Oh, and the streetcar ride down St. Charles is fabulous. You'll be ooohing and aaahing at all the antebellum homes... much better than looking at industial peirs from a riverboat.

Baligirl

I don't have anything terribly useful to contribute as i have not been too many times, but the ride in the trolley down St. Charles was my favorite, favoriet thing that we did.

E

I second the Bluebird for breakfast--if it's a weekend, go early and/or be prepared for a line, but it's worth it--and the Honey Island Swamp Tour. The swamp tour is worth it, and it's nice to get out of town for (most of)a day, too. Enjoy!

BudgetQueen

Preservation Hall is a must do for music that is appropriate for all ages. Be in line by 7:30pm and be prepared to stand and "jump" for seats as they vacate. You can eat at the Gumbo Shop down the street. But a place I always eat at is the Clover Grill- 10 blocks down Bourbon- quiet section and right near Quarter Scene. Gay operators- if thats a issue, but great food and interesting atmosphere. Petunia's is also a great resturant. I like the nonprofit group Save our Cemeteries for their tours- authentic and historic. As for the Park Service Walking tours- be there by 9am when the outside gate opens, everyone must present and they always "sell out". See if any activies at the Jazz National Park service site when you are there as well? http://www.nps.gov/jazz/index.htm
Go to the Good times guide site and print out any coupons that you may use. Another always do for me is the New Orleans cooking school at the Riverwalk - cheap with the coupon $15 and a great meal and cooking tips- very relaxed and the girls would probably greatly enjoy it?

benj

We just did the Quarter tourist thing with 7 Swiss relatives this weekend. I am worn out so be sure to pace yourself!! We started at Cafe DuMonde about 10:30 for beignets & coffee. Next we walked the Quarter & had lunch at Frank's on Decatur. It was great to sit in a/c & the staff was super. We ate upstairs & had muffalettas, crawfish tails & stuffed artichokes so the visitors could sample. A big hit! They went to House of Blues to chill a bit & hear music. Then they headed to Preservation Hall. After that the Gumbo Shop was dinner & heading home across the lake.

I looked for Bottom of the Cup Tea Room on Royal St & I believe the new address is Bottom of the Cup Tea Room (327 Charters Street). The VooDoo Museum was open when we were there on Sat.

The relatives did the Preservation Hall deal. Got in line at 7pm & were the 1st in when it opened at 8. They were disappointed because it was $5 each as a "donation" & then the band played about 3 songs & waited for money to be dropped in the "hat" before they played more. They said they had a better time earlier in the day at House of Blues. The kids were allowed in because they serve food there (HOB).

Daytime is the best for a carriage ride so you can actually see & take pictures.

The zoo & aquarium are excellent but would be on my list as a backup plan. We have been to the aquarium on a rainy day & it was perfect.

Cafe DuMonde is a great place to start if you're going early. The French Market is set up early too.

The relatives were disappointed with the food & service at Gumbo Shop. It wasn't crowded this weekend because so many people stayed away due to the hurricane. Must have just been an off day.

Have a great time!