My husband and I will be bringing our ACTIVE four year old to New Orleans this summer. We would still like to experience N. O.. Any suggestions for food, activities etc. As to music - any places that we can take her with us?
Thanks!

Mary, your child will be welcome in any restaurant that also features music, such as Storyville District or Seaport on Bourbon Street. Of course, "bars" will be off limits for children.

Keep in mind that summer is quite warm in New Orleans and 4 year old will likely need naps, pooltime, etc. Take it slow and you'll be fine! She'll love the Aquarium of the Americas, Audubon Zoo and IMAX. You can buy a combo pass for all three, plus a riverboat ride to/from the Aquarium/Zoo, at the Aquarium. Great fun for kids!

Just to add to John's list:

La children's Museum is a great indoor activity for your child and is near tha other attractions.

If you go shopping at Canal Place (Sak's), ride the evelator in the center of the mall to the top floor. After the 5th floor (I think) it becomes an exterior elevator .... really cool!

Ride the ferry

Zoo is great but it is VERY HOT in the summer, so buy lots of drinks and get an ice cream.

Buy your child a snowball, I heard they don't have these in other states but that seems hard to believe.

Visit Storyland in City park. Even though it will be hot, it is very shady in Storyland.

City park also has rides, they are open in the evenings till 9:00, I think.

Mary,

I have two small children, 3 and 6. We take them everywhere in New Orleans, with a few exceptions. Bourbon Street and Bars/Nightclubs are off limits, but most kids enjoy walking around the French Quarter during the day. The River front has large paddle wheelers, a park, moonwalk, artist, music, shopping, Aquarium, etc. Also check out surronding areas like Jean Lafitte National Park. My kids love to walk the trails and look for alligators, snakes, squirrels, turtles, and fish. If you go take the most popular trail, water, snacks, and bug spray. It's a great outdoor activity that let's you experince some of our swampy surroundings and wildlife. It's also FREE. As for food most restuarants are open to children. Be sure to ask if a dish is spicy, we tend to use a lot of seasoning here and not all children like that. If you are looking for more info on the city try these websites nola.com; theneworleanschannel.com; and insideneworleans.com

Enjoy your visit,
Sandy

Mary,
Consider some private tours . . .
Tour With Chris and Rent A Local are
not so expensive and provide a lot more
flexibility than program bus/van tours,
or swamp tours on a platform boat.
Having a small child with you is no
reason not to get out and see some
things.
Michael Brecker

We took our 4-yr-old to N.O. 2 years ago, and he LOVED it. We stayed right in the French Quarter, so we could walk to most places, and could run around a bit in Jackson Square.
- The riverboat ride to the zoo is fun, though a little long
- We took the trolley back. He loved that, until he fell asleep. There's a little playground right in the middle of the zoo.
- We took the ferry across the river, then a shuttle bus to the place (I forgot the name) where you can see former Mardi Gras floats. It's very touristy, but my son enjoyed it and the ferry; and I found it interesting as well
- Every morning, we had breakfast at Cafe du Monde. We brought back a box of beignet mix, and make them at home occasionally (though they're nothing like being there).
- We bought fruit drinks (ok, the adults had theirs with alcohol) and sat on the Moon Walk (walk that's along the Mississippi, named for a guy named Moon), on the Mississippi and watched the barges & other boats
- He enjoyed all the street performers, especially the musicians. We limited him to one balloon animal a day!
- He ate a lot of boiled shrimp; many of the restaurants (except the real formal ones) are casual enough for kids. And who doesn't like hush puppies.
- Since our hotel was on the other side of Bourbon street, we had to cross it, including in the evening. Luckily, he was young enough to not notice anything.
- We bought him a bag of strings of Mardi Gras beads that he still has & plays with
- Ralph & Kacoo's and the Gumbo Shop are the only 2 of the restaurants we went to that I remember the names of. One of the oyster houses is our favorites; we ate lunch there several times.
Have fun!

We live in Baton Rouge, 90 miles up river so we have enjoyed New Orleans with our children for many years. They love the Louisiana Children's Museum in the Warehouse District as well as Mulate's to eat which is near there. We have not been to Mulate's lately but our last visit was great, especially for our children. They have a cajun band and dance floor - check to see what time they start at night. She will also love to ride the street car on St. Charles Avenue. And do buy her a snowball - it's a daily necessity during the summer. But I would plan on taking it slow with rest periods - the heat and humidity always slows things down. Also you may want to call Commander's Palace in the Garden District to see if they offer a children's menu - they should have a jazz brunch on the weekends which everyone in the family will enjoy since this award-winning restaurant has some of the best food in New Orleans. Do request to sit in the Garden Room upstairs. One other thought - always bring a light weight sweater for her just in case the restaurants get too cold with the a/c. My children experience this at a number of restaurants in the summer time and it really helps.