Top Things to Do in New Orleans with a Toddler

New Orleans is such a wonderful city.  It’s so full of life, music, and culture.  While I’ve had the opportunity to go several times as an adult, I’ve never had the challenge of bringing a little one with me.  Gone were the late nights walking Bourbon Street, slipping into bars to hear music, and staying out until the wee hours of the morning.  It was time to adapt my typical New Orleans experience to allow my littlest love a chance to explore.  I was up to the challenge, and New Orleans, as usual, did not disappoint.  Here are the top things to do in New Orleans with a Toddler (as approved by Poppy):

Café Du Monde

A big highlight of the trip (so good we had to go twice), was Café Du Monde.  The beignets were heavenly, and the look on Poppy’s face when she tasted them was priceless.  While there are several locations around the city, I highly recommend the one in City Park.  We didn’t find it to be super busy, especially first thing in the morning, and the location is to-die-for!  After all, what’s a trip to New Orleans without beignets?

Celebration in the Oaks

People will travel to New Orleans during the holiday season specifically for this experience.  I honestly had no idea why, until I experienced it myself.  There are two parts to this celebration, the Driving Tour or the Walking Tour (you can also to choose to do both for a slight discount).  We opted to do the Walking Tour, since we’d done a drive-through light experience closer to home.  Guys, I completely see why this is such a popular event!  The Botanical Garden was full of various light displays, which were just breathtaking.  We also got admission to Storyland and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, where you can play and go on rides to your heart’s content.  If you opt to do the walking tour, I’d suggest you do the Botanical Garden part first.  That way you can experience all of the displays before the littles get worn out playing. Check out this link for tickets and more information.

City Park

City Park was a total surprise and something we stumbled upon while trying to find a less crowded Café Du Monde.  And let me tell you, this gem was so amazing that we went back three times during our two-day stay!  While waiting for friends to show up for breakfast at Café Du Monde, we wandered over to the playground, where Poppy had a blast.  During our trip we also got to go back to explore some of the 1,300 acres, taking way too many pictures of Poppy exploring this beautiful park. (Okay, I lied.  There are never too many pictures of my squishy girl.)  If you want to know more about all there is to do in City Park, check out this post.

The French Quarter

Okay, so technically the French Quarter includes some of the sites already mentioned on this list; however, it has so much more to offer that I had to include it as well.  We had a blast walking up and down Bourbon Street (really, all the streets), going in shops, and listening to the musicians.  I also never thought I’d be saying this, but I enjoyed it so much more in the daytime!  There’s something to be said about the beauty of New Orleans at night; however, you just don’t get the same appreciation for the architecture as a day visit affords you.  Poppy enjoyed picking out her favorite souvenirs at the little shops, and I enjoyed taking pictures of my little one in front of the beautiful backdrops. 

Jackson Square

Super easy to get to, this square is steps away from St. Louis Cathedral, the Mississippi River, and Bourbon Street.  Bustling with activity, there’s no shortage of excitement.  I loved that Poppy could get down and run around, surrounded by such culture.  Everywhere you looked there was a different artist, street performer, or tarot card reader.  Her favorite parts had to be the fountain and all the art.

The Riverfront

It’s so easy to wander along the riverfront and get lost in all the sites, from beautiful boats (think old fashioned steamboats), to music, shops, and even cable cars.  Your little one can run around while the Mighty Mississippi shows out in all her glory.  There are also plenty of benches and places you can grab some food for an impromptu picnic. We also found an amazing photo location covered in locks. More on that in this post!

Ruby Slipper Café

Guys, the food at this restaurant was amazing!  Everyone enjoyed their food, and we ordered several items from the menu.  Poppy even gave it all a try and didn’t dislike any of it.  The restaurant is also very smart and puts families with littles in a room.  This meant that Poppy could run around before the food got to the table, so she was actually content to sit at the table while everyone ate.

St. Louis Cathedral

Touted as the oldest cathedral in the United States, St. Louis Cathedral is a must see.  I feel like the inside of this cathedral is often overlooked, since many people stop outside for photos.  If you have the time, I encourage you to go inside (for free!).  I know it doesn’t seem like a cathedral would be an amazing place for a toddler; however, Poppy never lacked things to view.  I also loved that she was being immersed in religion and culture.  Win/win.

There are so many other options when exploring New Orleans with a toddler that we didn’t prioritize.  They have the Louisiana Children’s Museum, Audubon Zoo, Cool Zoo, and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas as other places to explore.  I would recommend experiencing all of them, especially if you don’t have zoo and aquarium options near your house. 

Did I miss anything that’s an amazing part of New Orleans’ culture?  Let me know in the comments.

Want some suggestions on Instagram worthy locations in New Orleans?  Check out this post!