Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in Lake Pontchartrain

"St. Louis Cathedral, also known as The Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the city and is undoubtedly one of the best free things to do in New Orleans."

"Often called the heart of New Orleans, Jackson Square is full of energy and activity. Facing the Mississippi River and directly across from the St. Louis Cathedral, the Square stands in the shadows of the Andrew Jackson statue, erected for his heroism during the Battle of New Orleans. Here you will find street artists painting during the day and jazz musicians by night, along with fortune-tellers and other kinds of street theater."

"Founded and constructed all the way back in 1721, Jackson Square is one of the oldest destinations in the whole city of New Orleans and is known to be the equivalent of the downtown area in other cities."

"It’s also an excellent place to people watch and where a number of New Orleans’ historical landmarks like The St Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo, and The Presbytère are located (with Preservation Hall and The Historic New Orleans Collection nearby). Tons of artists, musicians, and fortune tellers hang out in Jackson Square and in the spirit of disclosure, I spent most of my time here people-watching and eating beignets. However, if you want to be a little more cultured than I was, visit one or several of the above-mentioned landmarks for even more NOLA history."

"Preservation Hall is an unassuming old building that has long been an institution in New Orleans known for jazz music. The historic hall still features traditional jazz by local artists. The building is small, creating an intimate setting, and seating is limited."

"After dinner is sure to check out live jazz at Preservation Hall. This ended up being our favorite thing we did in New Orleans and strongly suggest you don’t miss out on this during your 3 days in New Orleans."

"The Louisiana Children’s Museum is a playful and educational place for children and their families to enjoy hands-on, interactive exhibits that encourage learning through play. Located in the Arts District/Convention Center, the museum boasts 30,000 square feet of immersive exhibitions that explore art, music, science, math, and health. Exhibits include the Little Port of New Orleans, which teaches children all about life in a ship; Eye to Eye which boasts a kid-sized eye clinic where children can pretend to be ophthalmologists or patients and learn about the eye’s anatomy and functions; and a pint-sized grocery store and café, where children can pretend to shop and be a chef in a five-star restaurant."

"If you’re bringing the kids along for the weekend trip to New Orleans, you can’t go wrong with the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Think of it as one of the world’s largest classrooms. Their brand new campus located in City Park provides more than 30,000 square feet of interactive and educational exhibits – including a climbing wall, art studio, and mock cafe."

"If you’re searching for what to do in New Orleans City Park with kids, the Louisiana Children’s Museum has to top your list. Kids will delight in playing throughout the indoor and outdoor areas. Outside, your kids can explore exhibits on the water, in the garden, and more!"

"For something a bit more lively, head to Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Located within the French Quarter, Bourbon Street is the place you want to head to when the sun goes down and the lights come on, as the colourful lights entice you to come inside on of the bars that line the streets for a drink or two. Honestly, it’s a total assault on the senses, which initially took me back."

"The French Quarter’s central attraction isBourbon Street. Quiet during the day but especially rowdy at night, Bourbon Street channels some serious spring break frat party vibes: not cute when you aren’t in college anymore. So while it’s worth spending a little time on Bourbon Street to get a feel for it, you’re better off going elsewhere for a more low-key night out."

"The French Quarter is iconic for its architecture, jazz, food, Bourbon Street and of course, its annual raucous Mardi Gras celebrations. So, it makes perfect sense most NOLA visitors start their trip here."

"Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is an expanse of land in the historically diverse Louisiana Mississippi River Delta that protects a rich array of natural and cultural resources endemic to the region. Named after the pirate, Jean Lafitte, the park consists of six physically separate sites, namely the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette, the Barataria Preserve in Marrero, the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice, the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery in Chalmette, the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux, and the French Quarter Visitor Center in New Orleans. Together, these six sections explore the history of the area and tell the story of the diverse cultures that inhabited and developed it."

"The Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is another great park to visit if your family loves nature and animals. The Barataria Preserve located in Marrero Louisiana is about 30 minutes outside of New Orleans, if your family is in town for a while, I recommend visiting this park. For more information on The Jean LaFitte National Historical Park and Preserve visit https://www.nps.gov/jela/barataria-preserve.htm"

"This newish gelato spot on Canal at Royal is a game changer for the lower French Quarter, an artisanal, organic chain founded in Paris in 2002. Amorino is located all over the globe, from Casa Blanca to Abu Dahbi, a Euro-style shop with flavors like caramel, chocolate and passionfruit, along with coffee, macarons and other treats."

"So from the French Quarter, you then go to the Garden District on the way out, then Magazine Street, so it makes sense to hit up Magazine Street while you’re out this way. This is a key shopping area but also has very trendy places to eat and drink. You’ll find luxe homewares and vintage clothes – antiques and hipster novelty items. Take some time to explore the local shops."

"Magazine Street is a great place to grab a meal (we loved the Red Dog Diner) and then duck into some shops to check out Mardi Gras costumes, eccentric souvenirs, antiques, and more! Spend the evening on a ghost tour."

"Magazine street is a long street full inquisitive and interesting shops. Taking a walk through this enchanting street, will prepare you for a pleasant surprise."

"The theatre was originally built in 1906 and completely renovated in 2011. The venue is now used for concerts, plays, films, corporate events, and private parties."

"Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré is one of the longest-running local theaters in the United States (founded in 1916). As the name indicates, it’s a more intimate theatre setting with a seating capacity of just over 300 seats. Located just off of Jackson Square, this venue is primarily used for the performing arts, including dramas, musicals, comedies, and children’s productions."

"Established in the French Quarter as an “atmospheric” movie theatre in 1927, the Saenger Theatre fell on hard times by the 1960s and was renovated as a performing arts venue in the late-1970s. Katrina hit the Saenger Theatre hard, but fortunately the building was in the middle of restoration so many of its fittings had been removed as the waterline was above stage level. This brought on another phase of restoration that continued right up until Jerry Seinfeld took the stage for three nights in September 2013."

"New Orleans is a tough city that has been through a lot – and Saenger Theatre is no stranger to those hardships. Originally built in 1927 as an “atmospheric” movie theatre, it has gone through plenty of restorations and hard times before it was finally brought back to life. Although the Saenger has cut its capacity from its original 4,000 seats to 2,600, the theatre is still a must-see locale while in New Orleans."

"With decorative moldings and ornate archways, the interior of the Saenger Theatre replicates that of a grand Italian courtyard, complete with a starry sky ceiling. Having been devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the theatre underwent a huge restoration project and reopened in 2013 to offer a bustling schedule of live music, lectures, comedy, and more."

"Tours run twice every evening (5pm and 8pm) and include visits to the Lalaurie Mansion (where American Horror Story Coven was filmed), LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop, and more. Our guide had plenty of creepy tales to share and clearly believed a lot of the ghost stories herself, which made it all the more fun. Our tour group was a little on the larger side, but otherwise, the experience was entertaining."

"Wander down to Governor Nicholls Street to see Lalaurie Mansion, once the home of actor Nicholas Cage, and one of the homes used for American Horror Story Coven. There are also other fancy homes like the New Orleans home of Angelina Jolie down this beautiful street."

"The Beauregard-Keyes House is significant and worth a tour for its Greek Revival architecture, lovely quaint garden, and for once having been the residence of Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, a New Orleans native who ordered the first shots of the Civil War and remained a hero in the South long after the war was lost. Ursuline nuns used the property from the early 1700s until the 1820s when the new house was designed to combine elements of a Creole cottage with Greek Revival features, including a Palladian facade, curved twin staircases, Tuscan portico, and generous dining room. In 1945, author Frances Parkinson Keyes was looking for a place to write and live in New Orleans."

"The Courturie Forest is another gem you can experience in City Park. Located not far from Scout Island, the trails through this park take you away from the manicured lawns and giant oak trees into a much more wild area along a waterway that is full of birds and turtles. Also located in the Couturie Forest is Laborde Mountain."

"Outside of New Orleans East, Couturie is the wildest natural space in the city. A series of paths wind through acres of Louisiana hardwood forest and lead to the highest point in the city: Laborde Mountain, towering at 43 feet over the surrounding park. When to go to New Orleans"

"If you need to take a break in between exploring some of the historic architecture in Algiers Point, this unique community-centered playground is perfect for kids between two to five years old. A post shared by Sarah Kelly Adams (@iwearmyheartonmyback) on Nov 9, 2016 at 8:17am PST"

"Just like LCM and Cafe Du Monde, Storyland is located in New Orleans City Park. Within the walls of Storyland, your children’s favorite storybook characters come to life!. There are over 25 larger than life exhibits waiting to be climbed on, explored, and played on."

"Storyland is a fun area in City Park full of statues and play areas from various stories. The biggest surprise to me was how big and impressive the area was. At 1300 acres, there are tons of statues you can pose with, all surrounded by majestic trees."

"One of the best inexpensive things to do in New Orleans with toddlers is Storyland. Tickets are less than $6.00/each and children under 36″ are free. Kids will love strolling through this vibrant and imaginative play area."