Top 10 Kid Friendly Things To Do and Attractions in St. John the Baptist Parish

"If you’ve seen photos of New Orleans, you’ve likely seen Jackson Square: a small park that sits in front of St. Louis Cathedral, the view of New Orleans’ beautiful white cathedral is one of the most classic shots of New Orleans. It doesn’t take long to walk around, but the real treat is what’s between Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral: in this small walking area, you’ll often find energetic street performers, from jazz musicians to jugglers, as well as plenty of people willing to exchange a bit of touristy New Orleans voodoo for a fee."

"If you’ve seen photos of New Orleans, you’ve likely seen Jackson Square: a small park that sits in front of St. Louis Cathedral, the view of New Orleans’ beautiful white cathedral is one of the most classic shots of New Orleans. It doesn’t take long to walk around, but the real treat is what’s between Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral: in this small walking area, you’ll often find energetic street performers, from jazz musicians to jugglers, as well as plenty of people willing to exchange a bit of touristy New Orleans voodoo for a fee."

"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."

"Jackson Square is the center of all the history and action in New Orleans. The beautiful square lies in front of the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral with historic building on both sides, the famous Cafe du Monde and the Mississippi River to the south. It is definitely the most iconic photo spot in all of New Orleans."

"I learned about Preservation Hall from a couple of locals while enjoying a drink at Jewel of the South, a bar in the French Quarter. Dating back to the 1950s, Preservation Hall has to be the most unassuming jazz club in the world. Every night, a line of hopefuls forms outside this venerable institution for the chance to spend an hour listening to the house band, The Preservation All Stars, perform traditional New Orleans jazz."

"You might be wondering why I haven’t mentioned the iconic French Quarter jazz venue, Preservation Hall. It’s absolutely possible to see a show here (40ish minutes) and then head to Frenchmen Street. Depending on the night of the week, prepare to wait in line for up to an hour and remember with no food, drink (BYOB), or AC and the likelihood of standing during the performance, this venue isn’t right for everyone."

"In spring 2019, this treasured New Orleans institution was getting ready to move from 420 Julia Street to a high-tech and sustainable campus at City Park. The new museum grounds will cover 8.5 acres and have an interpretive wetland habitat, edible garden and an LEED-certified main building on the banks of a lagoon. Here there will be a replica grocery store and bubble studio, while the 30-metre Mighty Mississippi exhibit will explain the course of this mighty river from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico."

"Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM) believes kids learn through hands-on activities. Here, your kids are encouraged to discover the world by observing, constructing, role-playing, problem-solving and playing. The museum offers reading, math and grocery shopping activities, which help kids understand the world in which they live."

"The Carousel Gardens Amusement Park is a seasonally-operated amusement park located within the New Orleans City Park. The family-friendly theme park has been a family favorite for more than 100 years and has delighted children and their families with a variety of fun-filled rides such as a traditional Ferris wheel; a drop tower called the Coney Tower, the Live Oak Ladybug Rollercoaster, and a miniature train that tours the park. Carousel Gardens is home to one of the oldest carousels in the country known as the ‘Flying Horses’ which is one of only about 100 antique wooden carousels in the country and features beautifully carved horses created by famed carousel carvers Looff and Carmel."

"Open seasonally, on weekends, from February 29-May 24, the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park features 18 old-fashioned rides. There’s the Ladybug Roller Coaster, Tilt-A-Whirl, bumper cars and a Ferris wheel, but the main attraction is the ‘Flying Horses’ antique carousel. Built in 1906, the hand-carved merry-go-round is one of only 100 left in the country, and the last remaining in the state."

"It’s not Six Flags or Disneyworld, but Carousel Gardens has plenty of fun activities to keep the kids entertained. The Seasonally operated amusement park, located in City Park, features 18 rides, including the Live Oak Ladybug Rollercoaster, a ferris wheel, a drop tower called Coney Tower, and a miniature train that tours the park."

"Lakeside Shopping Center, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 79A, Metairie, (504) 833-7906; www.smashburger.com. A barbecue, bacon and cheddar burger is topped with fried onions on an egg bun."

"From the moment you step through the wooden screen doorsat Hansen's uptown, you'll be struck by the relaxed atmosphere and friendly service. The snoballs at Hansen's Sno-Bliz are a local legend, dripping with handmade syrups in flavors like ginger and cardamom. It was Ernest and Mary Hansen who pioneered the treat with Ernest's patented Sno-Bliz machine back in 1939, giving the shaved ice a powdery, fluffy texture nothing like the granular uber-sweet sno-cones sold in some locales."

"Hansen’s was started in 1939 by Ernest Hansen, who engineered a loud, homemade machine that shaves the ice to a fineness that many argue is unmatched across the city. (Oh, and they will argue.) The shop is still run with considerable care and..."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Infrogmation of N... used under CC BY-SA 4.0. On a sweltering day in the heat of New Orleans, there is nothing better than a stop at Hansen’s Sno-Bliz for their famous flavored snowballs and shaved ice."

"For the best Cajun Zydeco head over to Mulate’s, nightly shows run from 7:00pm to 10:30pm nightly. Known as the original Cajun restaurant in New Orleans you can get great local cuisine and soak up some Zydeco at the same time."

"The restaurant that made Cajun Culture famous with authentic Cajun cuisine. It's a perfect place to see the Mardi Gras parades, it's located right on the parade routes and have all inclusive packages. MoreCallReserveWebsite"

"Catfish Mulate’s is grilled catfish topped with crawfish etouffee and served with jambalaya, coleslaw and a twice-baked potato. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily."

"The Fly is a favorite spot for New Orleans locals, a strip of frontage along the Mississippi River behind Audubon Zoo. On weekends, people flock in droves for grilling, crawfish boils, sunning and sports. Set up camp steps from the Mississippi and watch the big boats maneuver through the currents."

"New Orleans' world-renowned gold medal winner, Chef Andrea combines Louisiana products with Northern Italian cuisine to create a memorable dining experience. A favorite among locals. Located in Metairie, 10 minutes from the French Quarter."

"3100 19th St., Metairie, (504) 834-8583; www.andreasrestaurant.com. Speckled trout Royale is topped with crabmeat and lemon cream sauce. Reservations recommended."

"Right off the freeway and tucked behind a Best Buy on the West Bank, the unassuming Hong Minh has an excellent menu of Chinese specialties, alongside some traditional Vietnamese and Asian fusion dishes. It’s a hidden gem for takeout, with menu highlights that include the Mongolian beef, Peking duck, wonton soup, and beef with broccoli."