Top Rated Parks to Visit in Mid-City

"Just outside of the French Quarter is Louis Armstrong Park, a public space honoring the jazz musician it was named after. Inside, there are iconic sites like Congo Square, a historic meeting place for slaves in the 1800s. There are also sculptures, a duck pond and plenty of green space where you can relax after spending your morning walking around the city."

"There aren’t a ton of green spaces in downtown New Orleans, so Louis Armstrong Park, just outside the French Quarter, is a welcome option. Given its proximity to the city’s culture, the park has also become a hub for festivals and seasonal events. It’s a well-designed, landscaped spot that packs a lot into 32 acres."

"Another well know park and named after a famous musician, is the Louis Armstrong Park. It’s located in Treme near the French Quarter. It has sculptures and vendors selling food and crafts."

"Live oaks, Spanish moss and lazy bayous frame this masterpiece of urban planning. Three miles long and 1 mile wide, dotted with gardens, waterways and bridges and home to a captivating art museum, City Park is bigger than Central Park in NYC and it's New Orleans’ prettiest green space."

"This waterfront park is our favorite spot in the city for taking in the Mississippi. Enter over the enormous arch at Piety and Chartres Streets, or at the steps at Marigny and N Peters Streets, and watch the fog blanket the nearby skyline. A promenade meanders past an angular metal-and-concrete conceptual "wharf" (placed next to the burned remains of the former commercial wharf)."

"This park was created in 2014, when a formerly derelict area of the city near the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods was targeted for redevelopment. The park runs along the river; it is 1.4 miles long and is spread out over 20 acres. The main attraction in the park, apart from the pleasant green spaces, is the Piety Street Bridge."

"Crescent Park is one of the city’s newest parks, but its landscape design is steeped in New Orleans’ past. This riverfront stretch of green space memorializes the robust history of New Orleans’ wharves. Plant-lined paths and breathtaking views run alongside the grand remnants of the industrial-age."

"A scenic ride through Uptown on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line takes you right to the park’s entrance. Stunning oak trees draped with Spanish moss, tranquil lagoons, and sprawling green lawns can be found in every corner of the park, along with exciting attractions like the Audubon Trail Golf Course and Audubon Zoo. This natural space dates back to 1898, and its beautiful landscape draws visitors and locals alike."

"Previously called Upper City Park, Audubon Park is located across from Tulane University. Audubon dates to the 1800’s. Audubon was originally part of the Bore Family Plantation."

"Louisiana is a state that is famous for its waterways and bayous, and New Orleans is no exception to the rule. Fronting the French Quarter is one of the best riverside parks in the city – Woldenberg Park. Originally the location of warehouses and wharves on the east bank of the Mississippi, the site was retooled in the 1980s and 1990s into a park."

"For a day of exploring in the French Quarter, Woldenberg Park is an essential stop. Located right where the Quarter meets the mighty Mississippi, the park begins at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and runs along the water to St. Philip Street. Picnic spots, gazebos, and waterfront benches provide some of the city’s best views of the river."

"For example, at the Woldenberg Riverfront Park is a 16-acre park in front of downtown near everything. Woldenberg Riverfront Park is a wonderful place to go jogging or picnic. You’ll find people playing their music in the park."

"You may very well hear this tree before you see it: a massive live oak in the middle of City Park. The Singing Oak is an art installation by artist Jim Hart that features wind chimes measuring as long as 14 feet. Part of the charm of The Singing Oak is just finding it."

"This little green sliver in the Lower 9th Ward map is a developing green infrastructure project that both holds excess water and provides a natural breath of fresh air in the midst of the city. The 1.5-acre park is peppered with ponds, native tupelo and bald cypress trees and attractive landscaping. Wetland birds and an alligator have taken up residence, perhaps awaiting the time the park expands into a planned 42-acre natural reserve."

"The Mississippi River is a very prominent part of New Orleans, so you have to get a picture along its banks. My favorite spot is just south of Jackson Square where you can get a nice shot of the Crescent City Connection Bridge in the background. This shot below was late in the day we arrived after a long flight."

"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."

"Filled with 25 larger-than-life sculptures modeled after storybook characters, this unique playground boasts a dragon slide, Captain Hook's pirate ship, and the whale from Pinocchio. A post shared by nataliekcochran (@nataliekcochran) on Mar 13, 2018 at 7:11pm PDT"

"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."

"Every fourth Sunday of the month, the Arts Council of New Orleans puts on the Arts Market of New Orleans, an excellent juried arts market at Palmer Park, located just off of Carrollton Ave. There you’ll find some of the city’s local creative talent, as well as kid-friendly music and activities. Alligators have been known to take up residence in Wetland Park in New Orleans © Justin Foulkes / Lonely Planet"

"Annual festivals, events, concerts, filming and fun filled activities are held there. It is the home of the Palmer Park Arts Market which takes place on the last Saturday of every month. This market sells arts, crafts, food, and more."

"A Cowboy burger is topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, an onion ring and barbecue sauce and served with chips or fries."

"DTB, which stands for Down the Bayou, is a smartly conceived salute to coastal Cajun cuisine, presented with a healthy dash of creative interpretation. Chef/owner Carl Schaubhut and chef de cuisine Jacob Hammel riff off of the region's traditional dishes, refining them with lighter ingredients and plenty of attention to detail. The rustic-meets-modern restaurant is lovely, hung with faux Spanish moss and warmed by burnished light wood and textured art."

"Here familiar Louisiana dishes are recreated with refined technique and a focus on Gulf seafood, Cajun flavors, and fresh seasonal produce. For a thrifty brunch in a rather high tone place, cobble together crab boil potato hash ($6) and a buttermilk biscuit with pimento cheese ($6) for or pick a couple of sides from the Lagniappe menu. 8201 Oak St. #1, 518-6889, dtbnola.com."

"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. If you’re a self-confessed shopaholic, a trip to McArthur Shopping Center on MacArthur Blvd is something you shouldn’t miss. This shopping destination seems to have everything: bakeries, restaurants, clothing stores, and salons."

"Located in Touro, Lilette welcomes diners in a spacious dining room whose elegance is exemplified by cream-colored tin ceilings and deeply romantic burgundy walls. The menu here is classic Continental: pillowy agnolotti stuffed with veal and ricotta in beef jus, delicate squab crusted in herbs and served over a bright fennel-orange salad, and juicy grilled hangar steak’s natural richness is pushed further with a bone marrow–laced Bordelaise. With an impressive wine list highlighting Old World styles bottled on small estates, the restaurant’s cocktails are equally deft: try a classic Boulevardier, or get flirty with a passion fruit Bellini."

"Chic French and Italian-inspired restaurant Lilette has been consistently ranked as one of the top restaurants in New Orleans and has been a special occasion destination for years. One of their famous entrées is the Roasted Muscovy Duck Breast served with cauliflower polonaise, sautéed spinach, and toasted shallot sauce. Essential InformationAddress: 3637 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA | 504-895-1636Open For: Tues-Sat Lunch (11:30am-2pm); Mon-Thurs Dinner (5:30pm-9:30pm); Fri-Sat Dinner (5:30pm-10:30pm)Attire: Dressy (Jacket May Be Required)Reservation Required: YesCost: $$Website:Lilette"

"That’s the one word to describe the food at Superior Seafood!. This stylish restaurant has a zinc bar and full-service oyster bar perfect for anyone looking for Louisiana seafood and Creole-inspired cuisine. The menu changes weekly at Superior Seafood to highlight the freshest, local ingredients available, so you can always expect a quality experience."

"Yes, even a seafood restaurant makes the list of best vegan restaurants in New Orleans!. Just like the other restaurants on this list, Superior Seafood also offers superior sides an..."

"Superior Seafood matches its superb cuisine with a gloriously inviting venue – an expansive and historic Uptown space on the St. Charles streetcar line, all decked out in the manne..."

"A converted house in the Garden District sheds its past life as a po' boy shop to become Patois, which has white tablecloths and self-described "Louisiana cuisine with a French accent." Aside from elemental takes on a breakfast burrito and burger, chef and owner Aaron Burgau embraces big ideas even at brunch. Shrimp and grits are gussied up by black garlic, preserved lemon, bottarga, and toasted garlic bread crumbs; fried rabbit is paired with a poached egg, buttermilk biscuit, and Italian sausage white gravy; and a generous slab of almond-crusted, citrus meunière-showered Gulf fish is joined by a crisp potato galette and buttery green beans."

"This Uptown restaurant dishes out French cuisine with a local spin. Gulf fish almandine, rabbit cannelloni with mushroom béchamel, and did I mention the deviled crab dip with crab butter?. Quit stalling, and make a reservation now."

"Hidden on a quiet residential corner, this bustling bistro could have been transported directly from Provence. The menu continues the French...Read More"