We’ve decided to cross another road trip off of our USA travel bucket list next year – New Orleans! We are headed that way during the Mardi Gras season (not on Fat Tuesday) and I am excited to read your suggestions as we map out our plans.
If you’ve followed along on our travels, you will know we love adventure, history and a good meal. We always try to immerse ourselves in the local culture. Of course, we are looking for family friendly suggestions. The boys will be 11 and 14 by then.
- Where should we eat?
- What do we HAVE to see / do?
- What should we skip?
- What are your best tips?
- Are there any particular city tours you would recommend?
We definitely plan to visit with Ron and Jeff (Uptown Acorn) as much as they can stand us during our stay :-)
Since we are driving, we plan to visit Mobile and Birmingham as well, but only have a little bit of time in each of those places.
Thank you for ALWAYS sharing the best ideas for our travels!
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Love New Orleans. My husband and I did the kayaking through the bayou on a tour, so fun!
Hello from a long time reader in Birmingham! Do you know what area you will be staying in yet? Birmingham has had a wonderful burst of great restaurants over the last few years so while there isn’t much to do around here I can certainly give good dining recommendations!
It’s very touristy but I truly enjoyed my visit to Mardi Gras World where some of the floats are made. You can watch a short video then tour the factory and see artists at work. If you don’t have a car the museum will pick you up and transport you across the river from the city. The tour isn’t long so it may hold the kids attention and you can actually see and touch the floats stored there.
As for Birmingham, Vulcan Park is a small park with a large statue of Vulcan that you can go up in to have a view of the city. As for barbecue, Dreamland has a restaurant in Birmingham so that’s a must go.
The WW2 museum is fantastic and think your boys are old enough to enjoy it. It’s highly interactive and educational. My husband and I spent 3 hours there, and easily could’ve done 5-6 if you stopped and looked at every exhibit (we had a flight to catch). Brunch at Commander’s Palace is a splurge, but worth every penny and is truly an experience in fine dining. Port Of Call has great burgers in a fun atmosphere. And muffalettas and stuffed artichokes from Central Grocery.
Mardi Gras World. Behind the scene look at how the floats are made and the history of all the Mardi Gras parades. It doesn’t take that long to go thru with a guided tour and it was a whim stop that we ended up really enjoying. Our older teenager was very engaged and there are many float props for photo opps that we had fun with.
okay, there are so many good places to eat… I’m thinking that I’m going to email you because it is too much info to share here. haha.
Commander’s Palace for brunch is a MUST DO, in my opinion.
Also, I think Mardi Gras World would be a must do for y’all, especially the boys.
Shoot.. when exactly are y’all coming? I hope it is not when we plan to maybe go to Universal. I’m going to email you!
For Birmingham, the Civil Rights Museum and Vulcan Park are great places to visit. For good eats in B’ham try Rodney Scott Whole Hog BBQ or Mile End Deli. Mile End Deli is close to Railroad Park in downtown which is also a great park. In Mobile, the battleship is a classic. As for New Orleans, I’m sure you will get a ton of great advice. My family enjoys staying in the Garden District. The Audubon Zoo and National WWII Museum are great for families. Napoleon House in the French Quarter is our favorite restaurant.
Hi Amanda! New Orleans is my home town and my mother was the director of tour and travel for Audubon (zoo, aquarium and insectarium). i am also a Disney travel planner so if you want to discuss great things to do in New Orleans with kids from someone in the business and with connections please let me know!
So excited that you are coming way down south for some adventures. Of course, Pascagoula is only about 35 miles from Mobile. Not much to do in our town as I’m sure you remember. Make sure you guys stop by Ocean Springs, MS which will be on the way to New Orleans. They have a great downtown area with neat local shops and restaurants. Continue on Highway 90 through Biloxi to see all the sites and Casinos.
New Orleans is one of my favorite places. Just be extra careful!
I highly recommend the National WW11 Museum. It is totally interactive, and, I believe your boys will really like it. I went because of my husband’s strong interest, and, it’s the best museum I’ve visited. We spent pretty much a whole day, of course, you can tailor to your needs. I wish all children could experience, to learn our history in an interesting way.
In Mobile you can visit the USS Alabama (the boys would really like that). They have a great restaurant called The Blue Gill on the Bay Way. If you get a chance, Fairhope, Alabama across the bay is a beautiful town with cute shops and eateries. Depending on if it works our with your time schedule, Mobile has Mardi Gras parades too.
In New Orleans, you’ll want to get beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Long lines but always fun. St. Louis Cathedral is beautiful inside. We loved Deanie’s Seafood for their famous po boys. Also the ghost tour carriage rides would be fun.
My last recommendation with kids is to do the daytime parades. We’ve done both and the nighttime parades (especially the people viewing to parades). Became quite rowdy.
In the travels I’ve had in the US, there is no city like New Orleans. Definitely one of a kind. I know y’all with have fun!
The best meal I ever had was at Brennan’s in New Orleans. The boys must order the Bananas Foster!
Eat at Mr B’s for lunch and you have to visit the Carousel Bar at the Hotel Monteleone!
I live in Birmingham – I’m not sure how long you’ll be here but just a few highlights are the Vulcan park and statue, the Pizitz Food Hall, Highlands Bar & Grill (James Beard best restaurant 2018), Dreamland BBQ for ribs, Avondale neighborhood for edible cookie dough at Cookie Dough magic and a great, funky neighborhood, Davenport’s Pizza in Mountain Brook for amazing pizza and a lovely, walkable village near the zoo and botanical garden. I could go on and on!
My husband, 3-year old son and I were in NOLA last month for 3 days. We went to the aquarium because it was pouring rain and I’d say to skip that. We wish we had gone to the WWII museum instead (just weren’t sure with the toddler, ha!) because it’s consistently voted/named one of the best museums in the country. Commander’s Palace. Take a streetcar! Paddleboat on Lake Pontchartrain, City Park was a hidden gem. We ate at Domenica also and it was awesome. The French Quarter is not as seedy as people make it out to be (although it was not Mardi Gras time). Preservation Jazz Hall is a MUST. Get in line at least 30 min early as there are no reservations and very few shows. Have a blast!
I was there over 20 years ago and enjoyed a cemetery tour (very interesting) and an alligator boat ride (I got to hold a baby alligator!) The boys might like that! And you must not miss the beignets at Cafe Du Monde!! Have fun!!!
My hometown ❤️❤️Mobile: The Original Oyster House, The Battleship USS Alabama, Fort Conde, Fort Gaines on Dauphin Island, Sea Lab on Dauphin Island, Mardi Gras parade in Mobile….actual birthplace of Mardi Gras. Duckboat tour is always fun. The Moonpie General Store across from Battlehouse hotel. You should also drive across the bay to Fairhope….quaint little town. I would eat at Another Broken Egg for brunch.
My second ❤️❤️New Orleans: beignets from Morning Call in city Park, I would skip the aquarium but definitely go to Audubon Zoo. Mothers restaurant across from Lowes Hotel has the best etouffee. Ride the trolley. Kids would like Haunted ghost tour. You definitely need to do swamp tour….Jean laffite probably one of the best.
Biloxi: kids will love Margaritaville, Beauvoir…Jefferson Davis home is a fun tour. McElroys Harbor House has great views and seafood
I don’t know how far it is from New Orleans, but I have always wanted to see Oak Alley Plantation in person. https://www.oakalleyplantation.com/
In NOLA you must do brunch at Commander’s Palace. Also LOVE the crab beignets at La Petite Grocery (and everything really, but those beignets are to die for). Mother’s is another must for lunch and worth the wait even if there’s a line. We loved the BBQ shrimp at Muriel’s on Jackson Square, which is also a fun spot to look at street vendors and stop into the Cathedral. Cafe du Monde is also right there and something you should also do (even with a line too). Port of Call is a great place for a burger and is super casual.
The boys would probably enjoy just riding a street car through town, which is also a fun way to see different parts of the city while taking a rest from walking around. And do a nighttime ghost tour… so many fun, spooky stories and places to visit.
Have fun! Can’t wait to follow along on your trip and make notes for my next visit.
Food: Definitely Mother’s for causal, traditional NOLA fare. Also a fan of Commanders (they have .25 martinis at Friday lunch) Mr. B’s, Galatoires. For oysters, avoid the crowds at Acme and go to Cooter Browns. Ride the streetcar. Go uptown to the Garden District. Also the most family friendly place to see parades. French market. The Quarter is definitely an experience. Preservation Hall is great but will probably be super crowded during Mardi Gras. May be easier to hear jazz off Frenchmen’s Street. Kid friendly activities- zoo, swamp tour, ghost tour, graveyard tour, Jackson Square, Mardi Gras World. For adult time- go to the Carousel Bar, have drinks at Cane and Table,
Hello, I would recommend that you watch the mardi gras parades from uptown rather than downtown; it is more family-friendly and just more enjoyable than in the sea of concrete downtown. My best tip is to take a hand-held net with a longer handle so that you can put it right up to the people on the mardi gras floats for the throws–they’ll put them right in your net!
Camellia Grill is a fun place to eat with diner-type food and lines that go out the door; I like the uptown location best. The best po’boys are at Mahoney’s on Magazine Street. Atchafalaya has a great brunch with a bloody mary bar.
I hope y’all have a great time!