Most people don’t think of New Orleans as a family destination but you would be surprised to know that there are a ton of great activities for kids in this fun city! This is my round up of the best activities in New Orleans for kids.

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While there are certain areas that I always avoid when in New Orleans with my kids, there are plenty of safe and fun places to enjoy! Here are a few of my favorites.

For a few restaurant recommendations, check out my post, Must Try New Orleans Restaurants!

Louisiana Children’s Museum

Where else will you find a crawfish boil play table? A jazz music room too!

We spent a morning at this fun museum on our last trip to New Orleans and it was definitely worth the trip.

The museum is built alongside a lagoon and many of the exhibits can be found outside, including Pelican’s Perch, the Lagoon Footbridge, and Edible Garden. Inside the museum, the learning is spaced over two floors.

For a delicious lunch, check out Acorn Café by Dickie Brennan located on the first floor. Weather permitting, grab a table out on the deck to enjoy some wildlife viewing while you eat.

Click here for more information about this fun museum!

Steamboat Natchez

This is the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi river!

Take a two hour cruise along the Mississippi while enjoying authentic jazz music, great cocktails and some delicious cuisine!

You’ll also get the opportunity to check out the Steam Room while aboard this piece of history.

Click here to learn more about the New Orleans Steamboat Company!

Check out my 20 Tips for Traveling on Flights with Kids!

Swamp Boat Tour

You really can’t visit the bayou without taking an airboat tour to see some gators!

Each time I’ve gone, I have always used the Louisiana Tour Company. This tour company will even pick up your group from your hotel or rental home and bring you right to the bayou.

The two hour tour is both informative and exciting. Learn about the flora and fauna in between gator sightings.

If you are lucky enough, you just might get to hold a baby gator too!

Mardi Gras World

If you are visiting New Orleans outside of Mardi Gras season, here is your chance to get to see some of the parade floats. While visiting Mardi Gras World, we met a few artists working on new floats for next season.

The tour begins with a short movie inside their theater where you will learn a little bit about the history of Mardi Gras. After the movie, you’ll get to try a piece of the famous King’s cake.

After this, plan on spending an hour or two walking around the warehouse and checking out the various floats and decorations.

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Located just a few minutes walk from Jackson Square, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is in a prime location for sightseeing.

As you would imagine, this aquarium features many species native to the Mississippi in New Orleans – including white alligators.

The aquarium also has exhibits featuring aquatic creatures from the Caribbean to the Amazon Rainforest. Kids will love checking out the more than 3,600 animals living here!

The National World War II Museum

If you’ve ever read any of my other articles about New Orleans, then you probably already know that this is my favorite museum ever.

Don’t expect a boring museum with little to see. This enormous museum is filled with things for kids to see and do, they will never want to leave!

Plan on spending at least half of a day here. The museum is expansive and there are so many details and interactive exhibits to experience during your visit.

Click here for more information.

Ride a Streetcar

This is such a classic way to get from site to site in New Orleans.

There are five lines, the St. Charles Streetcar Line, the Canal Street Line, the Riverfront Line, the Rampart/Saint Claude Streetcar Line and the Loyola/UPT Line.

The dark green St. Charles streetcar in the oldest running streetcar in the world!

Each ride costs $1.25 per person and must be paid in exact change as you get on the streetcar.

Click here for a map of the lines.

Beignets at Café de Monde

You’ll really feel like you are in New Orleans when you are enjoying a few beignets and a cup of chicory coffee while listening to live jazz music being played on the street.

Prior to COVID, an order of three beignets would come to you with a mountain of powdered sugar on top. Now, you can only get your orders ‘to-go’ in bags but maybe one day they will go back to their diner style service!

Audubon Zoo

Here you will get to see jaguars, leopards, orangutans, cranes and so much more! Keep cool with an ice cold lemonade while roaming around this neat zoo.

Our kids had a blast checking out all of the animals at this fun zoo.

This amazing place is rated one of the top ten zoos in the country.

Click here for the most up-to-date hours and ticket prices.

I hope you enjoyed this list of things to do in New Orleans with kids. Let me know your favorite!