Things To Do in New Orleans with Teens – In New Orleans, Louisiana you’re bound to see steamboats, ships, ferries, and tugboats running the river, taste Creole cuisine and spicy Cajun food, have some beignet at Cafe du monde and hear some of the best Jazz music ever, or join the crowds and street performers for the Mardi Gras festival.
While you are visiting New Orleans there are many fun and exciting places, historic buildings that you can visit where teens can learn and explore the unique culture of this beautiful city of the United States.
In a city like New Orleans, it can be tough to decide where to start exploring. Museums, art galleries, chic cafes, historic homes and estates, jazz clubs, and theaters quickly fill up your itinerary.
Whether you’re looking for nightlife or a tour of the city’s rich cultural heritage, you shouldn’t have any problem staying busy checking out attractions in the Big Easy.
When your vacation leads down South to the French Quarter, there’s so much to see and do that you’ll need a good plan to make the most of your trip.
The heart of New Orleans is a hub of excitement, festivities, tourist attractions and great atmosphere year-round. The warm weather combined with some Southern hospitality is the perfect destination when you want to enjoy a carefree vacation with your teenager.
Things To Do in New Orleans With Teens
French Quarter Is A Great Place Filled With Fun Things To Do
One of the main attractions in New Orleans is the historic French Quarter, the city’s oldest neighborhood. Here you can stroll by picturesque houses painted with pastels, take a carriage ride or enjoy brunch in a streetside Creole cafe.
The main draw of the French Quarter is its unique architecture. Be on the lookout for cast-iron balconies and federal-style mansions. The Gallier House, a restored mid-19th-century Victorian home in the French Quarter, is open for tours six days a week. Other attractions in the French Quarter include Le Petit Theatre and St Louis Cathedral.
The New Orleans City Park For The Whole Family
The New Orleans City Park is 1500 acres of lagoon, forest, and parks. Small boats can be rented here to navigate around the lagoons.
See huge Cypress and Live Oak trees many of them hundreds of years old and as big around as 30 to 40 feet. Watch ducks, geese, swans, and other wildlife in their natural habitats.
Visit the Tad Gormley Stadium or the smaller Pan American Stadium for some football or soccer action. Take a stroll through the only botanical gardens in the state of Louisiana and see over 2,000 varieties of flowers and plants.
The New Orleans Museum Of Art Is The Perfect Place To Visit On Your Family Vacation
The New Orleans Museum of Art, a part of City Park, has on display fine art from the 16th to the 20th century as well as Asian, African, Pre-Columbian, and Native American art. The museum can be rented for weddings, parties, or corporate functions.
Within City Park is a smaller park for young children. Story Land is a theme park with 26 fairy tale storybook exhibits for children to climb in or on.
For older children, the Hines Carousel Gardens, also located in City Park, offers several amusement rides such as bumper cars, roller coasters, and an antique, restored wooden carousel. A miniature train takes you for a ride through part of the park.
New Orleans Audubon Zoo Is A Great Spot To Have Some Fun
Children of all ages will enjoy a day at the New Orleans Audubon Zoo. The Audubon Zoo hosts several educational programs for children.
The amphitheater is used for music concerts and as a place for personnel to teach visitors about the different animals in the zoo. Teens can take Discovery Walks and have hands-on encounters with wild and domestic animals.
The zoo has lush gardens and real habitat exhibits throughout the zoo. Witness white tigers, komodo dragons, gorillas, rhinos, and more in their beautiful natural settings.
The Louisiana Swamp exhibit includes a re-creation of an old swamp settlement, white alligators, native swamp plants, and much more.
Experience the culture and cuisine of a Cajun village. Learn about the culture of the Mayan civilization in the Jaguar Jungle. In this jungle rainforest exhibit, you will see storks, spider monkeys, sloths, and, of course, Jaguars.
Jackson Square For Some History Of New Orleans
In the heart of the French Quarter is Jackson Square. With a statue, this Square is dedicated to Andrew Jackson, the hero of the Battle of New Orleans.
Here you will find toy stores, gift shops, clothing stores, and ice cream parlors. Look up and you will see the St. Louis Cathedral built in 1794 and rebuilt in 1851.
Another old building, the Cabildo, was built in 1799 and was once the seat of Spanish governors. You will also see the Presbytere, built in 1813 and once used as a courthouse.
Fontainbleau State Park Is One Of The Best Things To See If You Want To Relax
Fontainebleau State Park is a 2800-acre park, named after a forest in Paris, that includes Lake Pontchartrain with multiple picnic sites, a campground, a sandy beach, and lots of nature trails.
Here you will find over 400 different species of birds and other animals. Camp in primitive campgrounds or make reservations for group campsites.
Aquarium Of The Americas Is One Of The Most Popular Things
Despite devastating losses following Hurricane Katrina, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has been revitalized to again be one of the top aquariums in America.
Located at the foot of Canal Street and on the bank of the Mississippi River, this state-of-the-art museum is home to nearly 600 different species.
Extensive exhibits, the Entergy IMAX Theater, and more than 15,000 sea creatures make spending the day at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas an entertaining adventure for the younger kids and the entire family.
Become a part of a Caribbean Reef by walking through the Caribbean Reef Tunnel. The 30-foot tunnel allows for an uncommon view of Caribbean sea life. Views from the tunnel rival those that are generally only available to deep-sea divers.
Step into the Amazon Rainforest. Piranhas, an anaconda and tropical birds are just a few of the creatures that call this section of the Aquarium home. Climb the steps to the treehouse lookout to get a bird’s-eye view of this Rainforest display.
Spend some time with the penguins. These black and white birds waddle, dive, and swim for visitors looking through the glass. Many of the penguins will perform when they realize they are being watched. Continue walking, and find yourself in front of the shark tank. At this tank, visitors can stand eye-to-eye with one of nature’s most dangerous species.
Take a look at local wildlife in their natural habitat in the Louisiana Swamp exhibit. The white alligator is the star of this show. Continue walking through the exhibit to see the wildlife that calls the mighty Mississippi River home. A giant window wall allows visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the actual river, while tanks inside feature river life such as catfish and turtles.
Explore the Gulf of Mexico by sitting in the viewing area in front of the half-million-gallon tank. Sharks, sea turtles, and stingrays swim together in this enormous exhibit, which features pilings of a simulated oil rig. Check the posted schedule for feeding times to watch Aquarium staff serve daily meals to the creatures that call this tank home.
Catch a show at the Entergy IMAX Theater. The larger-than-life screen gives viewers an up-close look at films about some of nature’s most fascinating habitats and creatures.
Give the kids a hands-on experience in the Adventure Island section of the Aquarium. The young and the young at heart have the opportunity to pet stingrays as they swim through the Stingray Touch Pool and to touch a baby nurse shark under the supervision of Aquarium staff.
Go To A Bourbon Street Bash – It A Great Experience For Older Kids
You have to attend at least one wild and crazy event on the Bourbon Street balconies, complete with beads and souvenirs from Mardi Gras; even in the ‘off season’! Bourbon Street Balcony on 232 Bourbon Street is one of the largest in the area, accommodating up to 100 people at a time!
There are many attractions, festivities, and tours to enjoy on your travels to one of my favorite cities, New Orleans. Whether you’re eating lunch on the river, spending a day in the shopping district, listening to great music at your favorite music venue or touring the Bourbon Street bars and nightlife, you’re sure to have a memorable and enjoyable experience in Louisiana.
Take part in the culture of New Orleans and any of these highlights in the area, and you’ll be sampling just a segment of daily life in New Orleans!
Looking for other places to take teens, check out Things to Do in Austin with Teenagers Things To Do in Boston Teens will love or Things To Do In Los Angeles with Teenagers