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Home › Donut Guides › Things to Do with Kids › New Orleans
Things to Do in New Orleans with Kids
New Orleans has a reputation as a grown-up town, but families who visit find a city made for kids: streetcars, street performers, a giant park with a carousel, one of the best children's museums in the country, and powdered sugar everywhere. This guide is organized by neighborhood, with parent tips from our local guides and free picks flagged.
Our Historic Donut and Beignet Tour runs in the Lower Garden District, right on the St. Charles streetcar line, and it's our most-reviewed tour anywhere. Families love it.
By the Underground Donut Tour team · Updated November 2026
At a glance
- Free favorites: Jackson Square's street performers, Woldenberg Park and the Moonwalk, Audubon Park, City Park's playgrounds and Sculpture Garden, the Garden District walk
- Rainy day picks: Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium, Louisiana Children's Museum, Mardi Gras World
- Sweet treat: Our New Orleans beignet tour welcomes kids 2 and up, with kids' tickets from $55
Kid-friendly things to do in New Orleans, by neighborhood
Garden District and Lower Garden District
St. Charles streetcar
The oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world, and kids treat it like a ride.
Parent tip: Sit on the river side for the best mansion views.
Magazine Street
Blocks of shops, sweets and snowball stands.
Garden District walk
FreeLive oaks, giant porches and famous homes.
Coliseum Square
FreeA shady Lower Garden District park for a break between stops.
Parent tip: Our beignet tour starts in the Lower Garden District. Ride the streetcar in, do the tour, and then keep riding uptown to Audubon Park and the zoo.
Uptown and Audubon Park
Audubon Zoo
A 50-plus-acre zoo with a Louisiana swamp exhibit, giraffes and a splash park in summer.
Audubon Park
FreeA loop path around lagoons, a playground and the Fly, a riverfront park perfect for picnics.
French Quarter and the riverfront
Audubon Aquarium and Audubon Insectarium
Rainy day pickBoth now under one roof at 1 Canal St, so one ticket covers sharks, a sea otter exhibit and a butterfly garden.
Jackson Square
FreeStreet musicians, artists and performers most days.
Woldenberg Park and the Moonwalk
FreeWatch the river traffic on the Mississippi.
Parent tip: The French Quarter is best with kids in the morning. Plan for the aquarium in the afternoon heat.
Warehouse District
City Park
Louisiana Children's Museum
Rainy day pick8.5 acres of indoor and outdoor play in City Park, named one of the top children's museums in the U.S. Open Wednesday to Saturday 9:30am to 4:30pm and Sunday 11:30am to 4:30pm. Tickets are for adults and kids 12 months and up.
Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and Storyland
A vintage carousel, kiddie rides and a fairy-tale playground.
Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden
FreeGiant art kids can walk among.
Parent tip: Combine the children's museum, Storyland and a carousel ride for a full day without leaving the park. Café du Monde has a City Park location too.
Sweet treats and kid-friendly eats
Underground Donut Tour (kids' tickets from $55, ages 2 and up). Our Historic Donut and Beignet Tour walks the Lower Garden District with stops for classic and creative beignets and donuts, and plenty of neighborhood history along the way. It's away from the French Quarter crowds.
Taste New Orleans's best donuts on one walk
Kids 2 and up are welcome. Guides set an easy pace for little legs.
Parent tip: Let us know about allergies or dietary needs when you book, and download our free Kids' Activity Book for the trip.
What families say about our New Orleans tours
"Great family friendly tour! We brought a two year old and he loved it too. So many tasty beignets!"
Jill K., TripAdvisor, August 2026
"I would highly recommend this tour for families. There were so many options even the pickiest eaters were pleased."
LaShawn S., TripAdvisor, May 2026
"Great food tour to take with kids! ... Fun for the whole family and each beignet stop offered a unique flavor!"
christine g, TripAdvisor, June 2025
"Great family activity! ... Kids enjoyed it very much!!"
TripAdvisor reviewer, January 2025
"My entire family went and everyone loved it. Great for all ages."
Adam K., TripAdvisor, January 2026
"We had laughs, history lessons, and delicious treats. Great tour for my teens."
TripAdvisor reviewer, December 2025
"Our tour guide was very experienced and made sure to accommodate each one of us and made sure we stayed hydrated during our tour!"
Isabella O., TripAdvisor, September 2025
All 5-star guest reviews.
Exploring on your own? Our Best Donut Shops in New Orleans guide lists the city's best donut and beignet shops by neighborhood, and Best Holiday Donuts in New Orleans covers the festive specials.
Sample days
Day 1: Streetcar day
- Morning: beignet tour in the Lower Garden District.
- Ride the streetcar up St. Charles.
- Picnic in Audubon Park.
- Afternoon at the Audubon Zoo.
Day 2: City Park
- Louisiana Children's Museum when it opens.
- Lunch in the park.
- Storyland and Carousel Gardens.
- Sculpture Garden stroll before heading out.
Day 3: River and Quarter
- Morning in Jackson Square.
- The Algiers ferry or a Natchez cruise.
- Afternoon at the Aquarium and Insectarium.
- Mardi Gras World for older kids.
New Orleans with kids by season
Holidays and Mardi Gras
- Celebration in the Oaks at City Park: Nov 27, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. Driving and walking tours of the lights, unlimited amusement rides and a holiday train.
- Crescent City Countdown: Dec 31, 2026, with fireworks over the river.
- Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday is Feb 9, 2027): families tend to watch parades along St. Charles Avenue Uptown, where the crowds are friendlier and there's room for ladders and strollers.
- For seasonal treats, see Best Holiday Donuts in New Orleans.
The rest of the year
- Spring: festival season and the best walking weather of the year.
- Summer: hot and humid. Plan mornings outside, afternoons at the aquarium or children's museum, and snowballs anytime.
- Fall: cooler days return, perfect for streetcar rides and City Park.
- Winter: mild weather and holiday lights make it an easy time to visit.
New Orleans with kids FAQ
Is New Orleans good for kids?
Yes. Streetcars, City Park, the Audubon attractions and the Louisiana Children's Museum make it a great family city. Stick to daytime in the French Quarter with younger kids.
Is the beignet tour good for kids?
Yes. Kids 2 and up are welcome, it's a relaxed walk in the Lower Garden District, and guides pace the tour for families. Kids' tickets start at $55.
What are free things to do in New Orleans with kids?
Woldenberg Park and the Moonwalk on the river, Jackson Square's street performers, Audubon Park, City Park's playgrounds and Sculpture Garden, the Garden District walk and Mardi Gras parades.
What's a good rainy-day plan?
The Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium, the Louisiana Children's Museum, Mardi Gras World or the WWII Museum.