New Orleans is a feast for your senses and the very definition of fun. Whether you're in town for the annual Mardi Gras celebration or on a family vacation, New Orleans has something for everyone. See where Mardi Gras floats are made, go swimming in a giant aquarium tank or cruise down the Mississippi by riverboat. That's only a sampling of the 10 not-to-miss attractions in New Orleans.
Take in a Mardi Gras Parade
Ditch the major crowds in the French Quarter and catch one of the many Mardi Gras parades on St. Charles Avenue on the edge of the Garden District. Bring a picnic basket and settle down under the oak trees. Streetcar service is suspended, making this a fun place for everyone to work off a little energy. Make sure you bring big bags for the kids so they can carry all the stuffed animals, toys, beads and other items tossed to the crowd by passing floats. The first parades kick off in January, with the partying continuing until Fat Tuesday, also known as Mardi Gras Day, in February or early March. You'll have your choice of parades that day.
See Floats Come Alive
If you miss Mardi Gras, bring the family to Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World to see how the floats are made. Learn the history of the celebration while you tour the "float den" and watch the artists work. While you’re there, get decked out in a traditional Mardi Gras costume for some great photo ops. Mardi Gras World is open daily. Look for the free shuttle, which is just as colorful as the floats, at designated stops in the French Quarter and downtown.
Get a Glimpse of History at the WWII Museum
Imagine walking into an oversized room and standing underneath the wings of a B-52 bomber, or climbing into the belly of a Sherman tank. History buffs can do both and more at the National WWII Museum. You'll find these two displays in the U.S. Freedom Pavilion. Look up and see even more WWII aircraft dangling from the ceiling. Relive war-time action at the Final Mission: The USS Tang Submarine Experience. The exhibit is an interactive recreation of the sub's final battle in the Pacific. Head to the Campaigns of Courage: European and Pacific Theaters and learn what it took to win the war on both fronts. Find the glass-walled Kushner Restoration Pavilion and watch as WWII planes, boats and vehicles are brought back to life.
Be Enticed by the French Quarter
In the French Quarter, you'll find yourself surrounded by the sounds of jazz drifting from open doorways. The music blends with the sweet and spicy aroma of foods cooked up by the city's multicultural residents. Indulge in a muffuletta, a giant, overstuffed sandwich of Italian origin that can easily feed two people. Stop by the Café du Monde in Jackson Square and indulge in the ultimate French doughnut, the beignet. These addictive little clumps of pastry covered with powdered sugar are a must when in the Big Easy. While in Jackson Square, check out the open-air artist colony, where paintings are hung on the iron fence. It's the perfect spot to pick up a souvenir or have your portrait drawn.
Explore the Garden District and Uptown
Make your way to the Garden District and take in the towering oak trees, multi-columned southern mansions and inviting parks. Walk along Magazine Street and find shops, quaint cafes and art galleries. In the neighboring Uptown District, shop for local foods at neighborhood markets on Freret Street, or perhaps bring home some handmade souvenirs. Nearby Audubon Park is the perfect place for a hike, bike ride or picnic. Tee off at the Audubon Park Golf Course, or check out the Audubon Zoo where more than 2,000 animals roam exhibits like the African Savannah and the Jaguar Jungle.
Walk Underwater at the Aquarium
Walk underwater at the Aquarium of the Americas as you stride through the tunnel at the Caribbean reef exhibit. Watch as colorful fish swim over and around you as they eyeball you behind the glass walls. Visit the penguin exhibit to watch these tuxedoed birds at play or check out the Gulf of Mexico exhibit to meet King Mydas, an endangered green sea turtle. The "king" shares the 400,000-gallon tank with sharks, rays, fish and other sea turtles. At the Amazon Rain Forest, you'll find payara piranhas and freshwater stingrays in a waterfall-fed pool. For family fun, bring your suits for a snorkeling tour among the fishes in the aquarium's Great Maya Reef tank.
Ride an Old-Fashioned Streetcar
Heading to St. Charles Street, Canal Street or the Riverfront? Board one of the vintage streetcars that have been running along New Orleans' tracks since the early 19th century. Settle back in the mahogany seats as you ride past historic monuments, decadent mansions, restaurants and shopping outlets on the St. Charles Line. On the Canal Street car, you'll go through the central business district and end at the city's historic cemeteries. Board the Riverfront Line for a trip to the French Market, the Aquarium of the Americas and the Riverfront Marketplace. Feeling lucky? You'll also find Harrah's Casino along this route.
Roll the Dice At Harrah’s
You'll notice the bold colors of Mardi Gras and a decadent French Quarter atmosphere when you step into Harrah's Casino in the Central Business District. Try your luck at no-limit Texas Hold 'Em in the poker room, play one of the 113 table games or settle down in front of a light-flashing slot machine. Adults 21 and older are allowed in the casino, so this makes a great mom-and-dad getaway. If you have older children and want to visit the casino during the daytime, catch a movie at the Energy Giant Screen Theater. It's only a five-minute walk from Harrah's.
Bowl Away At Fulton Alley
Love bowling? Kids of all ages are welcome to play at Fulton Alley up until 8 p.m. After that it becomes an adult-only venue. Twelve lanes are available in this converted bus barn and parking garage located in the Arts District. After you've got some strikes under your belt, order up a sweet or savory dish at the on-site eatery. Don't miss a Fulton Alley favorite, the chocolate and raisin bread pudding beignets topped with vanilla ice cream and a bourbon-lemon sauce. Salads, burgers, sandwiches and tacos, along with local favorites such as spicy tater tots popcorn gulf shrimp, give even the pickiest eaters a wide choice. You'll find their craft cocktails just as enticing.
Cruising the Mississippi, Steamboat Natchez Style
The calliope whistles a jazzy tune as the steamboat Natchez makes its way past the French Quarter, mirroring the route taken by other steamers that once carried the same name. You almost expect Mark Twain to step up to the rail and do some serious people-watching as he takes pen to paper for his next story. You glide effortlessly around the Port of New Orleans as the giant red paddlewheel slaps the water. Guides point out local landmarks and tell stories of times past. Want to see New Orleans lit up at night? Take the dinner cruise, complete with casual buffet and jazz band entertainment. Dance the night away or find a seat along the rail and watch history float on by.
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