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New Orleans With Kids Posted: 07 Feb 2012 08:55 AM PST by: Jenn and Hannah Miller Rolling into NOLA during Mardi Gras, the day of the Saints’ Superbowl Parade with a van full of kids might not seem like the height of good family travel planning, and to tell the truth, it wasn’t. It was a complete accident! Nonetheless, it was one of the best travel experiences our family has had and one our kids are not likely to forget! Where to Stay: There are lots of options in NOLA and most of them are either booked solid or extremely pricey during Mardi Gras. Our favorite option, no matter where in the world we’re traveling is to rent a house or an apartment. When we discovered that fully furnished & equipped rentals were available anywhere in the world for far less than a hotel stay with our four kids, it revolutionized our travel experience. FlipKey has 24 rentals available in New Orleans, in case you were wondering! Whether you’re a family of two or ten, you’ll find one that fits! The ability to cook for yourself, is an added money saving bonus with kids! Parades: Perhaps you’re a better advance planner than I am and you’d like to scope out some parades that are “more beads, less boobies” for your children to enjoy. I can’t say I blame you. The big parades are a “culturally broadening experience,” to be sure, but not one every kid is ready for! The Mardi Gras parade schedule will help you find one that’s just right. The outlying towns around New Orleans often have community parades that start earlier, are mercifully shorter, and still pack a “wow” punch for the younger set. We can personally recommend Metairie’s parades as family friendly and lots of fun! Even Mama caught some beads without embarrassing herself! What to Eat: There is no shortage of food, quantity or variety, in New Orleans and even more so during Mardi Gras. Be prepared to spend $40 for a family dinner of chicken-on-a-stick from street vendors downtown during the big parades. When you’re tired of eating on your feet, find yourself a good seafood shack and order a whole pile of crawfish. Do yourself a favor and befriend a local for a colorful lesson in how to “properly” eat them. The quote that will live forever in our family: “A real local isn’t afraid to suck the head.” I kid you not. After a parade there’s nothing like a late night round of beignes. Cafe du Monde might be cliche, but it’s also famous for a reason. If your sweet tooth still isn’t satisfied, stop by any grocery store and buy an enormous King Cake and let the kids fight over who gets the baby Jesus. What to See: The parades are a big draw, but they happen after dark. What’s a family to do all day? Don’t miss Mardi Gras World, a behind the scenes look at the art and craft that makes the magic of Mardi Gras. Your kids will love learning about how the floats are made and taking a peek “behind the curtain.” Take a Streetcar ride! Only $1.25 a ticket, it’s a great way to see the town and travel kid style! Hop on on Saint Charles Street and ride through the garden district. You can get off at the Audubon Zoo! The Riverwalk Marketplace is a great place to pick up some souvenirs, grab a quick bite, or just let the kids wander and burn off some steam when they need to. There are lots of family friendly shops, and perhaps you’ll even find the kids a Mardi Gras mask to wear to the parade that night! Save Some Money: Traveling with kids is never cheap! This site has all sorts of coupons for food, lodging and attractions in and around New Orleans to make your family visit kinder on the wallet. This one lists 16 separate deals or coupons that will save on everything from airport parking to zoo admission. New Orleans during Mardi Gras with kids is a blast. True, a different kind of blast than when you were in college, but unforgettable, nonetheless. Watching my 14 year old daughter catch her first set of beads from the enormous floats (fully clothed) and then laughing hard with her as she learned how MOST girls got theirs was priceless. If you’ve got kids, why not take them to the biggest party America has to offer? A dynamic mother-daughter duo of travel writers, Jenn & Hannah are in their fourth year of an open ended world tour. Their partners in crime are Dad & 3 brothers and together they are http://www.edventureproject.com

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