By Car: New Orleans, Louisiana
What to Do
When most parents think of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, they imagine the sometimes scandalous partying that occurs on Bourbon Street and quickly cross the destination off the family-friendly travel list. Leave Bourbon Street to the grown-ups and head over to St. Charles Avenue, where local families gather for picnics and parades. Daytime parades are best for families, like the kid-approved Little Rascals parade and the Krewe of Barkus, featuring the festival’s only all-animal parade. Be sure to arrive early and bring plenty of goody bags to tote home the loot. Of course, there is more to Mardi Gras than just the parade. Give your kids a little carnival history at Mardi Gras World, where you can watch the floats and sculptures take shape, as well as try on costumes and sample a famous King cake. Mardi Gras celebrations officially begin on January 6, with the majority of the parades occurring from February 6-February 21, so now is the perfect time to make your travel plans. neworleansonline.com
Where to Stay
Guests at the historic Maison St. Charles will love the unique and spacious suites located inside the lovingly restored antebellum homes that make up this property. After grabbing a complimentary breakfast on one of the hotel’s three scenic porches, you’ll be steps away from the parades on St. Charles Avenue. Parades can last for hours, so staying close by is a must should you need a quick pit stop or a place to unload your mountain of treasures. After the parades you can hop on board the famous St. Charles streetcar, the oldest operating streetcar in the world. 504/522-0187; maisonstcharles.com
Where to Eat
The city of New Orleans is sometimes known by the well-deserved nickname “the city of chefs,” so the foodies in the family will look forward to finding something delicious on any street corner. If your mouth is watering for authentic Cajun cooking, head over to Cochon, a family-friendly restaurant with an elegant and upscale atmosphere. Adventurous eaters will want to order several of the small plates to sample the exotic flavors of alligator and rabbit. The yummy word is out on Cochon, so be sure to have a reservation so you won’t miss a single bite. For a quick and authentically New Orleans treat, check out Café du Monde for their famous beignets and coffee. 504/588-2123; cochonrestaurant.com
By Plane: Quebec, Canada
What to Do
You won’t need to cross the ocean or leave the continent to travel to Quebec, but arriving will transport you to an entirely foreign world. The Old-World city streets and French language contribute to the distant-destination feel, but it is the blanket of deep white snow that is the most unusual to families from down south. The Quebec Winter Carnival has been celebrated for more than 100 years as a way to fill the long, cold months of winter with celebration and revelry. From January 27 to February 12, participants bundle up to enjoy every wintery wonder imaginable. Families join in snow rafting, sleigh rides and a 400-foot ice slide. Spectator events include dog-racing exhibitions, intricate snow carvings and parades that light up both day and night. If you need a place to duck in from the cold, head to Mega Parc indoor amusement park, where you’ll find 20 indoor attractions, including a roller coaster and skating rink. 418/626-3716; carnaval.qc.ca/en
Where to Stay
The motto at Loews Le Concord is “the family that plays together stays together,” and the commitment to this credo begins at check-in with something for every member of the family. Little ones will be thrilled to dig into their Fisher-Price welcome gifts, and tweens and teens will be grooving along with their free iTunes cards. The Carnival grounds are walking distance from Loews Le Concord, making it an ideal place to lay your head after a full day of winter fun. 418/647-2222; loewshotels.com/quebeccity
Where to Eat
There are plenty of great treats to sample on the Carnival grounds, including the cinnamon and sugar-topped “beavertail” pastry, but if the kids get a hankering for a taste of home, head over to Chez Ashton for a bit of Quebec-style fast food. Burgers, hot dogs and deli sandwiches are the menu staples, but there is only one real reason to eat at Chez Ashton: poutine, the national dish of Quebec, which combines crispy-on-the-outside French fries with cheddar cheese curd and a thin drizzling of gravy. 418/692-3055; chez-ashton.com
