It’s nice to know that the more things change, the more they stay the same, and New Orleans will always be celebrated for its food and its music. Your family may have missed Mardi Gras festivities, but the party is still going on at the 25th annual French Quarter Festival April 11-13.
This is the block party to end all block parties, and leave it to The Big Easy to do it right. With 15 stages of colorful (and local) musical entertainment, Cajun cuisine and kids’ activities, the best part of all is that it’s free. So, while the French Quarter Festival has your entertainment, dining and sightseeing covered for this particular weekend, there are a few other things worth seeing in the Crescent City, too.
A picnic lunch in shady Jackson Square is a great way to take in ambiance of the historic French Quarter. But, after that, the kids are going to want to get moving! What’s more Louisiana than a riverboat ride? Try a two-hour cruise of the Mississippi River on the Steamboat Natchez. This narrated tour gives you fun historical facts, a Creole lunch, calliope concert and the opportunity to tour the steam engine room.
Back on land, kids will wear themselves out at the Louisiana Children’s Museum. Between interactive and art exhibits, they won’t know where to explore first. (Hint: A new exhibit lets kids navigate the Mississippi in a tugboat.)
And, when it’s time for dinner, stop for a bite at NOLA, and say hello to everyone’s Food Network friend, Emeril Lagasse. His casual, Cajun bistro offers the staples of Louisiana cuisine, from shrimp and grits to buttermilk-fried chicken.
