New Orleans

One ticket combines Gulf and Mississippi wildlife, a walk-through aquarium tunnel, touch habitats, butterflies, and live insects in a compact riverfront visit.

• Ages 2-15
• $$$$
• 3-5 hours
• Indoor

Parent tip: Buy the combined timed ticket only once; the Insectarium is now inside the Aquarium experience rather than a separate attraction.

A nationally respected zoo where Louisiana swamp habitat, global animals, conservation stories, and a seasonal splash park make a true full-day anchor.

• Ages 1-17
• $$$$
• 4-7 hours
• Indoor & Outdoor

Parent tip: Start early, choose a few habitat zones, and verify Cool Zoo dates and separate admission before promising water play.

Hands-on galleries about water, food, music, literacy, and the Mississippi meet a lagoon-side outdoor campus made especially for younger children.

• Ages 1-10
• $$$
• 3-5 hours
• Indoor & Outdoor

Parent tip: Reserve ahead on busy days and pair it with only one short City Park stop; most children will not want to rush the museum.

Tropical plants, formal gardens, a conservatory, and model railroad displays provide a calm, compact counterpoint to City Park rides and playgrounds.

• Ages 2-17
• $$
• 1.5-3 hours
• Indoor & Outdoor

Parent tip: Check conservatory, train-garden, and seasonal exhibit hours; midday heat can shorten outdoor attention.

A broad art collection with family programs and a park setting works best as a focused gallery hunt rather than an attempt to cover the whole museum.

• Ages 5-17
• $$
• 1.5-3 hours
• Indoor

Parent tip: Choose a family program or two galleries, then move outside before attention fades.

More than ninety modern and contemporary works sit among lagoons, live oaks, bridges, and paths in a free garden that invites children to move while looking.

• Ages 3-17
• Free
• 1-2 hours
• Outdoor

Parent tip: Use sun protection and the garden map, and remind children that the sculptures are for looking rather than climbing.

Immersive galleries, restored aircraft, oral histories, and interactive exhibits make a powerful older-child and teen anchor that needs time and context.

• Ages 9-17
• $$$$
• 4-7 hours
• Indoor

Parent tip: Preview the war content, prioritize one or two pavilions, and build in a quiet break for children sensitive to sound or difficult history.

A paved loop, lagoons, giant oaks, playgrounds, and birdlife offer a flexible free reset near the zoo and St. Charles streetcar.

• Ages 0-17
• Free
• 1.5-4 hours
• Outdoor

Parent tip: The park is large; choose the Magazine Street side or another named arrival rather than navigating to a generic center pin.

A historic wooden carousel and a compact set of gentle family rides deliver an approachable first amusement-park experience without consuming the day.

• Ages 2-12
• $$$
• 2-4 hours
• Outdoor

Parent tip: Operating days are seasonal and weather-sensitive; check the ride list and height rules before buying.

Two miniature-golf courses weave Louisiana and New Orleans culture into an easy family competition under City Park’s oaks.

• Ages 5-17
• $$
• 1.5-2.5 hours
• Outdoor

Parent tip: Choose cooler hours, verify weather closures, and do not stack it with every other ticketed City Park attraction.

Short woodland trails, birding, waterways, and Laborde Mountain—the city’s highest point—create a free nature reset within the park.

• Ages 4-17
• Free
• 1.5-3 hours
• Outdoor

Parent tip: Use the named Harrison Avenue trail arrival, carry bug spray and water, and avoid muddy or storm-damaged trails.

Large storybook sculptures, slides, climbing pieces, and shaded imaginative play make this one of the city’s best purpose-built stops for younger children.

• Ages 1-10
• $$
• 1.5-3 hours
• Outdoor

Parent tip: Verify the separate ticket and current weather closure policy; hot surfaces and storms matter.