New Orleans in late March?

[eyor44]

Just to add my vote for the zoo, aquarium and IMAX. They are all great. Stroll through Jackson Square. Not sure when baseball starts, but if it is in season, go to a Zepyhers game. Always lots of fun.

If you are going to stay in New Orleans all week and just want a day trip to the beach, drive over to MS Gulf Coast. Long Beach has some really nice beaches that aren't crowded even during Spring Break. When you get into Gulfport or Biloxi is when you get to the crowds. I would suggest driving all the way down Hwy 90 though. Wonderful drive and the resturants are coming back. For really good seafood, try Chimneys in Gulfport, on Hwy 90 across from the beach.

 

[Reedi]

The zoo is a definite must-do, it's one of the best in the country. And a ride on the street car is always fun.

And beignets, YUMMY! Just don't inhale when going in for a bite, and DON'T wear black! And some of the best places to eat look like little hole in the walls.

There's the Children's museum and the insectarium too (they let you eat bugs for those adventurous enough, my DS LOVED that!)

As for Jackson, my kids really enjoyed the petrified forest. We were glad we stumbled upon it, I didn't even know it existed.

And if you are willing to drive a little over an hour north, there's the Global Wildlife Center in Folsom, where you ride in safari caravans and feed giraffes and other animals by hand.

HAVE FUN!!

 

[LisaG]

Thanks for the great tips. Keep them coming!

 

[HunnyPots]

I stayed in the Monteleone this past spring and our room was tiny. It had a king sized bed and I barely had room for the Aerobed for our son. They would have given us a rollaway, but I don't know how it would have fit. There is no self parking and valet parking was about $30 a night.

The Monteleone also has double rooms, as my family of four stayed in one on one of our trips. Not terrribly spacious but very nice. As far as parking, $25-$30 is typical for anywhere in the quarter.

 

[Debbie7452]

We have stayed at the Sheraton New Orleans on Canal Street. It was a nice hotel, good location, and we stayed free on SPG reward points. Also on pouints, We have also stayed at the W- French quarter:good location but tiny valet parking garage and the W-New Orleans, parked free at the Harrah's Casino (but you have to gamble for 30 minutes to get parking validated...ended up costing MORE than the valet would have been!) location not very central, but nice hotel. Out of those three, I prefer the Sheraton.

Basically, we will stay wherever we can get free rooms. Our kids (older kids) were a little shocked at some of the Bourbon street "attractions" and this was still during daylight hours, so be prepared.

I would stay at any of the places already recommended. The embassy suites with the nice breakfast sounds good for a family.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Homewood Suites on Poydras right near the Superdome is nice and you can get a two room or one room suite for not too much money. And you get a small kitchen. It's walking distance to the FQ, the Aquarium and not far from the St Charles Trolley.

 

[brandip22]

Hi! I will chime in and pretty much agree with everyone! The Zoo, Aquarium, WWII Museum are all must-dos! I will add the Children's Museum and Insetarium as well- so cool! For hotels, yes the French Quarter ones tend to have smaller rooms, but they are so wonderful with hortory and charm. We stay a lot at the Marriott on Canal and it's great. If you want a day trip from there, Baton Rouge is fun, too. They have the USS Kidd and the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum which is cool, too. You will have a blast!
Oh, and for the Gulf Shores beaches, I was just there for the Jimmy Buffet Concert and they are fine. What little comes up, is immediately cleaned.

 

[ilovejack02]

Good eats in Nola...

Cafe Degas , Port of Call , Ruby Slipper for brunch , Magazine street has several french bakeries , I could spend all day there visiting the bakeries lol and in fact did on Sat. I think I gained about 5 lbs.

Jacques-imos on Oak street http://www.jacquesimoscafe.com/

http://portofcallnola.com/

http://www.shopsucre.com/

http://www.magazinestreet.com/ ( list of merchants on Magazine ) if interested in shopping for the day

http://www.therubyslippercafe.net/

http://www.cafedegas.com/


Just a few of my favorite places to eat in case someone needs suggestions !

 

[Deb & Bill]

Good eats in Nola...

Cafe Degas , Port of Call , Ruby Slipper for brunch , Magazine street has several french bakeries , I could spend all day there visiting the bakeries lol and in fact did on Sat. I think I gained about 5 lbs.

Jacques-imos on Oak street http://www.jacquesimoscafe.com/

http://portofcallnola.com/

http://www.shopsucre.com/

http://www.magazinestreet.com/ ( list of merchants on Magazine ) if interested in shopping for the day

http://www.therubyslippercafe.net/

http://www.cafedegas.com/


Just a few of my favorite places to eat in case someone needs suggestions !

Don't forget Mothers on Poydras.

 

[ascwilson]

We spent 3 days the first week in April in New Orleans and the weather was nice (compared to the summer humidity). We stayed at the Holiday Inn French Quarter and had very nice, large rooms with comfy beds. Their pool was indoors which worked out well as it did rain one afternoon. As PP's have said, expect to pay at least $25 on top of your hotel rate for parking. You could come & go at the HIFQ which was nice and the parking garage was attached to the hotel.

The zoo is absolutely fabulous along with the aquarium & insectarium. Just walking all over the FQ and looking at the different shops is a treat. The voodoo museum was fun and the French Market was too. We did eat beignets every day and had some of the best food & drinks too. The Cemetery History Tour is fun too as no on in NO is buried in the ground and some of the tombs are very ornate.

 

[Soupermom]

This is GREAT information! Thanks! (And keep it coming!)

 

[Deb & Bill]

Also, The Gumbo Shop has great food.

 

[ilovejack02]

Drago's in the Hilton Riverside for Charbroiled Oysters. MMMMMMMM, of course summer is not prime time for them, but you can still get them and with the spill they may not have any , but really not sure. Haven't checked on oyster status lately. If you can get them, this is the place to eat !

I prefer the original location in Metairie , but I think that is just because I love the nostalgia of it lol .

http://www.dragosrestaurant.com/locations.htm

http://www.commanderspalace.com/

.25 martini friday afternoons : ) and a gorgeous setting , awesome food good way to spend an afternoon . THey also have a great jazz brunch.

Did someone mention swamp tours .. that is always fun.

 

[Soupermom]

What IS the status of "the spill" in NO? What is the long term prognosis for that area???

 

[Soupermom]

Bumping!

 

[kbuck]

The Oil Spill has not affected New Orleans at all. A little harder to find oysters but I have found shrimp and crabs at the local seafood markets. Not sure about the oysters.

I would agree with visiting the Zoo, Aquarium, IMAX, streetcar ride down Historic St. Charles Avenue (with beautiful old money homes), plantations on the river, French Quarter, Mardi Gras musuem, see if any festivals are going on when you are visiting (check nola.com), swamp tour, eat at Cafe Du Monde, get a hurricane for Pat O' Briens in the French Quarter. Make sure you eat a really good poor boy (Parkway Bakery is really good). The President just ate there. Get a muffaletta at Central Grocery. Central Grocery is an Italian grocery store located in the French Quarter. Visit St. Louis Cathedral, a beautiful old catholic church located at the center of the Quarter.

Can't remember if you have kids but might was to stay off Bourbon Street while touring the Quarter.

The French Quarter has a flee market located near the old US Mint.

I hope these suggestions help. I work in New Orleans.

 

[lucigo]

Last summer I took my kids for a weekend trip. We usually stay at your basic Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, etc. but we stepped out of our comfort zone a little and stayed at the Prytania Hotel. The kids enjoyed the spiral staircase in our room. You could walk to restaurants and the cable car, and it was a short drive to the aquarium and zoo. I don't remember the price but it wasn't expensive and they had free parking.

http://www.prytaniaparkhotel.com/ourhotel.html

 

[Reedi]

What IS the status of "the spill" in NO? What is the long term prognosis for that area???

It definitely had a major environmental impact, but the clean-up efforts have been effective. The shrimp and oyster crops have suffered a blow, but there are still "safe" supplies being harvested. So while prices may have increased a bit and quality is not as high as it could be, the food that New Orleans has to offer is still delicious. The tourist industry is still strong, so you would probably not see any lingering effects from the spill. Enjoy!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

Last summer I took my kids for a weekend trip. We usually stay at your basic Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn, etc. but we stepped out of our comfort zone a little and stayed at the Prytania Hotel. The kids enjoyed the spiral staircase in our room. You could walk to restaurants and the cable car, and it was a short drive to the aquarium and zoo. I don't remember the price but it wasn't expensive and they had free parking.

http://www.prytaniaparkhotel.com/ourhotel.html

I stayed there once and it is a strange little boutique hotel. No two rooms are alike. But it was very nice.

 

[An_Island_Girl]

The Dauphine Orleans is a wonderful hotel too! The premium and superior rooms are wonderfully large compared to other French Quarter hotels, and they do offer a free continental breakfast as well. Only a block off of Bourbon St. without any of the noise. Our rooms have always been quiet, and the wonderful temerpedic beds are oh so comfortable!