Totally OT: Looking For Member Who Takes Their Child to Mardi Gras in NO

[tink38]

You'd better book your trip ASAP. The hotels along Canal Street still have a lot of FEMA workers in them. It's usually aa "at capacity" time this time of year, but you may get lucky with the THING having come through.

 

[MoniqueU]

I can't believe the number of people that complain about people taking kids to Vegbas where there is actually stuff for kids to do (pools, waterslides, childcare places, gameworks, rollercoasters etc) but then the number of people say oh sure take them to New Orleans. I would never take my kids on bourbon street til they were 21 or so. I know that is not all of New Orleans but that is the main part of it. New Orleans was when I was there wild enough on a weeknight never mind mardi gras.

 

[justhat]

Monique we go there every year and there are tons of things to do that don't involve Bourbon Street at night. The WWII museum, children's museum, aquarium, zoo, riverboats, and streetcars are just a few things kids would enjoy that don't involved any sort of drinking.

But anyway, back to the OP. My husband agrees with those who say don't go into the Quarter. His family usually watches the Metairie parades (cause they live there) and then go to his aunt's house in New Orleans and they watch the parades uptown from there. They don't go into the Quarter cause that's really where all the stuff you're picturing goes on. If you avoid that you should be fine. He said he's not sure how many parades pass by Le Pavilion, but it's not many if any at all so you'd have to leave the hotel and find a spot elsewhere.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We lived in New Orkleans for 5 1/2 years and both of my DDs went to their first Mardi Gras parade when they were around 18 months old. I agree with everyone who says the Metatire parades are much more family oriented, but I will also add that the West Bank parades are too. As far as the downtown parades go, the daytime parades are family oriented, and if you go to some of the nighttime parades, stay on St Charles for viewing. The closer you get to the Quarter (Canal St), the more you will see. DH rides in Endymion which runs the Sat evening before Mardi Gras (Feb 25 2006). Normally this parade ends at the Superdome, but this year is being rerouted to the Convention Center.

I also agree with those who say book now. I'm pretty sure that availability is nill right now since hubby is having to bunk with friends for several nights on this trip (we moved out of New Olreans in late 2004).

 

[Barqs]

I believe the OP is talking about going for next years Mardi Gras.

 

[southernbella]

Hi, I'm form Mobile too (hi Southern4sure ). Been going to Mardi Gras since I was born. I also lived in N.O. for 3 years & worked on Bourbon Street (never again!). Mobile's Mardi Gras is much tamer than N.O. N.O. is crazy during Mardi Gras. But, if you stay away from the Quarter, you shouldn't have too many problems. Sbella

 

[tink38]

I can't believe the number of people that complain about people taking kids to Vegbas where there is actually stuff for kids to do (pools, waterslides, childcare places, gameworks, rollercoasters etc) but then the number of people say oh sure take them to New Orleans. I would never take my kids on bourbon street til they were 21 or so. I know that is not all of New Orleans but that is the main part of it. New Orleans was when I was there wild enough on a weeknight never mind mardi gras.

Okay, first of all, I am freaking out here. My name is Monique and my dog - who looks JUST like yours - is named Dexter!

I personally wouldn't allow my son on Bourbon Street until he is a very MATURE 30!!! And I am dead seroius about that.

I've lived in the New Orleans area all my life - until the THING. We are now in North MS. (No more hurricanes for moi!) I've been to parades in every part of the city, the Westbank, Metairie, and even Slidell. The ONLY time I saw lude and distateful behavior was on Bourbon Street. And I was on a hotel balcony. No way I'd go street level for that. It's downright scary, if you ask me. Bourbon Street is NOT the main part of it. Just because that's all the media shows does not make it true. I'm sure every native New Orleanian will back me up here. I'm also sure they'd be pretty upset and frustrated that the rest of the world still equates Mardi Gras in New Orleans only with Bourbon Street.

Anyone care to back me on this?

 

[tarheelmjfan]

As I mentioned earlier, we like visiting NO & have been a few times. I walked down Bourbon Street once. It was during the middle of the day, & my curiousity got the best of me. I just had to see what all the hype was about. Well, when we were there, it was all about nothing. Besides, there's much more to the French Quarter than that street. I think it's a great place for a family to visit.

Barqs is correct. We're thinking of going next year. If Le Pavillon isn't a good place for viewing the parades, we'll stay somewhere else. I'd like to stay in a hotel on the parade route. What area should I be looking for? We are definitely a PG family, so we'll stay away from the FQ, during the parades. Also, how soon should we book a hotel room? Thanks again

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Also, how soon should we book a hotel room? Thanks again

For 2007, now!!!!!

I would recommend hotels on St Charles if you want the best family viewing. But don't go any further uptown than Napolean. A bunch of the parades turn from Napolean onto St Charles.

Check out this site for parade routes: www.mardigras.com

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Okay, first of all, I am freaking out here. My name is Monique and my dog - who looks JUST like yours - is named Dexter!

I personally wouldn't allow my son on Bourbon Street until he is a very MATURE 30!!! And I am dead seroius about that.

I've lived in the New Orleans area all my life - until the THING. We are now in North MS. (No more hurricanes for moi!) I've been to parades in every part of the city, the Westbank, Metairie, and even Slidell. The ONLY time I saw lude and distateful behavior was on Bourbon Street. And I was on a hotel balcony. No way I'd go street level for that. It's downright scary, if you ask me. Bourbon Street is NOT the main part of it. Just because that's all the media shows does not make it true. I'm sure every native New Orleanian will back me up here. I'm also sure they'd be pretty upset and frustrated that the rest of the world still equates Mardi Gras in New Orleans only with Bourbon Street.

Anyone care to back me on this?

Very well said! We live close to NO and we have done Mardi Gras as a family every year! It is NOT all T and A like you see in the media. Of course you get lots of raunch on Bourbon Street and DH and I have been on Bourbon for Mardi Gras (without the kids) but Bourbon street is definately NOT what Mardi Gras is all about - there are many family friendly things to do and see in New Orleans.

 

[Alison Wonderland]

I have only been to parades in Metairie, but I have always heard that
St Charles Ave is a good place to be if you want the family atmosphere for
the parades.

 

[southernbella]

I vote for St. Charles too. I have happy memories of doing the electric slide w/ a local family (they fed me too!). Great area for the parades. Sbella

 

[lbgraves]

I lived in NO for 1 1/2 years & experienced one MG. It was alot of fun...but it was not all about one night. The parades were everywhere...every time of the day. The ones during the day in Metarie, as people have already posted, were very family/kid friendly. I was taken to the city for actual MG & we sat in the grand stands on St. Charles to watch the Zulu & main MG parade. (The guys who invited me worked for a company that rented them.) It was tons of fun. If you go into NO for one of the night parades you will see more of the craziness the closer you get to the French Quarter. I found everyone to be very friendly & they wanted everyone to enjoy themselves. Once the people around us found out that it was my first MG they made sure that I got plenty of beads & dabloons.

 

[Southern4sure]

I vote for St. Charles too. I have happy memories of doing the electric slide w/ a local family (they fed me too!). Great area for the parades. Sbella

Wanted to say hello from a former Mobilian.....

 

[RedRover]

If you want to go to Mardi Gras, PLEASE do you homework because the hurricane has changed so much in New Orleans. The parade season is shorter this year in the metropolitan area. Try www.nola.com for more information on everything New Orleans. There are fine parades outside of New Orleans, like in Houma and Lafayette, but do your homework and get the schedules. we're going to a night parade in Houma this Friday. It's usually awesome.
Being a south Louisiana girl for over 25 years, I know New Orleans to be a very family friendly place -- Audoubon Zoo (open), Aquarium of the Americas (still closed right now), the D-Day Museum (open), the Children's Museum (not sure), and the area around Jackson Square in the daytime. Done all of the above with my family many times. GEEZ, I MISS NEW ORLEANS! I hope she comes back better and soon!

 

[Southern4sure]

If you want to go to Mardi Gras, PLEASE do you homework because the hurricane has changed so much in New Orleans. The parade season is shorter this year in the metropolitan area. Try www.nola.com for more information on everything New Orleans. There are fine parades outside of New Orleans, like in Houma and Lafayette, but do your homework and get the schedules. we're going to a night parade in Houma this Friday. It's usually awesome.
Being a south Louisiana girl for over 25 years, I know New Orleans to be a very family friendly place -- Audoubon Zoo (open), Aquarium of the Americas (still closed right now), the D-Day Museum (open), the Children's Museum (not sure), and the area around Jackson Square in the daytime. Done all of the above with my family many times. GEEZ, I MISS NEW ORLEANS! I hope she comes back better and soon!

I miss the boat ride from the zoo to the aquarium and vice versa. It gave me a relaxed 20 minutes without the hussle and bussle of driving and parking and etc.

 

[arminnie]

I I would never take my kids on bourbon street til they were 21 or so. I know that is not all of New Orleans but that is the main part of it.

I TOTALLY agree with you about not taking a child to Bourbon street.

But I TOTALLY disagree with you that Bourbon Street is the main part of New Orleans. It's a few sleezy blocks that happens to have a couple of good restaurants. Unless you really want to go to strip shows there's not really any reason to spend much time on Bourbon.

Royal (one block over) to the River has some fabulous antique shops and is great to wonder around. New Orleans still has some of the best restaurants in the country, unique music, culture, etc.

Except for dashing in the door at Gallatoire's or Arnaud's my friends have no reason to go to Bourbon at all.

I will be at Mardi Gras for the first time in 40 years. I had no desire to participate in the drunken orgies shown on TV. But I've discovered that it is a totally different atmosphere on St. Charles near Napoleon. I now have a home a block from that intersection and am looking forward to it.

 

[southernbella]

Wanted to say hello from a former Mobilian.....

Hi!!!