A few weeks ago, we took an amazing vacay with The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. We packed our bags and the kiddos and headed to New Orleans. It was a one of a kind family trip filled with memories to last a lifetime and a list of things to do in New Orleans.
We were thrilled to bring you an intro to this series, with a sneak peek of all the fun things that we experienced. We’ve covered Where to Eat in New Orleans {Part 1}, and What to do in New Orleans {part 1}, and Where to Eat Part 2…
Things to do in New Orleans:
So today, here’s part two of our favorite things to do in New Orleans{as a family}.
{This series will continue to grow, so be sure to check out everything in our travel section, here!}
Things to do in New Orleans – swamp tour
From The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau:
See the wildlife up close and personal as you explore narrow slews that only our 22-passenger boats are built to navigate. Get the chance to see alligators, raccoons, wild boar, exotic birds, turtles and many more creatures that call the swamp home. Hear all about the Louisiana bayou as your captain tells you all about the different types of flora and fauna that surround you.
From their site:
Cajun Encounters Eco-Tours is locally-owned and operated by New Orleans natives who are passionate about their home town. The company was founded by owner Jeff Rogers, who grew up exploring the Louisiana countryside and fishing in the backyard. His passion for the outdoors led him to establish one of the largest and most successful tour companies in the Crescent City.
After nearly 20 years as the leading tour company in New Orleans, we’ve been consistently recognized for top customer ratings, and we still continue to grow.
Whether you’re meandering through a plantation of the Old South, taking a guided bus tour through the city, or gliding next to a giant gator, we promise to make your New Orleans vacation an unforgettable adventure.
{We’re pretty sure Jamin might have cried if this had not made our list of things to do in New Orleans, he was a little excited.}
We saw a lot of incredible things on our trip, and we loved each one in different ways for different reasons.
But I can say for certain that this one was probably the most exciting, for obvious reasons.
A major bonus to this company, is that a tour bus will come and pick you up from your hotel… so you don’t even have to drive if it’s not your thing, or you flew to New Orleans. And the drive was surprisingly short for such a fun little adventure.
We honestly never knew that swamps could be so beautiful. When I think of swamps, I think of scary animals and that’s about it because I’ve never really been to one. So this was a great little excursion to see not only interesting animals, but real beauty in the heart of Louisiana.
The famous whiskey tree was among one of our sightings. Legend has it, this is where whiskey sellers met to make illegal transactions and whiskey tastings to see who would score the highest price for whiskey during the, Prohibition.
Now notorious, it’s something many people wish to see in New Orleans.
Big mama is famous around these here parts.
She had lots of babies, and a gator even tried to mess with one. She was having none of it. Said gator almost met her end, and this mama breathed a sigh of relief since her babies were in the boat.
I was holding my breath because this was real life National Geographic. Run away, pig babies. Run away.
I wanted to take this little guy home with us… he wanted Cheetos but we told him they would make him bloated, and gave them to our children instead. Also, apparently gators will jump for hotdogs. Who knew?!
Did you know that male alligators are super territorial?
These smaller gators are all female in the area, and the larger male gators were still in take-it-easy mode. Which basically means waking up for the season. We were amazed at how many popped their heads out of the water when we floated toward them.
If you’ve ever had genuine Tupelo Honey, you know it’s the gold standard by which other honeys are measured. But did you know that it comes from the Tupelo Honey tree? It’s the rarest, best honey on the planet earth, and comes exclusively from these trees.
We learned so much abut the swampland the kids were just thrilled to be along for the ride. They ate up every moment.
No pun intended.
I wanted to take this little guy home with me, even though I’m allergic to cats.
But not this little guy. Nope.
She stayed in the water.
Captain Al was our fabulous tour guide, and experienced, to say the least. A real expert on all things swamps and our surroundings. You could tell he does what he does because he loves it, and that makes all the difference. We were enthralled by his stories in the swamp and all the things he’s experienced there.
We were able to see a ton of gators, wildlife, and we learned so much from the trip.
Do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars… This is a MUST DO when you visit New Orleans.
Things to do in New Orleans – architecture
Private Garden District Architecture Tour with Architecture Tours of New Orleans
If you want to be inspired and see some amazing architecture, as well as see one of the infamous cemeteries of New Orleans… and so much more, don’t miss this tour as part of your things to do in New Orleans.
It’s no secret that New Orleans is well known for its gorgeously unique architecture. This was just another element we were thrilled to experience as a family.
Our tour guide Sheila Ferran is the owner of Architecture Tours of New Orleans.
She is absolutely fantastic, and we can’t thank her enough for her sweet time and consideration with our kids. I know they weren’t the most resilient of troopers in the heat, but one child in particular found it especially educational and intriguing since he says he’s interested in becoming an architect. I have no idea from where he gets it. ;}
From their site:
Sheila is a licensed architect, with a Masters of Architecture from Tulane University School of Architecture (1981) and a BA in printmaking from Newcomb College (1973).
She has practiced architecture and urban planning for 34 years not only in her hometown New Orleans, but also in Singapore and Perth, Western Australia. The day after she obtained her New Orleans Tour Guide License, Sheila resigned from her job managing FEMA-funded Hurricane Katrina repair projects, and hasn’t looked back! She started Welcome to New Orleans Tours LLC in 2015, and Architecture Tours of New Orleans in 2017. Welcome to New Orleans Tours/ Architecture Tours of New Orleans is the ONLY local tour company owned and operated by a licensed architect.
Sheila is a member of some interesting groups including the Historic New Orleans Collection and the Southeast Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians. She volunteers as a tour guide for the nonprofits Friends of the Cabildo and Save Our Cemeteries.
Architecture Tours are not just for architects- anyone that likes architecture and wants to find out more about the architecture and urban design of this unique American city will enjoy the tours.
Architecture Tours of New Orleans also has Step-on Guides to accompany bus groups and share insights on New Orleans’ urban growth, the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, and the rebirth that we are experiencing, thanks to visitors like you!
All guides are licensed tour guides with the City of New Orleans; experienced; and know New Orleans only like a local can!
From The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau:
Take a leisurely stroll around the historic Garden District to view the exquisite homes and gardens of the American who settled and made their fortunes here after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The tour includes a short walk around historic Lafayette Cemetery #1 where those wealthy businessmen and many Irish and German immigrants are entombed.
These graveyards are one of the most famous elements of New Orleans, something everyone tells you is a fun event to have on your list of things to do in New Orleans, and we agree.
They’re oddly beautiful. There’s something very somber about cemeteries, and the history and beauty behind such stillness is something worth experiencing. I remember walking through graveyards with my grandmothers and parents as a child, and they would show us who we were related to and something about their lives. It’s important to have respect for those that have gone before us, and we were just thrilled to get to see something so up close and personal, along with all the stories behind it.
The culture behind entombment was fascinating to us. The idea behind it and why they do what they do, is an educational process in itself.
For instance, did you know that these are all shared spaces? The proper amount of time to wait for a shared tomb since the passing of another person is one year and one day. That is when someone may again open the tomb, and place a family member inside with another, inside the shared space. So entire families share these graves.
It was sweet and sad to see the beautiful pieces left behind for loved ones as tribute.
The second part of the tour included architecture, and we absolutely loved every moment of this eye candy. We are so glad this was on our list of things to do in New Orleans.
Who knew there were so many different kinds of houses in the Garden District? And touring with Sheila, taught so much!
It was fascinating to hear some of the history behind the choices in previous home owners, and how it influenced their style.
We found so many shapes and styles intriguing, from banisters to haint blue hues, shutter color combinations and landscaping choices… I could walk these streets for days.
We also saw plenty of celebrity houses, like Sandra Bullock, John Goodman and Payton Manning. Along with a few famous authors. And then they had us to tea, because that’s what famous people do, and we’re tight with them and stuff. Just kidding. But their homes are absolutely inspiring, even if only from the outside.
We can’t recommend this tour enough, especially with Sheila herself. She was a real gem and added so many layers of knowledge for ourselves and the children, we all feel like we learned so much!
She was an absolute delight and we were honored to spend the afternoon with someone so well seasoned. We wish her nothing but the best in her future endeavors and hope to see her again. If you wish to see anything architecture-related, this is your company!
Be sure to check book your tour with this awesome company.
Things to do in New Orleans – history
The National WWII Museum • New Orleans’s Historic Warehouse District
From their site:
Ranked by TripAdvisor as the #1 Attraction in New Orleans, named by USA Today as the #1 Best Place to Learn U.S. Military History, and designated by Congress as America’s official museum about World War II, The National WWII Museum features a rich collection of artifacts that bring history to life.
Discover the most impactful event of the 20th century and the legacy of the greatest generation in thought-provoking exhibits—including our newest exhibit, The Arsenal of Democracy: The Herman and George Brown Salute to the Home Front—and explore the American experience in the war that changed the world. From D-Day galleries to the 4D cinematic experience, Beyond All Boundaries, from the soaring US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center to the groundbreaking Campaigns of Courage, this world-renowned history museum is designed to inspire visitors of all ages in the lessons of World War II and the stories of heroism, tragedy, and liberation.
Whatever you do, don’t miss this museum, it is a must on your things to do in New Orleans.
And when you go to the museum, don’t miss the main movie: Beyond All Boundaries. Narrated by Tom Hanks, it takes the experience to an entirely new level with the angles of the war, the dangers troops faced while pushing on in the face of certain death, and the inspiring stories behind the American people who worked hard to bring the troops home.
It was staggering, heartbreaking, and inspiring… all at once.
The museum was hands-on, inviting little people to be just as much a part of the experience as others, too.
The kids were enthralled and this is a must do on your list of things to do in New Orleans.
They soaked up every moment and wanted to learn more. Our only regret was that we had to leave that day to drive back. We could have spent all day in this museum. It was incredible. From the artistic vision to really just grasping what the war was for this generation of people before us… our children {and we} have a greater appreciation of our freedom and what that really means.
To say the least.
What we loved about the museum is that it was so inviting and interactive.
You receive a dog tag when you enter and follow the soldiers story throughout the museum. After you leave, you may download all the data you collected that day to learn more. Its a great hands on experience for the kids.
They just did a fantastic job telling the story. And I think that truly brings honor to the men and women who died and continue to fight for our country.
This is a trip our kids will remember for years to come. We were honored to partake in such an amazing experience.
Stay tuned because we have more coming your way and we hope you found this list of things to do in New Orleans helpful.
This is a lot of info at once, and this post officially wraps up part two of What To Do in New Orleans! Check out the rest of our series,
Check out the entire series:
Lovely
A Trip to New Orleans:
Where to Eat Part 1:
What to Do Part 1:
Where to Eat Part 2:
Perfect Itinerary:
and continue to check as we add more!
This vacay was go, go, go, in a good way, enriched with fun and culture for all of us… we really had no idea that New Orleans could be so amazing for families. It wasn’t on our radar to bring the kids and now we can’t imagine it any other way.
As always let us know if we can answer any questions… and have an inspired day!
{We partnered with the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau to highlight some of the great aspects of this city. For more on our partnerships please visit here.)
Bonnie says
Ashely, thanks so much for sharing. To be honest, I live in Texas and I’ve never particularly had a desire to visit New Orleans. After reading the series that you have been providing, I’d love to go. I especially would like to visit the World War II Museum since my dad was in WWII. You did a great job taking all the pictures but I missed your face being in any of the ones in this series.
ashley @ the handmade home says
HAHAHA! At your last comment. Yes. Sometimes I forget to drop in, myself! Mom probs.
But that’s awesome about your dad! I think you would especially love the museum. There were a few times I really teared up thinking about it all, I can’t begin to fathom what all they went through. We take so much for granted. And I think you would absolutely love NOLA! They have our heart!
Justina Cawline says
This is gorgeous! I am officially taking my family next spring.
Anna says
You guys have documented this beautifully. I’m officially planning a trip. Thank you for sharing all the details! Your photography is gorgeous.
ROSE LEFEBVRE says
You sure had a nice trip! So many adventures and wonderful sights.