New Orleans, Louisiana — Attractions
Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World
In Algiers Point, on the west bank of the Mississippi River, stands a unique studio museum showcasing the famous New Orleans' Mardi Gras. The museum is actually the working studio of foremost carnival float designer, Blaine Kern, for whom producing floats and props for the city's annual Mardi Gras is a full-time job. Visitors can watch Kern and his team design and construct the giant sculptures of everything from cartoon characters to mythological figures and animals that will eventually parade through the streets.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- 233 Newton Street, Algiers Point
- Phone Number
- (800) 362 8213
- Email Address
- sabine@mardigrasworld.com
- Website
- www.mardigrasworld.com
- Transport
- Catch the free ferry at the foot of Canal Street to historic Algiers Point. A free Blaine Kern shuttle meets every ferry from 9.30am. to 4.30pm
- Hours
- Opens daily at 9.30am, with final tour at 4.30pm
The Cabildo
The entertaining and informative Cabildo on Jackson Square in New Orleans' French Quarter explores the history of Louisiana from the first European explorations to the post-Civil War Reconstruction era from a multi-cultural perspective. The museum is the flagship of the Louisiana State Museum facilities and is housed in an historic building, dating to 1799, originally serving as the Spanish city council offices. Two major historic events took place in the Cabildo building: the Louisiana Purchase Transfer ceremonies in 1803 and later a landmark Supreme Court decision was handed down here that legalized racial segregation. The Cabildo takes pride that five American presidents have visited it.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- 701 Chartres Street
- Phone Number
- (504) 568-3660
- Website
- lsm.crt.state.la.us/visitor.htm#museums
- Hours
- Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 5pm
- Admission
- $6 (adults), free for children 12 and under
D-Day National WWII Museum
The unique D-Day National World War II Museum was founded in 2000 by historian and author Dr Stephen Ambrose and has become regarded as a highlight of any New Orleans sightseeing tour. Situated in New Orleans' Warehouse District it depicts the June 6, 1944 invasion of Normandy, the Home Front during World War II, and the D-Day Invasions in the Pacific. Exhibit galleries include text panels, artifacts, and personal account stations where visitors can listen to the stories of war veterans. A panorama exhibit recreates a Normandy beach landing; there are also regular film shows.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- 945 Magazine Street, New Orleans. Entrance on Andrew Higgins' Drive
- Phone Number
- (504) 528 1944
- Email Address
- info@nationalww2museum.org
- Website
- www.nationalww2museum.org
- Hours
- Open daily from 9am to 5pm. Closed Mardi Gras Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
- Admission
- $16 (adults), $8 (children 12-5), free for under 5s, concessions available
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
New Orleans' state-of-the-art Audubon Aquarium, situated on the banks of the Mississippi River, is regarded as the best in America with highly entertaining exhibits. Underwater tunnels allow visitors to marvel at a Caribbean Reef and a re-creation of the Gulf of Mexico, complete with sharks. There is also a walk-through Amazon rainforest and an exhibit displaying the inside story of swamp life. The Aquarium features every type of aquatic creature from jellyfish and sea horses to sea otters and penguins. The Aquarium's 'sister' attraction, also run by the Audubon Institute, is the excellent New Orleans city zoo, situated in Audubon Park further uptown.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- 1 Canal Street
- Phone Number
- (504) 581 4629
- Email Address
- air@auduboninstitute.org
- Website
- www.auduboninstitute.org
- Hours
- Aquarium and Zoo: Tuesday to Friday 10am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm
- Admission
- Aquarium: $18.50 (adults), $111.50 (children 2-12). Zoo: $13.50 (adults), $8.50(children). Concessions available
French Quarter
Regarded as the heart and soul of New Orleans, the French Quarter is the historic part of town covering about 90 square blocks radiating out from Chartres Street and Jackson Square. The Quarter, or Vieux Carre, was established in 1718 as a French military outpost, which was later taken over by the Spanish, merging into a freewheeling culture incorporating slaves, pirates, mercenaries, call-girls and various freemen of every color and creed. Today the area looks and feels much as it did before Hurricane Katrina, with its wrought-iron railings and tall doorways, and clubs, bars, Cajun-seafood restaurants and shops all a-buzz. By day it is one of the best people-watching spots in the world, and the focus for visitors to New Orleans. By night the area becomes a giant street party throbbing with jazz music and a world-class dining district. The most famous street is Bourbon Street, where prostitutes literally mingle with priests, and bars stay open all night.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Website
- www.frenchquarter.com
Hurricane Katrina Tour
In the wake of one of the worst hurricanes to ever hit the United States, Gray Line Tours offers a three-hour bus ride around some of the hardest hit areas in New Orleans, including Lakeview and Gentilly, and is aimed at gathering support to rebuild the city. To respect the privacy of the locals, buses will not allow tourists off the bus to take pictures, but will pass around pictures of the storm and its destruction, and guides will describe the events before and after the storm hit the city, as well as explaining the significance of the levee system.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- Tours depart from Gray Line Lighthouse ticket office, Toulouse Street, French Quarter
- Phone Number
- (504) 569 1401 or (800) 535 7786
- Email Address
- tours@graylineneworleans.com
- Website
- www.graylineneworleans.com
- Hours
- Three hour long tours are conducted daily at 9am, 11am and 1pm from 1 February to 30 September
- Admission
- $35 (adults), $28 (children)
Preservation Hall
Historic Preservation Hall is New Orleans' most popular jazz venue, where the famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band serves up first-rate music six nights a week in the French Quarter building (originally built as a residence in 1750). On Sundays the Olympia Brass Band performs instead. No seating, food or drinks are available, but crowds flock here simply for the music between 8pm and midnight.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- 726 St Peter Street
- Phone Number
- (504) 522 2841
- Website
- www.preservationhall.com
- Hours
- Nightly from 8pm until 11pm. Sets begin at 8.15pm
- Admission
- $10
Louis Armstrong Park
Louis Armstrong Park is a 32-acre sanctuary of green trees and jazz melodies in the heart of the historic old quarter. Inside you'll find Congo Square, the meeting place of slaves in the 19th century. The Visitors' Facility also has exhibits and an indoor performance venue. Occasional free Sunday afternoon concerts are a highlight in the park.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- 835 North Rampart Street
- Phone Number
- (504) 286 2100
- Email Address
- pkwebm@new-orleans.la.us
- Website
- http://www.nps.gov/archive/jazz/Armstrong%20Park.htm
- Admission
- Free
Audubon Insectarium
If it walks, crawls or flies, find it at the Audubon Insectarium. Set in Custom House, the historic, white marble columned structure in Canal Street, this is the largest freestanding insectarium in the United States, devoted to over 900,000 species of insects. View thousands of live bugs and mounted specimens. The Cooking Show and Cultural Café offer culinary adventures; witness the art of cooking with these creepy criters and sample the treats, or opt for more traditional fare in the insect-themed café.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- 423 Canal Street
- Phone Number
- (504) 581 4629, (800) 774 7394
- Website
- www.auduboninstitute.org
- Hours
- 10am to 6pm, Tuesdays through Sundays, with last entry at 5pm.
- Admission
- $15 (adult); $10 (children)
Besthoff Sculpture Garden
View the priceless sculptures that make up the superb Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. The Sculpture Garden provides a unique opportunity for visitors who treasure the arts, with a world-class collection of modern and contemporary sculptures presented in an exquisite natural setting. Next to the Sculpture Garden is the New Orleans Museum of Art and City Park, with centuries old oak trees, lagoons, a small amusement park and Storyland, a charming fairytale playground.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park
- Phone Number
- (504) 488 2631
- Website
- www.noma.org
- Hours
- Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4.30pm.
- Admission
- Free
Louisiana Children's Museum
The Louisiana Children's Museum is a fantastic attraction for kids with a vast selection of exhibits, art activities and educational programs to enjoy. The kid-sized Winn-Dixie grocery store is a favorite, as are the climbing wall and the giant bubble that kids can play in. Eye to Eye has fun showing the workings of the human eye, and Art Trek features drawing, painting and sculpture lessons.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- 420 Julia Street
- Phone Number
- 504 586 0725 ext 210
- Website
- www.lcm.org
- Hours
- Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am to 4.30pm, Sunday 12pm to 4.30pm (September to May); Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm, Sunday 12pm to 5pm (June to August). Closed major holidays.
- Admission
- $7.50
Boat Rides
Set on the banks of the Mississippi River, New Orleans is a great place to take kids for a boat ride. The Natchez steamboat traverses this great river and passes many of the city's historical sites, while the John James Audubon ferries passengers between the Aquarium of the Americas and the Audubon Zoo. There are also a number of Louisiana swamp tours which kids would love.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- Many boats dock near the foot of Canal Street
Storyland and Carousel Gardens Amusement Park
Kids in New Orleans love Storyland and the Carousel Gardens amusement park. Storyland is a fairytale playground featuring life-size storybook attractions such as Captain Hook's pirate ship, and an imitation whale from Pinocchio. The traditional wooden carousel at the theme park always draws a crowd, as do the bumper cars, lady-bug roller coaster and miniature trains.
- Region/City Name
- New Orleans
- Address
- City Park, Victory Ave
- Phone Number
- 504 483 9381
- Hours
- Carousel Gardens Friday 10am to 2.30pm, Saturday to Sunday 11am to 5pm; Storyland Saturday to Sunday 10am to 5pm.
- Admission
- $3
