Free Things To Do In New Orleans With Teenagers
New Orleans can be an exciting city to explore with your teenager, it's all a matter of personal tastes and preferences. If your teen loves culture, the French Quarter is a definite must. Have a music fan on your hands? Visit during the summer, when the city hosts a slew of outdoor music fests. Everyone loves a parade, but if making it down to New Orleans during Mardi Gras isn't in the cards, you can always see where the floats are built, no matter what time of year you visit. Below are a few of our favorite free things to do in New Orleans with teens. You can thank us later.
Visit Mardi Gras World. Few families time their New Orleans vacations to coincide with Mardi Gras, but that doesn't mean your teens have to miss out on all the Carnival Season fun. Journey across the river to Kern Studios (a.k.a. Mardi Gras World) and tour the warehouses where all the Mardi Gras magic is actually created! This family-run operation is the biggest float builder in New Orleans, and showcases the work of area craftspeople who spend the entire year designing floats, costumes, masks, and props for the annual Mardi Gras Parade. Tours through Mardi Gras World are free and exciting, perfect for any artistic or parade-loving family. Mardi Gras World is located at 233 Newton Street. for more information, call 1-800-362-8213.
Take your teenagers on a free ferry ride across the Mississippi. A short cruise on the Algiers Ferry offers some of the best views of the Crescent City, as well as fascinating tidbits about the surrounding area. Passengers can board the ferry at the foot of Canal Street, next to the Aquarium of the Americas, and safely arrive in Algiers Point on the West Bank. An historic neighborhood that survived Hurricane Katrina entirely, Algiers Point offers a number of dining options and walking tours, with a touch of 19th Century charm. Be sure to stroll the Jazz Walk of Fame along the levee. The Ferry runs daily from 6 a.m.-12:15 a.m.
Wander around the French Quarter with your teens. Full of architectural delights, street performers, and historic-sites-turned-museums, this is the best place to take your kids for a fun, yet educational experience in New Orleans. Points of interest include the Louisiana State Museum, the Cabildo, the Old U.S. Mint, and St. Louis Cathedral (most of which are located right in Jackson Square). Don't forget to give your touring legs a rest. Pack a lunch for a picnic at Woldenberg Riverfront Park, a great place to sit and watch the ships pass by.
If you have a young, budding artist in your family, you should make it a point to stop by the New Orleans Museum of Art. Located in City Park, NOMA is the city's oldest fine arts institution, showcasing just about every medium imaginable. Visitors are constantly amazed by the museum's diverse collections, featuring work by French, American, Japanese and African artists. Paintings, glasswork, photographs--more than 40,000 objects are on view at NOMA. The museum regularly charges $10 for admission, but entry is free when you visit on Wednesdays. Don't neglect the Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden during your vacation. There is never a charge for this impressive outdoor attraction connected to the art museum. For more information, call 504-658-4100.
An excellent time to visit New Orleans with your teenagers is in early August during the Satchmo Summerfest. A New Orleans tradition since 2000, this free summer music festival pays tribute to one of the city's most famous natives, Mr. Louis Armstrong. Spanning over three days, the event will expose your kids to the wonderful world of jazz. The festival takes place at various stages set up throughout the French Quarter, and includes seminars by leading Armstrong historians and collectors. Feel the city come alive with the Louis Armstrong spirit!