Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Vacation & kids in New Orleans advice

My family & I will be driving through Louisiana and will arrive in New Orleans around noon, and will have the afternoon and evening free, before going to Oak Alley the following day. We would like to see the French Quarter, including dinner with a good jazz or blues band. Can anyone recommend someplace that is not too risqu�? Our boys are 13, 9, & 7. Thanks.

Chuck E Cheese maybe. but be careful, last time I was in there I heard some kid yell "don't look now mama has her boobs out"

No but I'd highly reccomend packing a CCW if I was going to the "Quarter"

Lots of low life scum in that area, IMO. Damn sure wouldn't take my wife & kids if I had any, there after dark.

Haha...thanks, but I'll pass on the Chuckie Cheese.

Thanks, that is a concern. I was there 30 years ago when I was a kid so my knowledge is limited. CCW goes without question, but if that is required then I'm not going. What about daylight hours only?

Acme oyster house....get the smoked oysters...thank me later...

In the quarter.....no. I would suggest the Palace Cafe off Canal for lunch or an early dinner though. Especially for lunch.

http://www.palacecafe.com

For dinner I would recommend Drago's a couple blocks off Canal on Poydras, in the Hilton if. I recall. Charbroiled oysters are the shiz-nit.

http://www.dragosrestaurant.com

NOLA and even the French Quarter is not all like the half dozen blocks of Bourbon St. that make headlines. I would start here for some good ideas:

http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/family/

There are good jazz venues in the Marigny too - a neighborhood a few blocks from the French Quarter. It's a bit of a bohemian area, but has some good jazz clubs. I like that part of NOLA better than the quarter.

Not sure what venues would be most kid friendly. Snug Harbor might be ok for an earlier show. Certainly not a risqu� environment, but you do walk through the bar to get to the music room. I saw Ellis Marsalis there the last time I was in town. Good show all around.

try Coops - it looks like a dive but the food is amazing, its just across from Cafe DuMonde and you can walk down to the French Market from the there. The kids will love that area - very touristy and family friendly - no questionable sites like on bourbon street.

I've never been concerned about carrying a weapon in the quarter, especially during hours where you'll have children out.

If you stick along the river and around Jackson Square then you'll be OK. I wouldn't take kids within a couple of blocks of Bourbon Street. I don't have sympathy for folks that take their family down Bourbon Street then complain that they saw a bunch of nudity and gays leading each other around by dog chains, they know that stuff's there and if they drag their kids into it then it's their own fault. I'd be out of the French Quarter before nightfall, daytime's fine but after dark is a whole other world. It's summer and the days are long so it should be easy to get done before nightfall.

The Garden District has many beautiful antebellum homes, and is worth a walk around.

And yes, if you see a girl in a bikini, holding a sign that says "Spankings $1" you're probably in the wrong place...

My advise:

1. Go Elsewhere...

2. Stay Home...

I'd ask, have you been to New Orleans?

I had the same view of the town and region until I visited for work. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found there. A wealth of history, good people and great restaurants.

The entire town gets it's public perception by a few blocks of Bourbon Street and some housing projects. Those make up a very small portion of what the city has to offer. Hell, the WW II Museum alone is worth a stop there.

I've been back a half dozen times to visit friends I've made there. Planning the next trip now. I wouldn't want to live there, but I could say that for every city I've ever visited. Doesn't mean it isn't worth visiting.

I love New Orleans.

Generally The French Quarter is fairly safe, even at night, as long as you stay where the crowds are. Don't go wandering off by your self. Bourbon Street is not a place for kids due to the "adult" entertainment which is featured pretty strongly. As someone suggested above, stay along the river, the French market and around Jackson Square and the Cathedral. For the kids ,I'd suggest the Aquarium, The WWII Museum, and the zoo. You could probably do that in the afternoon.

me too...

Yeah, really. I might go to LA to catch a redfish, other than that, not much there for me.

If you want a quality family time, contact Steve_NO.

If you want a ton of crazy fun, contact steelhead.

If either of these guys recommend a place, don't miss it. You'll regret it.