NOLA with kids in tow...

Any suggestions on what we should do with three kids in tow (ages 7-14) for an afternoon/evening in NOLA? We'll be there in June. Haven't booked hotel yet, looking up park and cruise suggestions. Thanks!

The aquarium and insectarium if you will be in/near the French Quarter.

Blaine Kerns Mardi Gras World Tour and Café Du Monde Beignet/Coffee Shop along the River, French Market

There are literally hundreds of things to do and contrary to popular belief most New Orleans folks don't revolve their life around Bourbon Street. NOLA is great city just to walk and explore. Heck, even Bourbon Street early in the day is perfectly acceptable for a family if it is outside of Mardi Gras. The French Quarter is full of beautiful architecture and unique music venues. There are endless possibilities for entertainment in the city.

You could maybe narrow down your interests. Do you like live music? Do you love to eat? Do you want a perfect "Disney sanitized" version of a vacation?

Book a room at Hotel Indigo on St Charles Ave. Its on the Streetcar line and you can ride the stretcar all the way down St Charles Ave. to City park and Audubon Zoo. If you ride the streetcar in the opposite direction you can get to the French Quarter or connect with the Canal St Streetcar and it will take you down by the river to the Aquarium and Insectarium.

From the area of the insectarium you can walk down Decatur all the way to Jackson square and see all the street art along the outside. Cafe Dumond is directly across the street.

You can catch a streetcar from there back to your hotel with a few transfers. If you do this make sure you get an all day pass for $3pp as each leg would be @1.25pp.

Hint: if you look on Priceline express deals under Garden District, The Hotel Indigo is the only 3.5 star in the Garden District so you can usually nab a room there for about $75.

Enjoy NOLA...

Zoo, aquarium, World War II Museum for the older children, City Park with Storyland and small amusement park that children enjoy (just don't expect Orlando), river boat ride down Mississippi River, Zephyrs minor league baseball, plantation tours outside city, walks in French Quarter and Garden District and University District further uptown, multiple museums in French Quarter.