New Orleans with a 15 year Old

Can anyone suggest activities to do with a 15 year old girl in New Orleans. She isn't a museum type of a girl. We are staying at the Hilton Riverside. I have never been to New Orleans so I am a little cautious of where to go. Any advice would be great! Also are the trolly cars easy to use???

Thanks for your help!

Can you give us a bit more information, how much time will you have there, when, if not museums what does she like, does she like aquariums (the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is only 2 blocks from there), and yes the street cars are easy to ride, note some go to nicer places than others. If you want to get some authentic cajun food not the creole or creole/cajun mashup so common in New Orleans, I would suggest Mulate's which is just block or two south of the Hilton Riverside at Julia St and Convention Center Blvd, they often have live music and cajun (country) style dancing on the weekend, relatively kid friendly by New Orleans standards. If shopping is her thing you will also be right next door to the Riverwalk mall, which was converted from an upscale mall to an outlet mall a few years ago (it never really recovered after the ship crashed into it a few years back http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/15/us/freighter-hits-riverfront-mall-in-new-orleans.html ). You should also visit Jackson square and the french quarter, it is in walking distance if you just go north along the river front through Woldenberg park. While in the french quarter you may want to get some beignet's at Cafe Du Monde, if the main location is too busy, and you don't mind a lesser view while eating there is also a Cafe Du Monde in the Riverwalk mall next to your hotel. In addition to all this there is a paddle wheel river cruise on the Steamboat Natchez which docks near the french quarter.

The Aquarium might be good, it's not really a museum and it is pretty interactive.

There are shops along Royal street that kids may be entertained with.

Maybe a swamp tour if you have time? Jean Laffite swamp tours runs a shuttle, and you will see at least one alligator.

There are plenty of things to do for kids.

If you are concerned about exposure to adult atmospheres then stay between Royal street and the River. Bourbon is pretty... lively and inland from Bourbon is mostly residential.

when we went last year was for our 16 year olds b day.. we did a walking ghost tour.. easy walking and full of history so was educational as well.. he still tells everyone about it... check out groupon for some deals on different ideas.. the street cars were fun.. as well as shopping at the riverwalk mall

Good thing about Hilton Riverside is its connected to the Riverwalk Outlets with lots of shopping. We travel to NOLA 3-4 times a year and took our 15 yr old daughter for her first time last month. The aquarium is just outside of the Outlets. Avoid Bourbon Street after about 5pm. Jackson Square, Cafe du' Monde, French Market, art galleries on Royal Street. The street cars are a breeze. Buy your passes online ahead of time. Take to the Garden District and you have the zoo, Audoban Park, Tulane and Loyola Universities. These were some of the things my daughter thought were interesting.

We had a 15 year old last time we went to New Orleans. :) We went down Royal street and looked in the shops. There were lots of street musicians when we went and she really liked that. We also did Cafe Du Mond for beneigts. We looked through the old cathedral there. There were lots of artists and musicians by the cafe as well that were interesting to watch.

The Mardi Gras museum was awesome. I took two finicky girls 18 y/o and they loved it.

They have a shuttle for free back and forth from any hotel ,I think it was $19 pp.

The Mardi Gras museum was awesome. I took two finicky girls 18 y/o and they loved it.

They have a shuttle for free back and forth from any hotel ,I think it was $19 pp.

There's lots of great tours which a 15-year-old would enjoy. We were there last December and did a ghost tour, a tour of the St. Louis Cemetery and a walking tour of the Garden District.