Grandchildren Friendly Outings in New Orleans :: 25 Unique Ideas For Your Family

Whether you’re in New Orleans simply to visit your grandchildren or whether you live in New Orleans as a grandparent year round, you may be wondering what activities across New Orleans are family friendly. Maybe your New Orleans grandchildren are out of ideas of their own, or maybe you’re simply looking for a new adventure. Whatever the reason, we are so happy you found this list of outings to enjoy with your grandchildren here in New Orleans.

1. Grab some treats and feed the birds at Lafreniere Park, New Orleans City Park, or Bonnabel Boat Launch. For a special treat, try feeding the ducks cracked corn, fresh peas, or grape halves. Pigeons love corn and barley! The grandchildren can munch on peas and grapes too! {Hint::there are also snoballs at City Park and Lafreneiere}
2. Take your grandkids on a day trip to Fountainebleau. Just a short trip over the Causeway, this state park is a favorite with our littles because they have a splash pad, a beach (yes, all the messy sand!) and lots of hiking trails. Admission is only $3 a person, with seniors and kids under 3 FREE.{Hint to grandparents::sing songs all the way across the bridge, take a picnic and make a day of it}
3. Spend the afternoon making pizzas for lunch at Reginelli’s. The grandchildren will have a blast assembling their personal pizzas. If you visit the Metairie location, they also have a toy room in the back seating area.
4. For another sweet treat, bring your grandchildren to enjoy stuffed snoballs at Sal’s! Seriously … rainbow snoballs filled with ice cream? What New Orleans treat could be better?
5. Indulge the grandchildren with a candy shopping spree at Rocket Fizz, New Orleans. At this French Quarter candy store, they carry every candy you can imagine, even the discontinued kinds from when Grandma and Grandpa were little kids. This destination in New Orleans sparks great conversation and adorable childhood stories – makin’ memories!
6. For the older grandchildren, ride on a bike taxi through the French Quarter. Bike Taxi Unlimited can carry 3 passengers per bike and are an exciting way to scoot around the city. The kids will love this unique ride through New Orleans, and grandparents will love not having to walk 8 blocks to the French Market!
7. Visit the French Market and participate in the variety of children’s activities they have scheduled!
8. Take the grandchildren for some pampering at Spoil Me Too kids salon. In addition to manicures and pedicures, they also offer facials and neck massages. The littles will feel super fancy and grown up.
9. Take a trip to the new and improved Louisiana Children’s Museum. Educational fun awaits with the all new 8.6 acre indoor and outdoor campus located in City Park. Discover the museum’s five focus areas: sustainability, health and wellness, literacy, STEM, and arts and culture.
10. Head over to Rock’n’Bowl for a fun time for all ages. Split up into teams for a light hearted family competition. After you’ve bowled, you can grab lunch there.
11. Swimming with your grandchildren at the YMCA or JCC is always a fun time. With the heat in the South, swimming pools almost always offer a refreshing way to spend the afternoon.
12. City Park has become a central part of our family’s hangout time! Fishing is a favorite pastime for all generations. City Park offers several spots to fish, including a Fishing Pier on Marconi Ave. Don’t forget your fishing license! Mini golf at City Putt is a trip guaranteed to bring joy (and possibly a bit of competition) to your grandchildren. Visit the Carousel for a nostalgic experience, guaranteed to please grandchildren of all ages!
13. Take your grandchildren on a beignet date at Café du Monde. Together, you can pretend you are eating mountains of snow on boulders at the classic French Quarter spot, or hit up one of the other many locations.
    
14. Take your grandchildren on a Horse Drawn Carriage ride from Royal Carriages. Bump along with the majestic horses as they trot their way around New Orleans pulling you in an old-style carriage. When it’s cold, they even have blankets to snuggle under. With tours as short as 30 minutes, you can treat the kiddos to a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
15. Take the grandchildren to Woldenberg Park. You can watch the boats go by on the river together. If they can hot, the grandchildren can cool off in the water feature. There is plenty of room for them to burn off some energy.
16. Streetcar rides are always a hit with our littles. They love the sound of the tracks, the amazing variety of people they get to see, and the wind in their hair. At only $1.25, you can’t beat the price.
17. Go see a play with your grandchildren at the Rivertown Theater. Upcoming shows for 2019-2020 season include: Scrooge in Rouge, Oliver!, and Peter and the Star Catcher.
18. Create keepsakes by painting pottery at Posh Paint Pub. Or channel you inner Rembrandt and head over to Painting with a Twist to create your perfect canvas. {Hint::swap completed art with the kids for a fun memory for each of you to have}
19. Have a fancy ice cream date at Creole Creamery! Let your little monsters, er grandchildren, munch on a Cookie Monster while you relax with a Lavender-Honey sundae.
20. Round-trip ferry rides from Canal Street to Algiers and back are a unique way to spend time with your grandchildren. They get to see the water, barges, and boats up close. Bring a lovey to occupy the littlest of your group, ad the round trip ride takes about 30 minutes. It’s sure to be a lasting memory and provide great views of New Orleans for all of you!
21. Play some games at +1 Gaming in Metairie, where they have a slew of brand new board games you can borrow (or rent to take home) with tables to sit & play for free in the store. The bigger grandchildren can experience an incredible array of board games in a whole new way! You can even bring your own and play in the store for a change of pace.
22. Play at Kids Connection park in Mandeville for hours of shaded fun. With musical instruments, spider webs, sand pits, tire swings, and a variety of handicap accessible options, this park is a favorite of grandparents. If you don’t want to make the drive, there are tons of playgrounds closer. We’re so lucky that New Orleans has a plethora of playgrounds to choose from!
23. Sometimes it’s simply too hot or rainy to play outside. Luckily we have several indoor playgrounds to entertain the grandchildren. Sit with a snack and cup of coffee while the littles enjoy themselves at Palm Tree Playground, Luv2Play, or Nola Kidsground.
24. Go to one of the destinations brought to us by the Audubon Institute for the most fascinating sights that “kids” of all ages will love! The Insectarium and Butterfly Garden is a sight to see, the Aquarium and IMAX Theater is always a fun, fishy hit, and the Zoo offers endless hours of fun. My children especially love when their grandparents take them because they get chocolate covered bananas at the Zoo and pizza at the Aquarium.
    
25. Take the grandchildren on a walking tour of the French Quarter with French Quartour Kids!These fun, educational tours will teach you the geography, history and culture of New Orleans in an exciting jaunt about the city. For the littlest grandkids (4-7 years old) there’s even dress up, map reading, and clue following!