Travel in your own backyard!

I have been trying to figure out a great, inexpensive vacation for my family.  I have looked at the offerings of few cities, a little plane fare, the cost of fuel and I have decided that New Orleans is a great place to visit.

Let’s face it.  It can be hot in July & August, so the hotel room rates become very affordable.  Who says you can’t stay in a hotel in your own city?  I have my own car, I can run home when I am tired of the complaining of my husband, kids, in-laws….

There is something for everyone and, here are a few great things to do in New Orleans on a family vacation.

1)  Ride the streetcar. Starting service in 1835, this moving National Historic Landmark starts its run at Canal Street in the Central Business District, clanging through the Garden District, passing Tulane and Loyola Universities (and very green Audubon Park across the street, not to mention the nearby mansions with wraparound porches) and winding up at Palmer Park in Carrollton. It's the best buck you'll spend, even if you have nowhere to go. This 13-mile, 90-minute roundtrip jaunt can be had 24 hours a day. And what happens to this slender green streetcar when it reaches the end of the line? Well, the driver flips the shiny wood bench seats in the opposite direction, heads to the other end of the car (there are controls at both ends) and goes back into town. Pretty neat, and that little tap dance is free. The St. Charles Streetcar is $1.25 each way; best place to hop on is at Canal or Carondelet Streets in the Central Business District.

2)  Take a trip to Audubon Zoo.  They have a great water park for the kids when it is HOT! This zoo was founded in the early 1900s and is one of the top zoos in the country.   The Audubon Zoo features exotic animals in more than 58 acres of natural habitats. One of the most popular Zoo stops is the Louisiana Swamp Exhibit where visitors stroll through a real swamp very close to alligators, nutria and black bear. Be sure to check the alligator feeding times in the spring and summer. The Audubon Zoo is one of the best things to do in New Orleans if you're traveling with kids; it will keep you occupied for hours. At the Cypress Knee Cafe, visitors can dine on local specialties on a boardwalk overlooking the swamp. Other popular exhibits include Jaguar Jungle, African Savanna, Asian Domain and the Komodo Dragons. The

St. Charles Avenue

streetcar is a great way to get to the zoo from downtown.

3)  The Aquarium is nice and cool on really hot days.  Perched on the banks of the Mississippi River at the end of

Canal Street

, the aquarium is one of New Orleans most popular attractions. There are more than 15,000 creatures here ranging from 15-foot sharks and gargantuan grouper to sting rays, otters, turtles and some critters so small and fast you'll miss them if you blink. Start with the most impressive exhibit—the 400,000-gallon, 17-foot-deep Gulf of Mexico section, which depicts the underbelly of an oil rig and is filled with some of the biggest fish in the aquarium. The other must-see is the 30-foot long tunnel that takes you through a Caribbean reef and an Amazon rainforest filled with some of the giant fish and creatures that inhabit the Amazon River.

4)  Enjoy Beignets at the original Café du Monde.  New Orleans answer to the donut, the Café du Monde was established in 1862.  It is open 24 hours a day except on Christmas or if the occasional hurricane gets too close.  This sweet  delight is best eaten with a chicory Café Au Lait.  Deep fried and covered with powdered sugar, I could probably eat almost anything.  

5)  Grab a Muffaletta, Zapps Chips and something cold to drink from Central Grocery, sit on the levee at Woldenberg Riverfront Park and watch the ships on the Mississippi River.  The sandwich consists of the round loaf of crusty Italian bread, split and filled with layers of sliced Provolone cheese, Genoa salami and Cappicola ham, topped with Olive Salad: a chopped mixture of green, unstuffed olives, pimientos, celery, garlic, cocktail onions, capers, oregano, parsley, olive oil, red-wine vinegar, salt and pepper.

6)  Enjoy a trip on a Riverboat.  The Steamboat Natchez or the Creole Queen have a variety of offerings.  Jazz Cruises, Sunset Cruises, Dinner Cruises, Battlefield Cruises, and Harbor Cruises, whatever floats your boat.

7)  Dine at Restaurant August by John Besh.  The building is almost as amazing as the food. August is located in a historic four-story “French-Creole” building dating from the 1800s, in New Orleans’ Central Business District. The interior is rich with original architectural details, such as gleaming hardwood floors, soaring columns, mahogany paneling and antique mirrors.  

8)  Visit Mardi Gras World.  This is a fun peek behind the scenes at Mardi Gras.  Open year round, Mardi Gras World is the largest float building facility in the world and creates more than 80% of the floats in New Orleans' parades. Daily tours that run from 9:30AM to 5PM and take you through a massive warehouse filled with hundreds of props ranging from giant heads of celebrities to gargantuan animals. You can even walk beside the world’s longest float, the 240-foot S.S. Endymion, and the 140-foot Leviathan, a float designed to look like a sea monster. You might even catch a glimpse of some of the artists at work with paint and paper mache preparing for the next Mardi Gras season.

9)  Shop and Dine on

Magazine Street

.  Magazine Street is filled with interesting shops, bars, restaurants and people. From local favorites such as Blue Frog Chocolates, the Bulldog Pub and Joey K’s to brand name locations like Buffalo Exchange and Whole Foods –

Magazine Street

maintains local character and impressive charm.

10)  Go to

Frenchman Street

and Snug Harbor for great New Orleans Jazz.  Frenchmen Street is a true music club scene attraction where locals and tourists come each night to hear live music from musicians that only New Orleans can showcase. Be sure to make time to eat, dance and listen on

Frenchmen Street

while on vacation in New Orleans.

11)  Have a Hurricane and listen to dueling Piano’s at Pat O’Briens.  They also offer The Main Bar, The Patio, Pat O's Courtyard Restaurant and The Bourbon Bar.

12)  Bourbon Street

…. Enough said.

13)  Have a frozen yogurt with your favorite toppings at Pinkberry on

Canal Street

.  All Pinkberry’s great tasting products are made fresh with the highest quality ingredients and Pinkberry’s signature tang.  The menu includes Original, Pomegranate, Chocolate, Mango, Coconut and Green Tea frozen yogurts, daily cut fresh fruit and seasonal fresh fruit toppings, as well as creative and premium dry and liquid toppings. I like Captain Crunch, Mixed Nuts, Pineapple and Raspberry’s on the Coconut Yogurts.  To splurge, I’ll spend a little extra for the liquid chocolate crunch topping.

14)  Tour the National WW II Museum.  Dedicated to telling the story of the American experience in the war that changed the world, the National World War II Museum is the only museum of its kind in the country. World War II buffs can happily spend the entire day here, you don’t even have to have much of an interest in the war you will find it fascinating to wander around for a few hours. The massive museum encompasses more than 70,000 square feet and features include mini-theaters, oral history stations, Higgins landing craft, vehicles, weapons and more than 6,000 artifacts. The new Victory Theatre features WWII films in 4-D technology (3D plus physical effects and movement). WWII-era music and dance productions are performed at the Stage Door Canteen and be sure to dine at The American Sector, another great John Besh Restaurant.

15)  Go on a Swamp Tour.  I am not a fan of airboat tours.  It scares the wildlife and it is more like an amusement park ride than a tour.  There are several options for swamp tours.  Both Honey Island and Jean Lafitte swamps provide excellent tours.  Prices vary.  Check their websites for details.

16)  Find a festival.  Go to http://www.neworleansonline.com/.com for the latest festivals and events.  No one does a party better than New Orleans.