New Orleans With Kids

When you think of New Orleans you most likely think of music. Down Bourbon Street that is what we found. There are many very talented street performers up and down Bourbon Street. With kids, the earlier in the day, the better. There are some non-kid-friendly stuff going on there. However, we thought it was still worthwhile given the exposure to the music and amazing Cajun food. 

In the French Quarter you must have the beignets at Cafe Du Monde! They are delicious and affordable. We did this twice! There are also a lot of shops near there for souvenirs. However, there are  fortune tellers that seem to be out at all times of day. We used this opportunity to teach our children what God has to say about this. 

One of our favorite things to do was to go on a swamp tour on a flat bottom boat. We chose the Honey Island Swamp Tour because we had our own transportation and it was less expensive than the others that provided transportation from the city. All in all it was very entertaining and a great way to see the swamp.

There's a State Park near Mandeville that has a nice beach area on Lake Ponchartrain. The water was warm in April and it was a lot of fun! They also have camping there if that's your thing.

There were a couple things we would've liked to see if we had a little more time. There are a few museums there, including the Civil War Museum, the U.S. Mint, and a children's museum that get good reviews. These all seem affordable as well. 

Memphis With Kids

The Memphis Zoo is great for all ages! There are many animals and the park is laid out well. Our kids really enjoyed watching the apes with their young, the giraffes, and the many species of cats that are housed there. In addition, the park has many different angles to see most of the animals, which makes locating them easier. 

The Mississippi River was also a hit with the kids. We strolled along the walkway and spent some time at a park there. If you'd like, you may also take a ride on a riverboat. 

The ducks at the Peabody Hotel is well worth seeing. My biggest suggestion is to get there early. We were a half hour early and people were already lining up. Everyday at 11 am the Duckmaster leads the ducks into the pond. Then at 5 pm he leads then back up the elevator. He gives a speech about the history of how it came to be. Seriously, this was fun! And it's free!

BBQ is a family favorite! There are many places for ribs, but according to Elvis and our family, Marlowe's is the best!

With only one day to spend in Memphis, this is what we did. The kids loved it and wished we had more time to stay there. The people were very friendly and weather was nice.