Which section in NOLA is best to stay pre-cruise with kids?

[scrapperluv]

Hi all!

 

We're going to be staying in New Orleans for a weekend before we catch our cruise at the port. We'll only be there 2 nights (Dec 19-21, 2014). Since we'll have our 5 and 10 year olds with us we want to stay in a section that's vibrant but not super crazy. I've never been to NOLA so I don't know if the French Quarter is full of drunks and half naked people this time of year. Would you stay in this section with kids?

 

I like the idea of having the trolley nearby. Does the trolley go into the Garden District or any other sections? I'd love to hear your input!

[ellieanne]

If you're not planning on taking the kids out at night, the French Quarter isn't bad. But I'd look in either the CBD or Warehouse Districts/Convention Center area.

 

It's a STREETCAR not a trolley, and the St. Charles Avenue line runs through the Garden District on its way to Carrollton. But most of the Garden District is not on the Streetcar line. You will have to get off and walk to see the main sights of the Garden District.

 

Dec. 19-21 will be in the height of the Christmas season. You may want to check out Celebration in the Oaks (http://neworleanscitypark.com/celebration-in-the-oaks), which is the annual light display in City Park (I would definitely plan to take a taxi as it's on after dark and not within walking distance to any hotel). But there are other events on for the Holiday Season, when it gets closer to Christmas, you may want to check out this website (http://fqfi.org/christmas) for more details of the events.

[NolaZach]

I would look to stay in a CBD hotel. You can walk to the quarter or the river. You are close to the Fulton Christmas experience by the casino. You can also take the street car to the Park and see Christmas in the oaks or take the streetcar to the zoo or audubon park.

[Lynda59]

There should be Papa Noel specials at that time of year, too, through Christmas New Orleans Style with the link in ellieanne's post.

 

There is the New Orleans Bowl that weekend, too, on 12/20/14. Please don't be alarmed - it is a smaller bowl game by college standards. Last year was Tulane vs. University of LA - Lafayette in the game, so there were quite a few Ragin Cajun fans and red shirts all over town.

 

I recommend Celebration in the Oaks, but I would take a taxi. It would be a very long walk from the streetcar stop (about 3/4 mile) and those streetcars do not run as often as the Canal St. Cemeteries line.

[SWSSMH]

Stay off of Bourbon Street and your chances of encountering 'drunks or half naked people' are pretty slim, at any time of the day or night. There are residential areas in the Quarter and many hotels on quieter streets.