If you're looking for a place to "pass a good time" in New Orleans, you can't go wrong spending a day at City Park. Spanning 1,300 acres, this 150 year old urban park is one of the oldest of its kind in the United States. The park features dozens of attractions and amenities including a botanical garden, tennis courts, The New Orleans Museum of Art, a golf course, pedal boating, and paths for jogging, biking or walking. There's lots of family-friendly attractions including City Putt miniature golf, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and Storyland Theme Park, featuring life-sized storybook characters that will delight visitors of all ages. It might sound cliche-ish but there's literally something for everyone to enjoy at City Park.
Parking and public transportation at New Orleans City Park
There's ample free onsite parking in one of the available lots or on the streets blanketing the park. You can easily access the park using public transportation, on either a city bus or the red Canal Streetcar using direct and connecting service.
Best and worst times to go to New Orleans City Park
In addition to all of the great attractions in City Park, the site is the venue for numerous special events throughout the year. One of the best times to visit the park is during one of these events like Swing in the Oaks, a free outdoor concert featuring the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra or Celebration in the Oaks, a month-long holiday lights celebration. One of the worst times to visit City Park is during Jazz Fest weekends. You can expect tons of traffic and very few (if any) places to park because many park and walk to the New Orleans Fairgrounds or take a shuttle bus to the popular music festival.
Admission to New Orleans City Park
Admission to the park is free, however, there are fees for many of the special attraction venues. For example, you can expect to pay around $5.00 for admission to the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, with children under 36 inches getting in free. The rides in the amusement park cost about $5 each or in the $20 range for an unlimited ride band. You'll pay about $10 for City Putt, with discounts for children under twelve.
Must see/do at New Orleans City Park
You cannot visit the park without strolling around Big Lake, 25 acres replete with art installations, wildlife and more. The Train Gardens is an architecturally stunning miniature New Orleans with train and street cars winding around the track that you'll definitely want to visit. When you're ready for a snack, stop by Morning Call for hot fluffy New Orleans beignets and a cup of java ( a playground is adjacent for the kiddies).
Other places to visit near New Orleans City Park
If you're hungry for authentic New Orleans cuisine after your visit, try Ralph's on the Park, where you'll find favorites like turtle soup, barbeque shrimp and of course, several seafood dishes. Residents of New Orleans get used to seeing our dead buried above ground, but many visitors are fascinated by our cemeteries. If you are too, stop by the historic Greenwood Cemetery, to see examples of classic and extravagant tombs and monuments. A few steps away from the park is Pitot House, well worth a visit if you want to see an authentic example of an 18th Century Creole home.
Insider tip for visitors to New Orleans City Park
A great way to see the park is by bike. No bike..no problem. Bike rentals are available and include everything from singles to kids to doubles to canopied surrey bikes. You can expect to pay about $20-35 an hour or about $50 for a full day rental.
Author's bio: Myra Faye Turner lives in New Orleans and along with her son Tyler, has spent too many days to count enjoying City Park.
Located a short ride from downtown New Orleans, Lafreniere Park is a hidden gem in Metairie, in the neighboring suburb of Jefferson Parish. This beautiful park offers lots of wide-open green space, a 2-mile walking trail, athletic fields, Frisbee golf, a children's playground, a carousel, a dog park and more. There's also outdoor exercise equipment for the fitness crowd. Perhaps the park's greatest feature is the picturesque lagoon that runs throughout the property. The park is also home to numerous events throughout the year, including concerts, a holiday light celebration and fireworks displays.
Parking and public transportation at Lafreniere Park
There are several parking lots in the park, more than enough to accommodate normal park traffic. If you're using public transportation, you can take the Canal-Cemetaries streetcar heading away from downtown to the end of the line and then transfer to the Veterans Blvd. bus, operated by Jefferson Transit. Ask the driver to let you off at Downs Blvd., then cross the street and walk the short distance to the park. Please note: Veterans Blvd. is very busy so keep this in mind when crossing the highway and always make sure you cross at the traffic light.
Best and worst time to go to Lafreniere Park
One of the worst times to visit the park is during athletic tournaments when the crowds can be really thick. Although they are fun to watch, you might want to check the park's event calendar to see if any tournaments are scheduled so that you can plan accordingly. A good time to visit the park is during special events like the Uncle Sam Jam. This family-friendly event is held annually on July 3 and features live music, food vendors and a fireworks display at 9 p.m.
Admission to Lafreniere Park
Admission to the park is free. The park is open daily from 5 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. The park does charge for some special events. For instance, if you want to see the Christmas lights during the annual Holiday in the Park celebration, you'll pay about $3.00 per car.
Must see/do at Lafreniere Park
Kids of all ages will enjoy a ride on the Carousel, which also has one handicapped accessible chariot. A trip through Marsh Island is also recommended. This man-made ecosystem offers a glimpse into the world of native Louisiana flora and fauna. After strolling through the park, pick a spot (any spot is breathtaking) and sit around the lagoon and simply relax and enjoy nature at its best.
Other places to visit near Lafreniere Park
Veterans Blvd. is a bustling major highway and you can find numerous places to visit near Lafreniere Park. The park has a concession stand but you should consider indulging your ice-cream sweet tooth by creating your very own creation at Marble Slab Creamery, located a few miles from the park. If you enjoy laser tag, bumper cars, arcade games and other fun activities (and who doesn't?) Laser Tag of Metairie is a great place to spend a few hours with friends or family. If you're looking for more of an adult diversion, stop by Lager's International Ale House; there's pub fare and nearly 200 different types of craft, locally brewed and bottled beer.
Insider tip for visitors to Lafreniere Park
If possible, bring a loaf or two of bread with you to feed the ducks. They are plentiful and you'll see them throughout the park, along with an assortment of other feathered friends.
Author's bio: Myra Faye Turner is writer living in New Orleans. During a recent trip to Lafreniere Park, she saw a huge, furry nutria, several roosters and a cute white bunny rabbit.
Located just six miles downriver from New Orleans' historic French Quarter, the Chalmette Battlefield, part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, commemorates the Battle of New Orleans which took place on the site Jan. 8, 1815. In addition to the sprawling battlefield, visitors will find the Chalmette National Cemetery, the 100-foot-high Chalmette Monument and the Malus-Beauregard House.
Parking and public transportation at the Chalmette Battlefield
Free public parking is available at the Chalmette Battlefield. However, no public transportation is available.
Best and worst time to go to the Chalmette Battlefield
One of the best times to visit the Chalmette Battlefield is around the January 8 anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. Reenactments and battlefield lantern tours bring the site to life. Lantern tours sell out, so make reservations early. The worst time to visit is during the peak summer heat in July and August.
Admission to the Chalmette Battlefield
Admission to the Chalmette Battlefield is free. The site's visitor center offers books, music and period reproductions for sale. Reenactments for the Battle of New Orleans in early January are free, although the January lanterns tours require tickets. See the National Park Service website or the St. Bernard Parish tourism site for details.
Must see and do at the Chalmette Battlefield
Daring visitors will want to climb the 100-foot-tall obelisk at the battlefield for commanding views of the surrounding area. A National Park Service ranger is onsite to give a Battle of New Orleans talk Tuesday through Saturday around 2:45 p.m. (coinciding with the Creole Queen docking at the battlefield). The Chalmette National Cemetery has undergone a recent restoration and serves as the final resting place from soldiers from the War of 1812 through the Vietnam War.
Other places to visit near the Chalmette Battlefield
Visitors to the Chalmette Battlefield with a little time and their own transportation should drive through New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood, the site of some of the worst devastation from Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Just down St. Bernard Highway from the battlefield is Rocky and Carlo's Restaurant, a Chalmette fixture. And visitors looking for another St. Bernard Parish hidden gem should tour the Los Isleños Heritage & Cultural Society Museum, which tells the story of Canary Islanders who immigrated to St. Bernard Parish in the late 18th century.
Insider tip for visitors to the Chalmette Battlefield
Visitors traveling to the Chalmette Battlefield from the French Quarter may consider taking the Creole Queen paddlewheeler from the New Orleans riverfront down to the battlefield. The ride affords a superb view of St. Louis Cathedral from the Mississippi River.
Author's bio: Frank McCormack is a freelance writer and photographer, family chef, aspiring Italian and fair weather sailor living in New Orleans, La.
Named after a 19th-century plantation that was once located nearby, Poverty Point in Epps, Louisiana, is made up of five mounds, six concentric semi-elliptical ridges and a central plaza, all said to be over 3,000 years old. Artifacts recovered suggest these hand-built earthworks were primarily used for living, ceremonies and trade since Bayou Macon is close by. The 400-acres site has received many designations, including National Historic Landmark in 1962, Smithsonian Affiliate in 2010, and most recently UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014 becoming Louisiana's first World Heritage Site.
Must see and must do at Poverty Point
Guided tram tours are offered daily. This is the best way to become familiar with the lay of the land and learn the history. The museum inside the visitors center tells the story fo those who inhabited the area throughout recovered artifacts. To further enhance your visit, check out Poverty Point's event calendar for workshops or events typically happening on the weekends. For those who are a little more active, there is a 2.6-mile hiking trail.
Best and worst time to go to Poverty Point
The site is open daily, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day). If you are looking to avoid crowds, consider visiting during the weekdays or weekends when no event is scheduled. For those sensitive to heat, know that the tram is not climate-controlled. While there is somewhat of a breeze when it's moving, you want to be comfortable; therefore, it might be best to plan your trip for in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Admission to Poverty Point
Admission is $4 per person; free for seniors (ages 62 and over) and children, ages 12 and under.
Wildlife at Poverty Point
The site is an excellent area for bird watching and spotting. Different species of songbirds are found nesting here in the winter such as the Wood Thrush, the Hooded Warbler, Red-headed woodpecker and others. You can download a comprehensive state birding guide at Atchafalaya National Heritage Area's website.
Insider tip at Poverty Point
To get the most out of your visit, do the guided tram tour first and then explore the museum.
Author's bio: Apryl Chapman Thomas enjoys discovering places to visit in the South during her travels. She believes that best places are the lesser known places. She is the feature writer for Southern Hospitality Magazine Traveler.
