This is in no way an exhaustive list, I could truly go on forever about all there is to see/do/eat in NOLA, but this New Orleans travel guide includes my no fail, must-do, FAVORITES. I’ll break them down by neighborhood/proximity. Here we go!

The Ultimate New Orleans Travel Guide

The French Quarter

The French Quarter is what makes NOLA famous! It’s home to Bourbon Street, live music, Cafe Du Monde and the St. Louis Cathedral. I recommend taking half a day to wander to the streets (Royal is my fave). You won’t believe the colors and architecture, flowers and ferns covering the wrought iron balconies, and all of the sites and sounds. Every time I’m there I can’t believe it exists in the US. It truly feels like another country or world of its own! If you must stroll down Bourbon, make it quick, since there is soooo much more to see! I also recommend skipping the Cafe Du Monde in the quarter since its so crowded and there are other wonderful locations that are much more relaxing. Instead, opt for getting a candy apple at Mister Candy Apple. Be sure to stroll the French Market and and pic up a few fun souvenirs from the vendors and artisans there! And, for even more live music, make a visit to Preservation Hall, a storied institution of New Orleans jazz.

Mid Town

Mid Town New Orleans is home to City Park, a massive park that is 50% bigger than Central Park! You could spend all day wandering the grounds, taking in the thousand year old live oaks, and exploring all the park has to offer (Botanical Gardens, playgrounds, Storybook Park, an amusement park and so much more!). To get your beignet fix, we love the Cafe Du Monde in City Park. You can’t beat the setting and you’ll skip all the chaos of the French Quarter location. One of our favorite parts about City Park is the free sculpture garden in the park that is part of the NOMA which is also located in the park. There is nothing better than a morning of beignets and strolling through the garden. You won’t forget it! Finish off the day with a visit to our favorite BBQ place in NOLA, Blue Oak BBQ, just minutes from the park. You can eat on the patio all year long!

Garden District/Uptown

We were lucky enough to live in Uptown and I could not be more in love with the area. Riding the street car along St. Charles Avenue is a must do! Hop on around Oak Street and ride it past (or hop off at) Audubon Park (feed the ducks along the walkway or stop at Audubon Zoo!), Tulane University and see the many stunning southern mansions that line the street. Then, hop off at the iconic Commander’s Palace in the Garden District for a taste of NOLA that you can’t get anywhere else! Better yet, visit Commander’s on a Saturday morning for their Jazz brunch where a jazz brand will serenade you while you dine, complete with a second line around the restaurant! Or, if you’re looking for somewhere more casual, I still dream about Turkey and the Wolf’s grilled cheese with collard greens! Or, you can hop back on the street car and head back to Oak Street where you can wander the shops and eat at Jacques Imos, a super eclectic, beyond delicious cajun restaurant and try their famous alligator cheesecake! Finish it off by heading over for a NOLA snoball at Plum Street Snoballs where they make all of their syrups from scratch!

Magazine Street

Magazine street is a major thoroughfare through New Orleans that follows the curve of the Mississippi River for 6 miles! The street is full of art galleries, unique boutiques and top rated restaurants. There is so much to love on Magazine, but some of my favorite stops include Creole Creamery, Lionheart Prints, Fleurty Girl Boutique, Picnic Provisions, District Donuts, and Tito’s Ceviche.

The Swamp

Aside from its French and Cajun influences, what makes New Orleans a world of it’s own is the swamp. Heading out on a swamp tour is a must, particularly in the warmer months when the gators are just waiting to greet you! We did Cajun Pride Swamp Tours several times and they were always a hit. Or, if you’d rather interact with the swap first-hand, visit the Barataria Preserve, party of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park. You can walk along a boardwalk for miles, right through the swamp, and see all kinds of wildlife, including plenty of gators!

New Orleans is so full of interesting neighborhoods, iconic events and amazing food that I feel like I need 20 more posts to talk about my favorite pizza in Biwater, the experience of visiting Mother’s Downtown, magical evenings watching the paddle boats the Mississippi River, and of course Mardi Gras, but for now, this is a great start to getting a taste of New Orleans. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

We hope this New Orleans travel guide is helpful! Have you visited NOLA? What were YOUR favorite parts?

Happy travels!
ox. Liz

Be sure to check out some of our other family-friendly travel guides!

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5 things to do with kids in West Yellowstone

The post The Ultimate New Orleans Travel Guide: Fun Things to Do with Kids in NOLA appeared first on The Pretty Life Girls.

1. Yellowstone National Park

The national park is obviously the main attraction in the area, and for good reason! The landscape and wildlife are stunning and shocking and so fun to see. We had heard that traffic in the park is a nightmare in the summer, so we went early in the morning, which I HIGHLY recommend. We were at the gate at 6:55 am, and the drive was unbelievable. The morning light through the trees and the fog resting on the river was truly one of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen. We only went about 31 miles into the park, starting at Old Faithful and stopping at Biscuit Basin and Grand Prismatic on our way out. Biscuit Basin was my favorite of the three stops – the Sapphire Pool is bonkers and there is an amazing view of the park with lots of steam vents and geysers. We also loved that each place had a boardwalk that made it easy for kids to walk or be pushed in a stroller. By the time we were leaving (around 10:30 am), the traffic into the park was crazy, so we were happy to get out of there!

2. Playmill Theatre

The Playmill was the real catalyst for getting us to West Yellowstone. Not only do I love a good musical, but our cousin Tanner was starring in a show this year, and I couldn’t miss that! This darling little theater is in the heart of West Yellowstone and draws a loyal crowd every season. Since it’s small, there are no bad seats, and the shows are extremely family-friendly. I took my five year old, and he was completely enthralled from beginning to end. The casts are talented and funny and engaging, and we had the best time.

3. Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center

If your goal is to see a bear in Yellowstone, it’s likely that you will be disappointed looking for them in the wild, so you gotta take that into your own hands! The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center is right downtown and guarantees that bear sighting you’re hoping for! They have several bears that they cycle through during the day. Kids can participate in a program that allows them to learn all about the center, and they even let them into the bear habitat to hide food as they are switching bears! You can also see wolves, eagles, owls, and they are working on an otter habitat.

4. Downtown West Yellowstone

Downtown West Yellowstone is charming and walkable, with no shortage of gift shops and restaurants. We loved walking up and down the streets, shopping for souvenirs, and eating the yummy food. You can find ice cream around every corner, so I was pretty much in heaven. Our favorite restaurant was Firehole BBQ Co., which has been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! You can also find an IMAX Theater that shows Yellowstone-specific documentaries (Spiderman was playing too!). And best of all, the gift shop at the theater sells ice cream cones for only 50 cents!

5. Big Springs & Johnny Sack Cabin (Island Park)

Since we were driving with little kids, we decided to break up our drive by making a couple stops on our way back to Utah. The first stop on our route was Big Springs & Johnny Sack Cabin, which are about 30 mins from West Yellowstone, in Island Park. This spot has the most picturesque scenery and some really interesting history! The cabin is open to visitors during the day in the summer, and you won’t believe the water wheel Johnny Sack built to generate electricity. The natural spring is gorgeous, and the kids will love feeding the fish from the bridge!

Have you been to West Yellowstone with kids? What are your favorite things to do?

Happy traveling!
xo, Sam

The post Things to do in West Yellowstone with Kids: A Family-Friendly Travel Guide appeared first on The Pretty Life Girls.