Louisiana offers families an incredible mix of wildlife encounters, interactive museums, and unique cultural experiences that kids genuinely enjoy. Whether your children are fascinated by animals, love getting hands-on in museums, or want to explore bayous and nature trails, Louisiana delivers memorable days out that work for families with children of all ages. From the bustling attractions of New Orleans to the quiet cypress swamps of Cajun Country, there's something here for every family.
1. Audubon Zoo
New Orleans, Louisiana
Home to over 2,000 animals across 58 acres, Audubon Zoo puts lions, giraffes, gorillas, and Louisiana wildlife right in front of kids with shaded pathways and multiple rest areas perfect for families visiting New Orleans. The reptile house and penguin exhibit are crowd favorites, and the cool swamp exhibit showcases native Louisiana animals in naturalistic settings. Stroller rental and shaded outdoor seating make it manageable even on hot days.
Fun fact: The zoo is built on former plantation grounds and sits right next to Audubon Park, a lush green space originally designed in the 1800s as New Orleans' first major public park.
Tip: Arrive early to beat crowds and heat; tickets are about $32 for adults and $22 for children ages 2–12. Free admission for kids under 2. Parking is free in the lot adjacent to the zoo entrance.
2. Audubon Aquarium of the Gulf
New Orleans, Louisiana
This world-class aquarium showcases over 10,000 animals including Gulf fish, jellyfish, seahorses, and a walk-through tunnel where sharks and rays swim overhead. Kids visiting New Orleans love the interactive touch pools and the Caribbean Reef exhibit, and the facility stays cool and indoors—a blessing during Louisiana's humid summers. The Louisiana Swamp exhibit gives families an up-close look at native wildlife like alligators and crayfish in naturalistic recreations.
Fun fact: The aquarium was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 but was completely restored and is now one of the top-visited aquariums in the United States.
Tip: Tickets run about $32 for adults and $22 for children ages 2–12; purchase online for discounts. The aquarium is located on the riverfront, and paid parking is available in nearby lots.
3. Louisiana Children's Museum
City Park, New Orleans, Louisiana
Designed specifically for kids up to age 8, this hands-on museum features interactive exhibits on Louisiana culture, nature, and creative play spread across 8,000 square feet of climate-controlled indoor fun in New Orleans' City Park. Kids can navigate a mini bayou, dress up as chefs, play in water tables, and explore exhibits focused on music, art, and local history. Multiple quiet corners and outdoor garden space give families options to slow down if needed.
Fun fact: The museum is housed in a historic building in City Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States, and was specially designed to reflect Louisiana's unique culture and environment.
Tip: Admission is about $15 per person; kids under 1 are free. Parking is free in City Park lots. The museum is less crowded on weekday mornings.
4. Swamp Tour in the Atchafalaya Basin
Lafayette or Henderson, Louisiana
A guided swamp tour puts families on a shallow-draft boat gliding through iconic Louisiana bayou waters where alligators, herons, turtles, and cypress trees dominate the landscape. Tours typically last 1.5 to 2 hours and operate from towns like Lafayette and Henderson, with experienced captains who know where to find wildlife and share local swamp ecology. The sights and sounds of the natural bayou—including possible gator encounters—create an unforgettable outdoor experience kids won't forget.
Fun fact: The Atchafalaya Basin is the largest swamp in the United States, covering over 1 million acres, and is home to a staggering diversity of wildlife and plant species found nowhere else in North America.
Tip: Tours cost $25–$50 per person depending on duration and operator; book in advance, especially during peak season (March–May). Morning tours are best for wildlife spotting when animals are most active. Wear sunscreen and bug spray, and bring a camera with good zoom.
5. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve
Marrero, Louisiana
This national park protects 23,000 acres of Louisiana's coastal wetlands and bayou ecosystem near Marrero, with visitor centers, ranger-led programs, and trails perfect for families exploring the natural landscape. The park offers boardwalk trails through swamps where kids can safely spot wildlife, canoe paddling options, and educational exhibits on Louisiana's unique ecology and the Acadian and Creole cultures of the region. Ranger-led walks and programs happen year-round and make learning interactive and age-appropriate.
Fun fact: The park is named after Jean Lafitte, a famous privateer and smuggler who operated in Louisiana waters during the early 1800s, and his legend still defines popular culture in the region.
Tip: Admission is free. The park has several ranger stations; the Barataria Preserve location near Marrero offers the best boardwalk trails for families with young children. Parking is free. Visit in fall or winter for cooler temperatures and fewer mosquitoes.
6. Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum
New Orleans, Louisiana
This quirky and colorful museum packed with oddities, odditorium exhibits, and interactive displays in New Orleans' French Quarter keeps kids entertained for hours with illusions, curiosities, and weird wonders from around the world. The museum occupies a historic French Quarter building and includes a 4D motion simulator ride, a mirror maze, and rooms full of strange artifacts and optical illusions designed to baffle and amuse. Younger kids especially love the hands-on illusion exhibits and creepy (but fun) atmosphere.
Fun fact: Robert Ripley began collecting oddities in the 1920s and traveled the world amassing his collection, which now spans over 10,000 items displayed across multiple Believe It or Not! museums globally.
Tip: Admission is about $20 for adults and $15 for children ages 4–12; kids under 4 are free. The museum is located in the French Quarter; street parking can be tight, so use a nearby paid lot. Arrive mid-afternoon to avoid crowds from other French Quarter attractions.
7. Steamboat Natchez Cruise
New Orleans, Louisiana
This authentic paddle-wheel riverboat offers family cruises on the Mississippi River with live jazz, dining options, and narrated river history that brings the mighty river and New Orleans' riverfront heritage to life. Daytime cruises typically include a buffet lunch and river views; evening cruises feature dinner and live entertainment. The boat's upper decks and outdoor spaces let kids move around and enjoy the breeze while rangers provide interesting facts about the river, levees, and the city's connection to the waterway.
Fun fact: The Steamboat Natchez is an authentic paddle-wheel riverboat built in 1975 but designed to match 19th-century vessels; its massive paddle wheel can be seen churning from both inside and outside decks.
Tip: Daytime cruises cost $50–$75 per adult and $30–$45 per child; book online for better pricing. Kids eat discounted or free on some cruises. Arrive 30 minutes early for boarding. Casual dress is fine for daytime cruises.
8. Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium
New Orleans, Louisiana
Kids get eye-level views of hundreds of colorful butterflies in a tropical glass conservatory in New Orleans' French Quarter, plus an interactive insectarium with educational exhibits on bugs, beetles, and crawling creatures that fascinate children of all ages. The live butterfly garden features native and exotic species fluttering freely, and the adjacent insectarium includes touch tanks, macro-lens viewing stations, and exhibits explaining the critical roles insects play in ecosystems. The climate-controlled glass building stays cool during hot Louisiana summers.
Fun fact: The Audubon Butterfly Garden houses over 1,500 butterflies from species native to Louisiana and around the world, and butterflies live only 2–6 weeks, so the garden is constantly cycling in new beautiful specimens.
Tip: Admission is about $18 for adults and $13 for children ages 2–12. The facility is located in the French Quarter near the Aquarium; paid parking is available in nearby lots. Morning visits (before 11 a.m.) offer the best butterfly activity when they're most active.
9. Mardi Gras World
New Orleans, Louisiana
This working warehouse where Mardi Gras floats are designed, built, and stored offers guided tours letting kids walk among enormous, glittering parade floats in New Orleans and learn how Carnival traditions come to life each year. Tours include opportunities to try on Mardi Gras costumes, sit on parade float thrones, and hear stories from float builders about the craft and cultural significance of New Orleans' most famous festival. Even if you're not visiting during Carnival season, the sheer scale and artistry of the floats amazes visitors.
Fun fact: Mardi Gras floats are massive moving sculptures, with the largest floats weighing over 20 tons and featuring thousands of hand-painted details, intricate woodwork, and custom-designed characters.
Tip: Guided tours cost about $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 3–11. Tours run daily and last about 45 minutes. Free parking is available on-site. The warehouse can be hot, so visit early morning or in cooler months. Tour times are set, so book ahead.
10. City Park and Storyland
New Orleans, Louisiana
This 1,300-acre urban park in New Orleans includes Storyland, a whimsical outdoor playground where fairytale-themed sculptures and interactive garden spaces bring children's stories to life, plus the New Orleans Museum of Art and wide open spaces for running, picnicking, and biking. Storyland features storybook scenes carved into the landscape—like scenes from Alice in Wonderland and Cinderella—where kids can climb, slide, and play among the sculptures. The larger park offers a lagoon, botanical gardens, and walking trails that make for peaceful family outings.
Fun fact: Storyland was created in the 1960s and has been renovated multiple times; it's one of the oldest playgrounds of its kind in the United States and remains a beloved New Orleans institution.
Tip: Storyland and City Park are free to access. Parking is free in designated lots throughout the park. The playground is best visited in fall, winter, or early spring when Louisiana heat is less intense. Pack a picnic lunch; few food vendors are on-site.
11. Airboat Swamp Tours from New Orleans
Outside New Orleans, Louisiana
For a faster-paced swamp experience than traditional boat tours, airboat rides zip through shallow bayou waterways and marshlands outside New Orleans where families spot alligators, nutria, herons, and other wildlife while feeling the thrill of speed and spray. Tours depart from locations just outside the city and typically run 1 to 1.5 hours; the noise level is higher than traditional boats, but kids love the adrenaline rush and the up-close wildlife encounters. Captains are knowledgeable about Louisiana ecology and share engaging facts along the way.
Fun fact: Airboats were invented in Louisiana and are specifically designed for shallow-draft navigation through swamps and marshes where traditional boats cannot go; their fan propulsion systems can push the boat in just a few inches of water.
Tip: Airboat tours cost $50–$75 per person; book in advance, especially during peak season. Tours run year-round, but spring (March–May) is best for alligator activity. Expect to get wet; bring a change of clothes and waterproof bags for cameras and phones. Arrive 15 minutes early.
12. Audubon State Historic Site
St. Francisville, Louisiana
Built in 1805, this plantation house and surrounding grounds in St. Francisville offer family tours exploring Louisiana's architectural heritage and learning about the famous naturalist John James Audubon, who once lived and worked here. Kids enjoy exploring the historic home, walking the manicured gardens filled with native plants, and learning about both plantation history and Audubon's contributions to naturalist art. The site includes a museum and gift shop and hosts family-friendly events throughout the year.
Fun fact: John James Audubon, the celebrated naturalist and artist, lived at Oakley Plantation (now Audubon State Historic Site) in 1821 and created many of his famous bird illustrations while residing in St. Francisville.
Tip: Admission is about $10 per adult and $5 for children; kids under 6 are free. Guided house tours cost an additional $5 per person. The site is located about 30 minutes north of Baton Rouge. Free parking is available on-site. Visit in spring or fall for cooler weather and easier walking.
13. Louisiana State Museum of Art
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
This museum in Baton Rouge features rotating exhibits on Louisiana art, history, and culture in a contemporary building with interactive galleries, hands-on activities for kids, and exhibits designed to be accessible to younger visitors. The museum covers themes like Mardi Gras art, Louisiana landscapes, and regional artists, with some exhibits specifically designed for tactile learning and exploration. The building includes a café and outdoor sculpture garden where families can relax between galleries.
Fun fact: The museum opened in 2000 and was designed to reflect the architectural traditions of Louisiana's diverse cultural heritage; its distinctive building design has won multiple architectural awards.
Tip: Admission is about $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3–12; kids under 3 are free. The museum is located near downtown Baton Rouge; paid parking is available on-site. Tuesdays are free admission for Louisiana residents. Family-friendly programs and children's workshops run regularly; check the website for schedules.
14. Fontainebleau State Park
Mandeville, Louisiana
This 2,700-acre state park on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain near Mandeville offers families hiking trails, sandy beach access, picnic areas, and a historic sugar plantation ruin to explore, all within easy reach of New Orleans. The park features both easy flat trails and longer nature walks, a lake-side pavilion perfect for picnicking, and the fascinating ruins of a 19th-century plantation sugar works that kids can safely explore. The cooler lake breezes and shade from oak trees make it pleasant during warmer months.
Fun fact: The park is named after the Fontainebleau Sugar Plantation, which operated from 1829 to 1848; the massive brick sugar works ruins still stand and are a striking reminder of Louisiana's plantation-era industrial heritage.
Tip: Admission is $3 per vehicle; gates open from sunrise to sunset. The park is free to walk and explore; no entrance fee for pedestrians. Free parking is available throughout the park. Pack water, snacks, and sunscreen. Visit during fall or winter for fewer mosquitoes and cooler temperatures. Trails range from easy 0.5-mile loops to longer 4-mile hikes.
15. Cypress Swamp Nature Walk at Green Cane Swamp
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
Located near the town of Breaux Bridge in the heart of Cajun Country, this guided nature walk or paddle takes families through pristine cypress swamp habitat where Louisiana's unique ecology is on full display. The location sits near the Atchafalaya Basin and offers both walking boardwalks and canoeing options, with guides who explain swamp plants, animals, and Acadian cultural history in Breaux Bridge. The slower pace and guided interpretation make it perfect for families seeking learning-focused outdoor time without the speed or noise of airboat tours.
Fun fact: Cypress trees in Louisiana swamps can live over 1,000 years old and develop massive root systems called 'knees' that protrude above the waterline; some of these ancient cypress trees are taller than 100 feet.
Tip: Guided nature walks and paddle tours cost $30–$60 per person depending on the operator and activity length. Breaux Bridge is about 45 minutes north of New Orleans near Lafayette. Book tours in advance during peak season (spring and early summer). Wear bug spray and bring a hat for sun protection. Morning tours offer the best wildlife viewing.
Plan your Louisiana family adventure today by picking a few of these attractions that match your kids' interests, and you'll create memories they'll talk about for years to come.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Louisiana with kids?
Fall (September–November) and spring (March–May) offer the most comfortable weather, with cooler temperatures and lower humidity. Summer is hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms, but attractions like aquariums and museums stay cool indoors. Winter (December–February) is mild and sees fewer crowds; avoid visiting during Mardi Gras season (late January–early March) if you prefer smaller crowds, though Carnival festivities are spectacular for families.
Are most of these attractions suitable for very young children?
Most attractions listed work well for preschoolers and toddlers, especially indoor options like the Audubon Aquarium, Children's Museum, and museums. Outdoor activities like swamp tours and nature walks depend on your child's age and comfort level; airboat tours can be loud, while traditional boat tours and boardwalk walks are gentler. Stroller rental is available at many attractions; check individual websites for age restrictions and amenities.
Do I need a car to get around Louisiana with kids?
A car is helpful, especially for visiting state parks and nature areas outside New Orleans. Many downtown New Orleans attractions (Aquarium, Zoo, museums) are accessible via public transit, streetcars, and family-friendly walking tours. Ride-sharing and family taxi services operate in major cities. If renting a car, bring car seats for young children; rental companies provide them for an additional fee.
What are some free or low-cost things to do in Louisiana with kids?
Free attractions include City Park and Storyland, Fontainebleau State Park, and many nature walks. Low-cost options include the Louisiana Children's Museum ($15), Audubon State Historic Site ($10 adults, $5 kids), and paid access to swamp boardwalks and trails. Many museums offer discounted family passes or free admission on specific days.
Is it safe for kids to visit swamp areas and encounter alligators?
Yes, guided swamp tours and nature walks with licensed operators are safe. Alligators generally avoid people and remain at a distance; tour guides maintain safe viewing distance. Never feed animals or leave the designated areas. Always follow guide instructions and wear appropriate clothing (closed-toe shoes, sun protection, bug spray). Children should be supervised at all times.