Hello drappier,
Its nice to have an opportunity to answer another of your questions.
It is no problem to find fine hotels that are family friendly in New
Orleans, far enough away from Bourbon street so as not to create a
problem with children and yet convenient enough to the attractions a
fine restaurants the city has to offer.
New Orleans Visitor's Guide mentions:
http://www.neworleanscvb.com/new_site/visitor/visfaminfo.cfm
"Rollicking streetcars and the Roman Candy Man. Lively parades with
giant floats and marching bands. Fireworks, colorful museums, and
spooky haunted houses. Nature centers, petting zoos, aquariums, and
riverboat rides - is this the Magic Kingdom? No, this is New Orleans,
with a rich cultural heritage added for spice and flavor - a total
package that must be experienced first-hand to be appreciated. And,
more and more, families from around the country are bringing their
children to New Orleans to do just that.
Long perceived as solely an adult town, perceptions of the Crescent
City are expanding. The number of adults traveling with children has
risen greatly during the last few years as visitation to family
tourist attractions like the Aquarium of the Americas, the Louisiana
Children's Museum, Audubon Zoo, the Louisiana Nature and Science
Center, and City Park has steadily increased..."
You'll find a wealth of suggestions for activities on their pages,
however their family pages do not offer recommendations for family
style hotels and accommodations.
New Orleans Kids has a section on places to stay for traveling
families:
http://www.neworleanskids.com/stay.html
There are quite a few listed and many good choices on this page. The
Royal St. Charles caught my eye:
Royal St. Charles Hotel
The Royal St. Charles Hotel is New Orleans' newest upscale family
hotel ... a European-style boutique hotel featuring modern amenities,
spacious guest rooms and continental breakfast.
Ideally situated for both the family travelers, the Royal St. Charles
hotel is minutes to New Orleans fine dining, shopping, and
entertainment and children's activities.
http://www.royalstcharles.com/
The Royal St. Charles Hotel is New Orleans' newest upscale hotel ... a
European-style boutique hotel featuring modern amenities, spacious
guest rooms and continental breakfast.
Ideally situated for both the business or leisure traveler, the Royal
St. Charles hotel is minutes to New Orleans fine dining, shopping, and
entertainment.
Another choice would be Hotel Le Cirque:
http://www.neworleansfinehotels.com/hotellecirque/
New Orleans, one of the most vibrant and diverse cities in the world,
takes pride in its rich French and American heritage. The scenic
French Quarter, with its stunning 19th century architecture and 21st
century attitude and intensity, contrast with the stately elegance and
sophistication of the city's famous Garden District. Between these
strongholds of New Orleans flavor one finds the Lee Circle area, the
heart of the city's blossoming Warehouse/Arts District. A stones-throw
from the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, the Contemporary Arts Center
and the spectacular National D-Day Museum sits Hotel LeCirque---the
latest addition to this vivacious, funky part of New Orleans, with its
many galleries, shops and restaurants.
LeCirque is located within easy walking distance to the Julia Street
art galleries, Louisiana Children 's Museum, the Ernest N. Morial
Convention Center, the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Arena.
Zipping to the French Quarter or Garden District are likewise a
breeze, thanks to the famous St. Charles Streetcar that travels in
front of the hotel; it is the quintessential way to see New Orleans!
At carnival time, Hotel LeCirque offers unrivaled views of more than
23 Mardi Gras parades.
New Orleans kids has many recommendations, as I mentioned and would be
well worth your time to peruse. In speaking of Fine Hotels in New
Orleans, they say:
New Orleans Fine Hotels
Pelham Hotel, St. James Hotel, Lafayette Hotel, Parc St. Charles
Hotel, Hotel LeCirque`
The above hotels are just a short stroll to the Aquarium of the
America's, D-Day & Confederate Museum, New Orleans Children's Museum,
Audubon Zoo and of course the Mississippi River.
Conveniently located in the Central Business District, these hotels
are also an excellent choice for family travel!
For more information or to reserve a package,
visit their website at: www.NewOrleansFineHotels.com
Of course, New Orleans Kids also makes suggestions for family
activities including the Aquarium-Zoo cruise, Steamboats and Honey
Island Swamp:
The kids will love a tour through Honey Island Swamp! Only 40 minutes
from downtown New Orleans, The guides at Dr. Paul's Honey Island Swamp
tours take you into the swamp where your family will see all kinds of
wildlife.
Take the time on your next visit to New Orleans to enjoy the beautiful
and peaceful surroundings of this nature preserve. The guides live on
the swamp and know the names of the alligators .. and Sue's home
cooking is fantastic! (Reservations are required--make sure it says
Dr. Paul's!)
And speaking of things to do, an excellent list can be found at All
About New Orleans"
http://www.allabout-neworleans.com/whattosee.html
"New Orleans is home to some great attractions, sites and activities.
Some of these attractions are well know and touristy while others are
a little less known but non the less, worthwhile to visit. It is a
little more difficult to find information about New Orleans
attractions as opposed to other destinations so we have outlined some
of the best offered here in New Orleans..."
Some of the ones that caught my eye with a family bent are:
Carousel Gardens - This amusement park has a New Orleans treasure as
its centerpiece - a carousel from 1906 that is on the National
Register of Historic Places. One of the few remaining authentic carved
wooden carousels in the country, it was lovingly restored in the late
1980s: each horse was shipped to expert artisans in Connecticut.
Surrounding it are a roller coaster, tilt-a-whirl, Ferris wheel,
bumper cars, and other rides. A miniature train takes adults and
children throughout the area on its own track, and there is a wading
pool with bronze statuary. General admission $3; unlimited ride
ticket $8. Hrs vary by season; closed in winter except for last 3 wks
of Dec. and the 1st wk of Jan., and when park is rented out for
parties. City Park, (504) 483-9356.
Hermann-Grima House - One of the largest and best-preserved examples
of American architecture in the Quarter, this house has the only
restored private stable and the only working 1830s Creole kitchen in
the Quarter. Cooking demonstrations on the open hearth are held here
all day Thursday from October through May. You'll want to check the
gift shop, which has many local crafts and books. $6; $10 combination
ticket with the Gallier House. Tours Mon.-Sat. 10-3:30. 820 St. Louis
St., (504) 525-5661.
And the Jazzland Theme Park - 6600 Plaza Drive, Suite 206 New Orleans,
LA 70127, General Information 1-504-242-0220. Jazzland will be a
140-acre amusement park in New Orleans showcasing the unique culture
of Louisiana. The high quality attraction will offer 31 outstanding
amusement rides, spectacular shows, scrumptious food and a variety of
live music - everything that makes New Orleans a world-class
destination. All of this will be presented in the clean, safe
environment of a first-class family theme park. The Jazzland
experience is for every member of the family, appealing to both locals
and tourists.
Back to hotels...
http://www.new-orleans-hotel-reservations-and-lodging.com/new-orleans-family-travel.html
has the following to say about family travel and accommodations in New
Orleans:
"New Orleans Family Travel
It's probably not in a parent's best interest to drag the kids to
Bourbon Street (the French Quarter's main drag), unless you want to
take them to a souvenir shop for Mardi Gras beads. Otherwise, Bourbon
Street should be left to those in search of an all-night party.
But, this certainly doesn't rule out the French Quarter as a
family-friendly destination. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from
Bourbon Street awaits Jackson Square, where the kids are sure to be
dazzled by the mimes, artists, dancers and magicians.
More and more families have been visiting New Orleans over the past
few years. With a steady increase in family-friendly tourist
attractions, including the Aquarium of the Americas, the Louisiana
Children's Museum, Audubon Zoo and City Park, the city has watched the
number of adults traveling with children take off.
If money is of no concern here, go ahead and book a room in the
Quarter. The Maison de Ville and Audubon Cottages is a great place to
start. Or try the Hotel Provincial, a luxury hotel with two pools, a
courtyard and tropical patios - perfect for the kids.
Staying downtown, adjacent to the Quarter, is a family's best bet.
Still within walking distance to all that the Quarter has to offer,
you'll be in close proximity to Riverwalk, the Aquarium and other
family attractions. Not only that, but you'll escape the late-night
clamor of festive partiers.
Other accommodations include The Avenue Plaza Hotel (closer to the
Garden District), the Days Inn Canal and the Radisson Hotel-New
Orleans..."
I also checked at Frommer's, the travel experts and searched family in
New Orleans. After rejecting a number of their accommodations and not
particularly family friendly, I found this description of the Hilton
New Orleans Riverside:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/moreaccom.cfm?h_id=33414&directory=neworleans&destID=20&p_id=33414&tn=accommodation&search_type=
"The Hilton is in the neighborhood of the Windsor Court but in a more
central location--right at the riverfront near the World Trade Center
of New Orleans, the New Orleans Convention Center, and the Aquarium.
It's a self-contained complex of nearly a dozen restaurants, bistros,
and bars; two gift shops; a full and exceptional racquet and health
club; a huge exhibition space; and no fewer than 38 conference rooms.
In addition, Harrah's Casino and the Riverwalk Marketplace are
accessible from the hotel's lobby, which contains a nine-story atrium.
Given all that, this is a top choice for families--there is much in
the way of child-friendly entertainment right in the hotel or within a
block or two. Guest rooms are spacious, and many have fabulous views
of the river or the city."
Having stayed there for business a few years ago, I can recommend this
from personal experience. It might be an ideal choice for you, but do
check availability as it is a favorite choice for conventioneers.
I won't even mention restaurants as you will have no problem finding
fabulous eating adventures on your stay. Ask anyone at your hotel for
recommendations.
Search Strategy:
"new orleans" +family +hotel
"new orleans" +family OR kids +"best hotel"
best family hotel +"new orleans"
I hope this has provided you with quality choices for both
accommodations and activities on your stay. If a link above should
fail to work or anything require further explanation or research,
please do post a Request for Clarification and I will be pleased to
assist further.
Regards,
-=clouseau=- |
