Kid-Friendly New Orleans

The carful of kids coast into New Orleans late from a beach day at Grayton Beach State Park on the Florida's Emerald Coast. We are homeward bound after a road trip taking us to Mackinac Island and back, we have just a a few hours to soak up the tastes of kid-friendly New Orleans.

We are here on a mission--we need beignets, the French-style doughnuts that the Acadians brought to New Orleans generations ago. Nothing motivates the carful of kids more than the thought of square doughnuts buried in powdered sugar for breakfast.

I load up the carful of kids and drive into the French Quarter, it's so early that the sidewalks are still wet.  I park the SUV on the street taking a picture of the street sign to remember where I parked--what can I say, I haven't had my coffee yet.

I have been to Cafe Du Monde so many times over the last 30 years that I dart past the tourists waiting in line for an outside table and head inside. You'll get your beignets faster at breakfast if you sit inside then come back in the afternoon for a snack and the ambience of an outside table.

The carful of kids lick their lips in powdered sugar anticipation. I order three orders of beignets, chocolate milk for the kids and coffees for the ladies, I take mine iced since it's summer.

The Fernandez Family has owned Cafe du Monde since 1942, though the restaurant originally opened in 1862. It is an institution and the menu doesn't change often; the last addition was in 1988 when they added iced coffee and soft drinks.

Cafe du Monde serves dark-roasted coffee with chicory, the root of the lettuce-like plant, Endive. It is roasted, ground and added to coffee to cut the bitterness of the dark roast, a tradition brought to New Orleans by the Acadians of Nova Scotia.

A stop at Cafe du Monde is a must for the everyone, especially families. The carful of kids love the way the powered sugar falls all over them while they stuff their faces.

They're other places and Cafe du Monde has other locations but they're the best at the original location. You can't take them home and relive the whole experience hours later, it's not the same.

Beignets

Our next stop is the New Orleans Jazz National Park just steps away from Cafe du Monde and on the way to the French Market. The visitors center has a quick Junior Ranger program for the kids to introduce them to Jazz and occasionally hosts concerts so check them out.

The carful of kids head to the French Market, US's oldest public market established in 1791. This is the place to go for a quick, inexpensive lunch and get cheap t-shirts and souvenirs for the kids.

After grabbing our t-shirts, the carful of kids head to Central Grocery, located at 923 Decatur Street. Central Grocery is famous for its Muffuletta, the round sandwich invented by original owner, Salvatore Lupo.

For those who haven't tried a muffuletta, it's a ham, salami and provolone sandwich on a round Sicilian loaf smeared with an olive tapenade. Lupo used to serve them to the produce truck drivers from the French Market across the street.

French Quarter

I grab a Muffuletta for the road--it doesn't take long before the olive oil starts to leak through the paper bag. My mouth waters at the sight, they are that good.

I have a favorite scent that I ran out of a little while back so the carful of kids walk over to Bourbon French Parfums on 805 Royal Street. I find my way to the small shop that has been blending perfume since 1843.

There is an old world charm to the shop and it's a great stop for girls of all ages. After I buy some more Sweet Pea perfume, the carful of kids meander our way back to Jackson Square to check out some artwork, enjoy the park and watch some street performers.

It doesn't take long before the carful of kids beg for a horse-drawn carriage ride, there are several companies offering tours but private carriages are expensive. I find a larger carriage offering tours for $18.oo per person for a 30-minute French Quarter tour. The tour guide gives us a kid-friendly tour and a great history lesson too.

The carful of kids enjoy our time in the kid-friendly French Quarter and can't wait for the next time we visit. We have to get back in the SUV and head home.