City Park with Kids: The Best Things to Do for Families
August 28, 2026
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Looking for things to do in New Orleans with kids? From amusement-park rides and mini golf to imaginative playgrounds and outdoor adventures, New Orleans City Park gives families plenty of ways to play together.
Whether you have a toddler ready to explore, bigger kids looking for their next adventure or a family that simply wants to spend the day outside, there’s something for every age in the Heart of the City.
Ride, Play and Explore at Carousel Gardens
For classic family fun, head to Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, featuring 17 attractions and two cafés serving food made fresh to order. At the center is the Park’s historic wooden carousel, a beloved tradition for generations of New Orleans families. From first rides with little ones to bigger thrills for older kids, it’s an all-day destination in the Heart of the City.
Step Inside a Storybook at Storyland
Just next door, Storyland brings classic nursery rhymes and folktales to life with 18 larger-than-life sculptures beneath the shade of City Park’s live oaks. Kids can climb, explore, and become part of the stories in one of the most iconic family attractions in New Orleans.
Play a Round at City Putt
Ready for a little friendly family competition? Head to City Putt, New Orleans’ only dedicated mini-golf complex. Two courses and 36 holes take players through the culture, history and natural beauty of New Orleans and Louisiana – with unlimited mulligans and plenty of opportunities for family bragging rights.
Discover the Louisiana Children’s Museum
Designed as a social, cultural, and learning resource for children, the Louisiana Children’s Museum brings hands-on discovery into the heart of City Park. Its campus offers engaging experiences for toddlers through age 10, giving families a place to learn, create and explore together – and a great indoor option when looking for things to do in New Orleans with kids.
Find Your Favorite Free Playground
Sometimes all kids need is a playground – and City Park has several to choose from. Even better, all of the Park’s playgrounds are free, making them an easy addition to any family day.
Magnolia Playground offers play surrounded by trees and lagoon views, while Sir Cumference Playground invites kids to climb and explore through imaginative play. Stanley Ray Playground is designed especially for younger children, and Starbucks Playground, located near Storyland and Carousel Gardens, is an easy stop before or after nearby attractions. With options for different ages, City Park is a favorite among parks with playgrounds in New Orleans.
Watch New Orleans Come to Life at the Train Garden
Tucked into a lush corner of the New Orleans Botanical Garden, the Historic New Orleans Train Garden is one of City Park’s hidden gems. Watch miniature trains travel past tiny replicas of familiar New Orleans buildings and neighborhoods as the city comes to life at kid-size scale. The Train Garden is located within the Botanical Garden and is included with admission.
Explore on Two Wheels – or From the Water
See City Park from a completely different perspective with Wheel Fun Rentals. Families can choose from cruiser bikes, tandem bikes, kids’ bicycles and the iconic four-wheel surrey, or take to Big Lake in a swan pedal boat or kayak. After sunset, LED-illuminated Swan Boat Night Rides offer another memorable way to experience the Park together.
Make Time for Free Family Fun
A great family day at City Park doesn’t have to be packed with ticketed attractions. Some of the best free activities in New Orleans are waiting right outside. Walk beneath centuries-old live oaks, pack a picnic, watch birds and turtles along the lagoons, visit a playground or simply find an open green space where the kids can run. Sometimes those unplanned moments become the best part of the day.
Growing Up in the Heart of the City
For generations, City Park has been part of childhood in New Orleans – from first carousel rides and playground adventures to family picnics beneath the oaks. Come for an hour, make a day of it or discover something new each time you return. However your family chooses to play, there’s always another adventure waiting in the Heart of the City.