December is such a nice time to visit New Orleans. It is very festive. Many restaurants do revellion dinners. There is a big lights festival at city park. Houses are all decorated. Shopping on royal street and magazine street with all the decorated shops, hotels offer holiday teas and special cocktails. You could take a cooking class, ghost tour, catch some music…now I want to go!

https://holiday.neworleans.com/tradition/

If you have 4 days, just do everything. You'll still likely have some time.

As another said, the swamp tour could be fun, as is shopping on Magazine St. Depending on timing, the Pelicans could be playing if they're into basketball. Our older teens liked the ghost tour. Rock'n'Bowl is fun for live music. Since you're going in December, definitely stop at Barrell Proof for holiday drinks and to see the crazy Christmas lights (it's divey but fun). For more upscale holiday lights, check out the Rosevelt Hotel.

Preservation Hall

6 days is a lot for New Orleans.

OP here...so we arrive around Noon on Day 1 and Depart around Noon on Day 6 - so technically 4 full days. Also, I was thinking of doing a day trip to Dauphin Island on one of the days. Maybe pick up rental for just the day trip and return following morning if possible.

I used to live in New Orleans. Audubon Park and Zoo can be done together, they are adjacent. I loved going to Cafe du Monde early and having an iced cafe au lait and beignets while watching the people go by -- New Orleans is an odd place, so lots of good people watching. Everyone says Pat O'Brien's is a tourist trap, and it is, but we liked it anyway -- especially the courtyard if the weather is right, or the dueling pianos late at night. My favorite restaurant is Jacques Imo's which is uptown. Commander's Palace is amazing, and one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the US. Irene's is fantastic food and a nice intimate atmosphere if you feel like Italian food. Loved Port of Call for burgers, it is on the edge of the quarter.

Do a walking tour of the quarter for sure, there is so much history and you will walk right past it without someone to point it out. Going out on the river on a boat is a good idea -- lots of Mississippi River history in NOLA.

Agree with the poster who said 6 days is a long time for a tourist visit to NOLA.

Anonymous wrote:
Doreen Ketchens plays on the street in New Orleans sometimes. Look up her schedule. She is amazing.

Yes!!! And there are also other amazing musicians performing on Royal street. If you are into music, plan to spend some time there, like attending several performances. In the evening the live music moves to Frenchmen street.

Loved the swamp tour, we used Cajun Encounters.

Doreen Ketchens plays on the street in New Orleans sometimes. Look up her schedule. She is amazing.

Do a walking tour of the garden district. Make sure it includes a cemetery.

Go to the city park (there is a Cafe du Monde right there and it's not so crowded) and/or the Audubon Park.

Do an urban cultural tour if you are into learning about the second lines, where Ruby Bridges went to school, the neighborhoods where Katrina had a big impact, urban art, seeing how people live, etc.

Any history buffs in your group? The World War II Museum is good if you're into that. Do the Tom Hanks movie, skip the USS Tang Final Mission thing.

There are several fairly recent threads on this. I suggest doing a search. Here’s one, but I know there are others with more family oriented suggestions.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1130984.page#24942092

6 days is a lot for New Orleans.

You should eat at Parkway Deli for po boys and obviously try the different beignet places (some in my family prefer Cafe du Monde, some prefer Cafe Beignet). Visit Magazine St- good shopping and it’s a pleasant long walk through neighborhoods. Could do a trolley ride. We did a riverboat cruise and a voodoo tour that was pretty neat. I’m sure the 21 year olds will want to go out to Bourbon St at night but we didn’t since we had our kids with us last time we went. Oh, book an airboat swamp tour!

Planning a 6-day family trip to New Orleans with my 21 yr olds. One does not do spicy food at all. Appreciate any ideas on places to eat as well as exciting and fun activities/attractions open in December.

Our trips are usually fast-paced and jam-packed....for which one is always complaining that family trips are never relaxing...so trying to balance "exciting and fun activities/attractions" with more relaxing trip.