With the much-talked about generation gap which seems to be increasing day by day, it is difficult to plan multigenerational family trips together. Yet, post-pandemic, this trend has become stronger across the world and in India as well. One of the biggest challenges in planning such trips is choosing a destination that offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences to suit all ages.

Fortunately, New Orleans in the United States is one such city that seems to have been built with the purpose of catering to people of all ages. Here is how a multigenerational visit to New Orleans, the home of jazz and much more, can be wholesome enjoyment for the whole family. A typical multigeneration travel includes diverse experiences such as visiting  the French Quarter to admire the architecture or satiate the palates with local culinary delicacies to trips in the swamps for adventurous moments with the wildlife inhabiting the marshland .

Day One: French Quarter

French Quarter have a range of options of familial breakfast

Start the day with a familial breakfast at Café du Monde in the French Quarter, with a range of options including beignets, chocolate milk or coffee. After a hearty breakfast, begin the exploration just across the street at Jackson Square with its star attraction, Saint Louis Cathedral.

After the Cathedral , get ready for a unique experience aboard the Paddlewheeler Creole Queen Historic Cruise, that departs every day  at 10:00 and 14:00 for a sail downriver from the French Quarter to Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and the historic Chalmette Battlefield for a guided tour. The cruise comes with the option of lunch for children and adults and it presents an ideal opportunity for some quality time for the entire family, relaxing, regaling and rejuvenating.

For lunch, while traversing the Mississippi River, choose some red beans and rice, shrimp pasta cooked in traditional New Orleans style as well as Creole jambalaya , a classic New Orleans rice dish, cooked with chicken, shrimp, andouille sausage and plenty of vegetables. For dessert, try some bread pudding.

After a hearty meal and sight-seeing from the boat, head to Vue Orleans, which as the name suggests, is a 360° panoramic view of the city. Head to the 33rd floor of the Four Seasons Hotel for the only panoramic view of the riverfront in the city. There is an outdoor observatory deck as well as interactive cultural exhibit indoors.

After visiting  the deck and the riverfront, one can move towards dinner at one of the many family-friendly restaurants in the city , but our recommendation is to head to Deanie’s Seafood, which has an ambience perfect for multigenerational groups. After all, its star dish, The Giant Seafood Platter, which comes with a bounty of fried shrimp, oysters, catfish, soft shell crab, crawfish balls and French fries, is meant for sharing! Those looking for more classic dining experiences in New Orleans can head to Palace Café or Commander’s Palace.

Day Two: Musings over museums

For a multigenerational vacation, few places would be as apt as museums. After all, it is here that the transfer of knowledge about our history and ancestors is handed down the generations and how better for children to learn about the culture and history of the world than with their own parents or grandparents!

Though New Orleans has a rich collection of museums that appeal to all ages, we highlight two distinct museums that carry a special multigenerational appeal.

Backstreet Cultural Museum is a wonderful small museum dedicated to sharing the traditions of Mardi Gras Indians

One is the Backstreet Cultural Museum which is a wonderful small museum dedicated to sharing the traditions of Mardi Gras Indians. With colourful, hand-beaded suits on display, visitors young and old will marvel at the exhibit and they get to learn about New Orleans’ culture from culture bearers themselves at Backstreet.

National WWII Museum highlights all the war effort that took place far away from the battlefront

Another museum that stands out in New Orleans is the National WWII Museum, which is the only one of its kind and hence it is one of the top preferences of many visitors. Of the numerous exhibits in this museum, some notable ones include The Arsenal of Democracy, that highlights all the war effort that took place far away from the battlefront, but which was equally critical in ensuring a victory, from manufacturing weapons and mobilisations to ensuring Allied Armies never ran out of supplies. Another exhibit, Bayou to Battlefield, tells the remarkable story of WWII boatbuilder Andrew Jackson Higgins and his Higgins Industries workforce in vivid detail.

Here one can also watch a 4D film in the Solomon Victory Theatre, have a meal at The American Sector, or attend the immersive new outdoor attraction, Expressions of America.

A museum that is custom-built for the gourmands is the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, which includes exhibits on the food, drink, and culture of the American South. There is a Popeye’s exhibit, a bar as well as cooking classes specifically designed for children, as well as adult classes. After all, if you are here in New Orleans, how can you leave without learning how to make gumbo!

Another notable cooking class is the Mardi Gras School of Cooking because here children can sign up for class alongside adults. And more specifically for adults, a visit to the Sazerac House can teach how to make the most famous cocktail of New Orleans, the Sazerac.

Day 3: Outdoor escapades

Keep the third day for outdoor adventures as there are plenty here, be it the New Orleans City Park, with its Louisiana Children’s Museum or New Orleans Museum of Art as well as plenty of options throughout the grounds for a casual New Orleans meal. For post-lunch activities, there are numerous options as families can visit Storyland, which is a major attraction for children or can go to City Putt where adults can tee-off, while the children can play putt putt there, keeping everyone duly engaged and entertained.  There are also paddleboats in the Big Lake here which again is a great multigenerational experience.

Audubon Zoo is spread over 58 acres of land

Another option for outdoors is the Audubon Zoo, with numerous animals like flamingoes , giraffes, and baby Roux the orangutan in their natural habitats, spread over 58 acres of land.

Nothing beats a thrill of being with alligators

But nothing beats an outdoor adventure than a visit to the bayou  for a swamp tour to allow the adults and the children feel the thrill of being with alligators and other animals that inhabit the famed swamps here. Many tours for airboats or pedal-barges are available and some of these provide transport from downtown New Orleans.

Another activity in the swamps and indeed another way to see the alligators is by Zip Nola, the world’s first and only fully aquatic swamp zipline. With complete views of the Maurepas Swamp, historic village of Frenier, Lake Pontchartrain and the New Orleans skyline, Zip Nola is a must see for anyone looking to explore the wild side of New Orleans! To know more click here.