If all you know about Mardi Gras is the debauchery televised from Bourbon Street each year, it might be the last place you’d consider for a family vacation. But that’s just one small element of the New Orleans Carnival season. Many of the festivities are family friendly.

Plan Your Trip

There will be parades in and around The Crescent City basically every weekend from King’s Day on January 6th through Mardi Gras Day on February 17. If you want the best bang for your buck, plan to be there the weekend immediately before and stay through Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) and Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) Day. You can expect back-to-back parades in and around the city for those four days.

Visit MardiGrasNewOrleans.com for a list of parades in the city. Look for parades on St. Charles Avenue and in the suburb of Metairie. Both areas are known for family-friendly parades as are the New Orleans Northshore an hour north and the Mississippi Gulf Coast an hour east. Northshore parades are listed on VisitNorthshore.com. Mississippi parades are on CoastalMississippi.com. These outer areas may be easier for finding lodging as well, since New Orleans hotels book up months in advance.

What to Bring

If possible, bring a wagon or stroller for younger kids (with the added bonus of storage for you). Pack plenty of snacks, water, wipes, sunscreen, and something to stash all those glorious “throws” (beads, doubloons, toys, etc.) you’ll be catching from the floats. And bring cash since many vendors will be cash only.

If you want to greatly increase your fun and number of throws, COSTUME! A group costume will especially attract the attention of float riders and that’s the name of the game. A funny sign helps, too. And you might consider ear protection for very young kids because those glorious marching bands can be pretty loud.

When You Gotta Go

Most restaurants and bars along parade routes offer bathrooms to paying customers only. However, some of them will sell bathroom passes on a per-visit (for a buck or two) or all-day (around $10) basis. It can be well worth it. There will usually be portable restrooms along parade routes, but bring extra TP and hand sanitizer and encourage little ones not to wait until the last minute since lines can be long.

Pre or Post Parade in the Quarter

Although Bourbon Street can be a bit on the grown-up side, one street over you’ll find Royal, lined with art galleries, antique shops, and boutiques that lead straight into Jackson Square, where street artists — both musical and fine — bring the city’s creative spirit to life. From there, hop aboard a horse-drawn carriage ride around the French Quarter for a charming and relaxed way to see the festive décor around the city.

In between parades and sightseeing stop for warm beignets at Café du Monde or Café Beignet —because no trip to New Orleans is complete without a little powdered sugar on your fingers.

Added Attractions

Other fun things to do while you’re in the city are visiting Mardi Gras World Museum and riding a New Orleans streetcar (one of only two moving U.S. national monuments). Visit the award-winning Audubon Zoo and Aquarium of the Americas. Although you can buy combo tickets, it’s a lot to do in one day. Louisiana Children’s Museum was voted best children’s museum by USA Today. And you might even schedule a swamp tour at HoneyIslandSwamp.com.

Have fun. Stay safe. And save some beads for me!