Where to Stay and Play in New Orleans With the Family

Despite what you may have heard about this party city, New Orleans has a wealth of family fun opportunities. Sure, Mardi Gras gets a bit rowdy, but the remainder of the year offers quirky charm, gorgeous nearby parks, live music, great food and a long list of iconic landmarks.

In a city with so much personality, your accommodations should complement the surrounding charm. The grand opening of The Eliza Jane and its partnership with The Unbound Collection by Hyatt is an easy option for accommodations just blocks from the French Quarter and the bustling fun of the city, but also worlds away when you want to retreat into your hotel room and relax.

With just less than 200 guestrooms, The Eliza Jane blends quaint charm to match the city with elegance and jazzy, funky attitude. If your family is into refurbished upscale design, this boutique hotel has it. Step into the historic warehouse buildings offering a 2,000-square-foot courtyard, an open-air concept and spacious rooms. The new design is an elevated version derived from the buildings’ rich history, once housing the Peychaud Bitters factory and the Gulf Baking Soda Company.

One of the most important pieces of history still with the hotel today is its name in honor of Eliza Jane Nicholson, the publisher of The Daily Picayune, the first female publisher of a major U.S. city newspaper in the late 1800s, as it is housed in the very building named for her today.

The Eliza Jane exudes swanky upscale class and personality, all within walking distance of a few must-visit locales for your family.

Monarch Butterfly © Larry Daugherty | Dreamstime.com

The boutique hotel’s location is perfect for families looking to explore on foot, as it’s just steps away from the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium and a short walk away from the Louisiana Children’s Museum and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.

If you like something a little on the creepy side, take the kids to the New Orleans Pharmacy Museum or the Museum of Death, just a short ride away or a scenic walk. Barely a block from the Museum of Death is the Mardi Gras Museum and a slew of lively dining options.

Traveling with the older kids? Definitely check out the House of Blues New Orleans or pay a visit to the historic Preservation Hall.

Stretch your legs after a day of local sightseeing and walk along Woldenberg Park’s waterfront promenade showcasing the Mississippi River. You’ll know you’re headed in the right direction when you find Café Du Monde, a quintessential New Orleans beignet and coffeehouse.