NOLA for the New Year

It may be a little late to spend the holiday in the Big Easy, but it’s not too late to reap the benefits from the seasonal discounts. New Orleans is a great place for a family getaway any time of year, but the warm temperatures, shopping, fun nightlife and music scene paired with down-home cooking around every corner and you have a fun getaway from the holiday rush.

Get in the last of the glittering sparkles and lights of the season before New Year’s at The Roosevelt Hotel. One of the most festive in the area, The Roosevelt boasts more than 60,000 holiday lights during the Christmas season. Another top option, Hotel Monteleone, will have some residual holiday magic left over and even seasonal rates through Dec. 27.

It may be crunch time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, but there are plenty of others in the area with more time-sensitive packages. Check out all the discounts and offerings available here and map out your family trip in time for New Year’s Eve.

Speaking of New Year’s, that may be reason enough for a trip to NOLA with the family. Between the kid-friendly events and adults-only parties, there’s a wide range of activities in New Orleans over New Year’s for any age and interest.

Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, New Orleans © Wangkun Jia | Dreamstime.com

For the Kids

Head to the Audubon Zoo on Dec. 31 for Zoo Year’s Eve and ring in the New Year during the day. The kids will love the festivities and visiting the local wildlife. Get an earlier start at The Louisiana Children’s Museum, which hosts an annual countdown from 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. You’ll get your mix of hands-on exhibits with the kids and watching the animals roam.

For Teens and Older

Later in the day, head to downtown to see the fleur-de-lis drop during Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. The whole family will enjoy live music and a fireworks display sparkle overhead. It’s the go-to move in New Orleans, well, that and partying in the streets later.

For All Ages

Come Jan. 1, 2019, New Year’s Day brings the annual Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Eve Parade. Picture a Mardi Gras-style parade, including ornate floats holding guests decked out in vibrant costumes and endless entertainment around town.

While some family members may be all shopped out, you would be remiss not to visit the French Quarter for some unique gifts and oddities during your visit. The teens and older kids will love the funky styles at Bambi Deville Vintage Clothing, antiques at Lucullus for the adults and Little Toy Shop in case the kids just didn’t get enough gifts this year. Either way, New Orleans has that Southern hospitality, great food, fun and quirky attractions for the family before, during and after the holidays.