Halloween in New Orleans

Halloween Parade

My husband is a huge Pittsburg Steelers fan so we try to watch a live game every year. We live in Arizona so often times we have to travel to a different state to watch the Steelers play (unless they play the Arizona Cardinals). We have been doing this since we began dating so decided to make it a family tradition. We usually discuss different cities that we would like to visit and their various teams. I have always wanted to visit the Big Easy so when my husband heard the Steelers were playing the Saints; we decided to take a trip down South.

We flew Southwest Airlines. It was my first time flying Southwest Airlines so I wasn’t aware of the first come first served policies. Next time, I will check in as soon as I can and try to board as early as possible so that I can ensure better seats. Overall, we had a good flying experience. We had a short layover in Houston, Texas and then arrived in New Orleans. We stayed at Whitney Wyndham Hotel which was a pretty good location within walking distance of Bourbon Street, the cemetery, the River walk. We didn’t have to take any cabs except for traveling to and from the airport.

Musicians-French Quarter

New Orleans is one of the best cities to visit in the United States. It truly does have a lazy feeling to it. You just feel like sitting by the River, having a drink, and relaxing. There is a lot of culture in New Orleans. People are just very easy going, relaxed. It is a big party everywhere. I loved it! Phoenix (where we reside) is the opposite of New Orleans. People don’t sit around and have a drink. People rarely leave their houses in Phoenix; the city looks deserted most of the time. My son loves music and he loved all the musicians on every corner. We were there for the big game and Halloween so it was a big party the whole weekend.

Aquarium of the Americas

Our son was a little over a year and a half so we did activities that were age appropriate for him. We went to the Louisiana Children’s Museum and the Aquarium of the Americas. Both of them were fun for our son. He had fun playing with the exhibits at the Children’s Museum. Many of the exhibits were based on New Orleans themes. The Aquarium was large and had an extensive collection of different fish and sea animals- including penguins, sharks, and a white crocodile. We took a walk down River Walk. We visited the cemetery and rode the Cable Cars. Of course we visited Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. We ate delicious beignets at Café du Monde and took a carriage ride down the French Quarter. We also visited the Louisiana State Museum Katrina and Beyond and learned more about the terrible effects of Katrina and how the city has tried to recover from it. We took our little guy to the Halloween Parade which was a riot. They were throwing toys, beads, candy; it was really child friendly and fun. My husband and I wanted to party down Bourbon Street so we hired a nanny that was recommended by the Wyndham hotel. It was about $100 with tips for four hours. The nanny stayed in our hotel. It worked out well for us. We had an opportunity to let loose and celebrate Halloween on Bourbon Street.

Family at the Parade

Most people don’t consider New Orleans as a top choice for a family trip but we loved being there. New Orleans has great energy and it was a great family experience. The food is so unique and tasty. The people are very laid back and open. Cheers to the Big Easy!