When I first heard someone in New Orleans mention City Park, I imagined a sleepy neighborhood park similar to the ones I grew up visiting. However, my recent weekend spent at Voodoo Fest in City Park proved once again that my original assumption couldn’t have been farther from the truth!
City Park is actually over 1,300 acres large and hosts close to 14 million visitors per year. It’s home to concert venues, a horse barn, golf courses, and even an amusement park! Whether you’re an avid runner searching for new trails or a philanthropic green-thumb looking to garden for a good cause, City Park has something fun and exciting for you to try.
City Park is a huge part of the New Orleans’ cultural, recreational and arts scenes and is definitely a can’t-miss-spot for anyone looking to explore NOLA! I’ve put together a list of some great attractions, but head over to neworleanscitypark.com to make your own exploring agenda!
Tired of that unavoidable dorm smell? Miss the wonderful smell of flowers? If so, you’re in luck because the New Orleans Botanical Garden is home to over 2,000 different types of flowers and plants! With different attractions such as the New Orleans Historic Train Garden and the Yakumo Nihon Teien Japanese Garden, you’re guaranteed to find something new and interesting to explore!
Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and Storyland
This is a great place to bring your younger siblings and family members when they come into town. Complete with an antique carousel, bumper cars, and a tilt-a-whirl, Carousel Gardens sounds like absolute paradise for any child (or child-at-heart)! Another fun fact about the amusement park? It’s been a New Orleans mainstay since 1906!
When you finish experiencing all the fun rides at the amusement park, be sure to make time to check out Storyland! This play area has over 25 storybook-inspired exhibits–sounds like pretty much the perfect fun-filled and family-friendly day to me!
This is one of the City Park activities that I am most excited to try! This seems like such a fun, relaxing, and social (boats seat 3 or 4 people) way to experience the parks’ beautiful bayous and lagoons. Another great thing about this activity? Not only do you get a chance to see ducks and swans up close, renting a row boat or pedal boat for an hour also gives you a workout!
City Park encourages New Orleans residents and visitors alike to get involved in helping to keep the park pristine for everyone to enjoy. One of the easiest ways to get involved is on Super Saturdays–a fun morning spent pruning, cutting, planting and gardening. This event is generally hosted on the first Saturday of everything month, so invite a bunch of your friends, wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, and give back to this invaluable New Orleans resource. Visit the Super Saturday website for more information!