If you're looking for a place to "pass a good time" in New Orleans, you can't go wrong spending a day at City Park. Spanning 1,300 acres, this 150 year old urban park is one of the oldest of its kind in the United States. The park features dozens of attractions and amenities including a botanical garden, tennis courts, The New Orleans Museum of Art, a golf course, pedal boating, and paths for jogging, biking or walking. There's lots of family-friendly attractions including City Putt miniature golf, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and Storyland Theme Park, featuring life-sized storybook characters that will delight visitors of all ages. It might sound cliche-ish but there's literally something for everyone to enjoy at City Park.
Parking and public transportation at New Orleans City Park
There's ample free onsite parking in one of the available lots or on the streets blanketing the park. You can easily access the park using public transportation, on either a city bus or the red Canal Streetcar using direct and connecting service.
Best and worst times to go to New Orleans City Park
In addition to all of the great attractions in City Park, the site is the venue for numerous special events throughout the year. One of the best times to visit the park is during one of these events like Swing in the Oaks, a free outdoor concert featuring the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra or Celebration in the Oaks, a month-long holiday lights celebration. One of the worst times to visit City Park is during Jazz Fest weekends. You can expect tons of traffic and very few (if any) places to park because many park and walk to the New Orleans Fairgrounds or take a shuttle bus to the popular music festival.
Admission to New Orleans City Park
Admission to the park is free, however, there are fees for many of the special attraction venues. For example, you can expect to pay around $5.00 for admission to the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park, with children under 36 inches getting in free. The rides in the amusement park cost about $5 each or in the $20 range for an unlimited ride band. You'll pay about $10 for City Putt, with discounts for children under twelve.
Must see/do at New Orleans City Park
You cannot visit the park without strolling around Big Lake, 25 acres replete with art installations, wildlife and more. The Train Gardens is an architecturally stunning miniature New Orleans with train and street cars winding around the track that you'll definitely want to visit. When you're ready for a snack, stop by Morning Call for hot fluffy New Orleans beignets and a cup of java ( a playground is adjacent for the kiddies).
Other places to visit near New Orleans City Park
If you're hungry for authentic New Orleans cuisine after your visit, try Ralph's on the Park, where you'll find favorites like turtle soup, barbeque shrimp and of course, several seafood dishes. Residents of New Orleans get used to seeing our dead buried above ground, but many visitors are fascinated by our cemeteries. If you are too, stop by the historic Greenwood Cemetery, to see examples of classic and extravagant tombs and monuments. A few steps away from the park is Pitot House, well worth a visit if you want to see an authentic example of an 18th Century Creole home.
Insider tip for visitors to New Orleans City Park
A great way to see the park is by bike. No bike..no problem. Bike rentals are available and include everything from singles to kids to doubles to canopied surrey bikes. You can expect to pay about $20-35 an hour or about $50 for a full day rental.
Author's bio: Myra Faye Turner lives in New Orleans and along with her son Tyler, has spent too many days to count enjoying City Park.
The Polly Hill Arboretum was founded in 1958 by horticulturalist Polly Hill. Today, her mission of sharing knowledge of plants and scientific procedure through educational programs, research, plant conservation and exploration is at the core of the Polly Hill mission. Open year round, the 60+ acre grounds includes rare trees and plants from around the world as well as many acres of native meadowland.
Owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Crabtree Nature Center is a beautiful place to explore and learn about the wildlife in Barrington. The center offers an educational exhibit building and several miles of self-guided trails for the entire family to enjoy. Year round, the center provides dozens of exhibits and programs about nature and wildlife that are free of charge.
Like its neighbor the Boston Common, the Public Garden is known for breaking historical ground. When it was created in 1837, it was credited as America's first public botanical garden. Because it's right next the the Common, the two are often indistinguishable and most tourists and even some residents don't realize they are visiting two different parks.
Together with the Common, the Public Garden makes up nearly 75 acres of green space in the heart of downtown Boston. Most tourists flock to the Garden for a spin around the pond in the famous Swan Boats, in operation since 1877. The boats welcome riders between April and September every year. But the Public Garden's charms are much more varied and deep than the Swan Boats -- the impeccable landscaping and peaceful, timeless atmosphere provides Beacon Hill residents with a year-round urban oasis. But for $2.75 a pop, a Swan Boat ride could be a worthwhile 15-minute reprieve even for native Bostonians.
Saturdays, especially during the summer, are exceptionally busy at the Garden -- and watch out for ubiquitous newlyweds and their snap-happy wedding photographers ignoring signs not to walk on the grass!
No cycling or rollerblading and definitely no walking on the grass!
