Parks

Once the site of the 1884 World’s Fair and now known for its world-renowned zoo, Audubon Park is located just across from Tulane and Loyola Universities and backs onto the Mississippi River. The park features jogging and bike trails, horse stables and the Audubon Park Golf Course.

The urban oasis encompassing 1,500 acres is the nation’s fifth largest metropolitan park. The young or young-at-heart will enjoy the antique carousel and other amusement rides of the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park or walk through their favorite fairy tales at Storyland. Visitors with a competitive spirit can try their luck on the links or the courts at the Bayou Oaks Golf Courses and Driving Range, City Putt miniature golf course or at the City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center. Those who just want to relax can fish or take a pedal boat out on one of the scenic lagoons, picnic under the massive live oaks or stroll through the Botanical Gardens. In December, City Park is transformed into a winter wonderland as the ancient oaks are aglow with lights during Celebration in the Oaks. New Orleans City Park can be reached via the Canal Streetcar Line.

The heart of New Orleans since its founding 300 years ago, the square is the literal and figurative center of the French Quarter. No image is more synonymous with New Orleans than the one gazing at its center onto St. Louis Cathedral, The Cabildo and the Presbytere. Visitors can enjoy café au lait and beignets at Café du Monde or French pastries from one of the surrounding patisseries as they take in the gardens of the square. Street musicians, jugglers and mimes entertain as caricatures and portraits are made and passersby peruse local art displayed on the square’s fences.

This lush riverfront park is an engineering wonder. It incorporates space over land and old shipping wharfs between Canal Street and Jax Brewery. The park is home to many outdoor concerts throughout the year, the site of the city’s New Year’s and July 4th extravaganzas, and host to French Quarter Fest each spring.