City Park New Orleans: An Oasis in the Big Easy

Break away from the crowded streets and party scene of the French Quarter. City Park New Orleans is four miles away from Bourbon Street, and provides a more laid-back visit to NOLA.

I had no idea City Park existed when I was there on business earlier this year. I had enjoyed the National World War II Museum, some great jazz music at Fritzel’s European Jazz Club and a Haunted History Tour. But when a colleague mentioned the 1,300 acres of City Park, I wanted to explore the park before heading to the airport.

City Park is massive! Here’s a rundown of the variety of activities you can enjoy at the south end of City Park New Orleans. Other activities exist on the north end as well. But a visit to City Park is a great way to Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez.

New Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden

The New Orleans Museum of Art has a collection of French and American art, in addition to Japanese and African works of art. You can also enjoy glassworks and photography as you make your way through one of the top museums in the south.

The museum is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10-5 p.m. and Sunday 11-5 p.m. Some Fridays the museum is open until 9 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Don’t miss out on the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, right behind the NOMA. There’s no admission charge, and the sculpture garden is open 10-6 p.m. in the summer, and 10-5 p.m. in the winter.

New Orleans Botanical Garden

The New Orleans Botanical Garden houses more than 2,000 different types of flowers and trees. There are colorful plants, large green hedges, giant oak trees, a butterfly garden and wildlife. During my visit, I enjoyed a few relaxing moments in a garden swing and watching an artist paint a scene of the garden.

The gardens are open 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the last entry is at 4 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults. Children 3-12 are $4 and children under 3 are free. There’s free admission for Louisiana residents every Wednesday.

Storyland: An Amusement Park at City Park New Orleans

Right next door to the New Orleans Botanical Garden is Storyland. It reopened in Sept. 2019 following an $800,000 revitalization project. The park is filled with larger-than-life storybook exhibits. Kids can run up the hill of Jack and Jill or play on Captain Hook’s pirate ship. The revitalization has added four new exhibits that offer even more fun for kids.

Tickets are $5, and children under 36″ get free admission with a paying adult. It’s the perfect spot for families looking for something to do with their kids, away from the party scenes of Bourbon Street.

Playgrounds for the Kids

A free option is the open-to-the-public playground area in the south end of City Park New Orleans. There’s bridges, stairs, slides and plenty of things for the young kids to climb on.

Parents can enjoy sitting on a park bench nearby, chatting with other parents while keeping an eye on their kids. It was a very social area of the park.

Bike & Boat Rentals – And Lots of Walking Paths

One thing I noticed as I wandered through City Park New Orleans was the pathways. They wound around the lake, through trees and even up and over ponds and streams. If you’re looking for a place to go running, or a nice stroll through the park – this is the place.

Want to go faster? Rent a bike for yourself, or grab a multi-seater and pedal your way around the park. I saw kids racing their way on bikes, while parents enjoyed a slow drive.

Want to enjoy some time on the water? Rent a swan boat for a bit and pedal your way around the lake. It’s a great workout, and the lakes large enough to keep you from fighting against other people with the same great idea as you.

Miniature Golf at City Putt

If the gardens, museums, playgrounds and pathways aren’t enough for you, enjoy a round of mini golf. City Putt offers two, 18 hole miniature golf courses. You’ll find the iconic scenes from New Orleans mixed in with the decor of the courses. Alligators, Mardi Gras characters and more.

City Putt is open to the public Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The course is closed to the public on Mondays, but can be reserved for corporate events. On Friday and Saturday, it’s open from 10 a.m. to midnight, with the last check-in at 11 p.m.

Admission is $9 for ages 13+, $7 for kids 4-12, and kids under 4 are free. If you want to play a second round of 18 on your same visit, it’s an additional $4.

Stand Under the Infamous Dueling Oak

During the Haunted History Tour through the French Quarter, our guide talked about a Dueling Oak. I was surprised when I walked right by it at City Park New Orleans and read the sign identifying it as THAT tree.

In researching it’s history, the Dueling Oak was so named for the numerous duels that took place beneath it’s limbs. Whether using a pistol or sword, many of the disputes were over politics, love, or even just because someone looked at another person wrong.

In fact, in early Creole days, more duels were fought in New Orleans than any other city in America. While it may look like nothing more than a tree (which is is), the duels claimed many lives of those fighting for their honor.

Cafe du Monde at City Park New Orleans

Beignets are a delicious treat of New Orleans, and Cafe du Monde is THE spot to grab some. This past summer, Cafe du Monde opened shop at City Park New Orleans. While the menu is limited to beignets, coffee, hot chocolate, milk and a few other items, it’s a hot spot of the Big East.

At this Cafe du Monde location, you’ll also find a little gift shop with souvenirs of City Park. If you need a potty break for you or the kids, you’ll find that here, too.

I’ll warn you: Eating beignets covered in powdered sugar may not be a good idea if you’re wearing black dress pants. That white powder magically appears on black pants even hours later. 😉

Summary

I’m glad I was able to dedicate a few hours to explore City Park New Orleans. It was a way to spend a few relaxing hours away from the high-speed party scene of Bourbon Street.

If I was more of a runner, it would be the perfect spot to get a morning run in before heading to my work meetings. You won’t regret visiting City Park New Orleans!

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