New Orleans Spring Break

New Orleans is famous for a lot of things: Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, Voodoo, crawfish, and lots more. As a local, spring break in New Orleans might just be the best time for a visit to our unique city. It’s a time where we are emerging from Mardi Gras, entering warmer (but not oppressively hot) weather, and beginning to enjoy festivals galore, like French Quarter Festival and Jazz Fest. New Orleans for spring break can be inclusive for all ages, as there is so much stuff to do here. From festing to eating your weight in crawfish to walks along the Mississippi River, you are going to love it in New Orleans during the springtime, just like we locals do. If you’re wondering where to go during your spring break, look no further than good old New Orleans. You’ll be so glad you chose this place.

Historically, I always associated spring break with the beach. It’s where we would flee during that time of year. I’ve noticed that sometimes these trips have gotten more family-oriented and more sophisticated. And people who aren’t beach people started getting more of what they want. I speak from being a non-beach person. New Orleans has fantastic weather during the spring. And instead of roasting on a beach, you can attend music festivals, eat delicious food at top-notch restaurants, head to Audubon Park and the zoo, and so much more. I’m going to help steer you in the direction of coming to New Orleans for your spring break, and I promise I won’t steer you wrong.

French Quarter Festival

Picture yourself on a beautiful, dreamy, New Orleans night, walking in the French Quarter or the Garden District, about to enjoy a live band at a venue or peeping beautiful old mansions. You can pop into one of the best bars in New Orleans, or take a scenic streetcar ride to enjoy Saint Charles Avenue. The city is set up perfectly for fantastic touristy and non-touristy things to do. Our alligators will be out to say hello in the swamps, and our locals will chat you up on every corner. You’ll never want to leave, I have a feeling. Consider New Orleans your perfect spring break destination, and let’s get into all the reasons why you should put it on the top of your list.

There’s no shortage of things to do in New Orleans all year round, but particularly during the springtime. I can’t say enough how great it is to be here during that time. Moods are good, weather is cooperative, and activities are in abundance. I’m going to share with you some of my most favorite things you can do during spring break. And I’m sure you will have no trouble choosing what you like best, and what fits best for your travel needs. Here are some of my favorite ideas for your spring break in New Orleans.

Take a Tour

There are all kinds of tours in New Orleans, and I’m going to share with you some that I would recommend the most. If you want to take a Garden District tour, DuPont does a fantastic job with theirs. Looking for a food tour in the city? Bon Moment is who I recommend.

What about a haunted tour? Look no further than Orion Couling himself. He also does cemetery tours (highly recommend). All of these folks are top of my list, and I know you’ll get a kick out of them.

Check out the Swamps

There is truly no better time to get to know our beautiful swamps than springtime. Though I grew up visiting the swamps my whole life, I never get tired of the serenity of them.

I’m also a huge animal fan (animals of any type) and love seeing the gators and herons in their natural habitat. The weather is just perfect enough for them to come out of their hiding spots, and you will get to see a more nature-centric side of the New Orleans area. My top recommendation of tours are Cajun Encounters and Honey Island Kayak Tours.

Fest at the Festivals

My favorite springtime festival is the French Quarter Festival. I love that it’s all over the French Quarter, and I enjoy bopping around to different stages and eateries, though I admit I always end up in the same spot year after year. I know the drill by now and have my favorites.

For the major festival of the year, and admittedly not my jam (pun intended), head to the Jazz Fest. It’s a pretty awesome setup, and you get to see loads of awesome performers. I’m not a crowd person (like that) anymore, so you won’t find me there. But I used to go religiously in my younger years!

Eat Your Weight in Crawfish

I love, love, love crawfish season in New Orleans. It’s one of those seasons you look forward to half of the year because you only get those little mudbugs for so long before they disappear. If you want to grab some delicious crawfish dishes, head to any and many of our delicious seafood restaurants. You can get anything from crawfish étouffée to crawfish pies to boiled crawfish.

Shop on Magazine Street

When you’re strolling along Magazine Street, you can have it all. You can shop, eat, enjoy the day, and get your steps in.

My recommended stretch of Magazine Street to enjoy is roughly between Louisiana Avenue and Napoleon Avenue. You’ll go east and west a little on each side for the full experience, but you’ll be safe to find the most adorable shops and eateries in that stretch.

Listen to Some Live Music

It’s New Orleans, after all - live music is a must! Even if it’s just walking down Royal Street in the French Quarter, you won’t be able to escape the melodies from New Orleans musicians.

For a more intimate experience, check out places like Snug Harbor and Three Muses, or d.b.a. You’ll be immersed in the New Orleans experience of live music, swaying along to the music with locals and visitors alike.

Frolic in the Park

We have two noteworthy parks, and I’ll add a third for good measure. City Park is my very favorite because my favorite activity to do in the springtime is there: walk through the sculpture garden. While there, you may want to visit NOMA, see the botanical gardens, or walk around the Big Lake.

The second park is Audubon, and you can take the green streetcar down to it. Hit the zoo, or just walk around the 2 mile circle and see the hundreds of birds sitting along the bank of the pond.

My third mention is Crescent Park in Bywater. It’s a fantastic urban park, and I enjoy spending quiet time there looking over the Mississippi River. Snap some photos for sure, as the views are unbeatable.

Enjoy a Museum

New Orleans has no shortage of excellent museums. Vue Orleans and JAMNOLA are two of my favorites. For a deeper look at the city’s history, the Storyville Museum offers insight into New Orleans’ more colorful past.

The National WWII Museum is world-class and worth several hours on its own. Over in City Park, you’ll find NOMA and the Children’s Museum, while art lovers will enjoy the Ogden Museum of Southern Art.

Each museum offers a different perspective on the city and makes a great daytime activity during spring break.

Snug Harbor Jazz Venue

Everyone’s spring break is different. Colleges are usually in March or April. Middle schools are likely during the same timeframe, but many times they are staggering weeks. That makes it easy for you to come here without massive crowds (unless it’s for Jazz Fest or something huge). Our Mardi Gras break is, well, during Mardi Gras when spring break typically starts, and that is mid-February or around then. The weather is more mild, and the activities ramp up. Festival season will be busier, so if you want a quieter experience, try to come before or after that timeframe. Spring break usually wraps up around mid-May, and that’s when our summer officially starts.

JAMNOLA

If you’re ready to book your trip, I know you’re going to be thrilled you chose New Orleans for spring break. It's the perfect time of year! I’ve given you a really good starter list, shown you my local ideas and interests, and hopefully convinced you that there is hardly a better time to visit our city. We are thrilled to host you and see you, and we can’t wait to see what you get into while you’re here. 

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