Babble

I am trying to convince my husband that a trip to New Orleans with our 7month old will be a positive, safe experience. He's convinced it's a toxic war zone. We're planning on visiting during the less crowded weekday in November, doing the usual touristy stuff - French Quarter during the day, the Garden District, touring the cemeteries. Has anyone visited recently?

I was just there this past weekend, attending a conference where many people brought young children. I visited all the areas you mentioned and did not notice almost anything to suggest that there had even been a hurricaine. I believe the areas most seriously effected are not ones usually visited by tourists anyway. It was my first trip to New Orleans so I can't compare the city with how it was pre-Katrina, but it seemed absolutely fine to me. Incidentally, the French Quarter gets pretty noisy at night so you might want to consider staying in the Business District (a short walk away) or the Garden District.

 I have a brother in Mobile, AL, a short distance away from NOLA.  He says that New Orleans is open for tourism and has changed a good bit for the better since the hurricane.  There are fewer people so there is less danger of pickpockets, muggings, etc.  I never had a problem with any of that when I was in college and grad school going to the Big Easy.  Much time was spent there, as husband was then my boyfriend and went to school at Tulane.  Haven't had a chance to go back sine Katrina.  We are talking about a trip some time in the spring to visit the town.

I went to college in New Orleans and used to go back to visit every year. I just returned from my first post-Katrina visit. I have two young children and would like to move back to the area so I was looking with a mama's eye. The city was less crowded than it used to be (except for the French Quarter, which was as busy as ever). I saw lots and lots of families with young children out during the day all over the city, particularly up and down Magazine St and in Audubon Park. It is a lovely place to visit with young children, though it has always been difficult to navigate with strollers and large diaper bags given the bumpy sidewalks and small doorways:) One of the things I noticed was that stores, restaurants and bars all close earlier than they used to, though this probably won't be an issue since you will be travelling with a baby. Also, the streetcar still does not run all the way uptown (it stops at Napoleon) so to get all the way uptown you will have to cab it or rent a car. Hope this is helpful.