New Orleans Parks and Gardens

(New Orleans, Louisiana - LA, USA)

New Orleans is sprinkled with several scenic and relaxing parks and gardens, including City Park with its botanical gardens, working carousel and Museum of Modern Art; Woldenberg Riverfront Park offering spectacular views of the Mississippi River; and New Orleans' Audubon Park, one of largest metropolitan parks in the USA.

Together with the landscaped gardens belonging to Garden District and the recreational areas of Lake Pontchartrain on the city's northern limits, New Orleans offers something for anyone who wants to escape the maddening crowds.

Audubon Park

Address: 7171 6500 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70118, USA
Tel: +1 504 581 4629
Once a plantation, this large park in the Uptown area adjacent to Audubon Zoo stretches from Tulane University down to the Mississippi River. Its extensive grounds incorporate a golf course, tennis courts, walking trails, horseback rides and breathtaking views of the river. Audubon Park is accessible via the St. Charles Avenue streetcar.
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 22:00
Admission: free

American Aquatic Gardens

Address: 621 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70117, USA
Tel: +1 504 944 0410
Located in the Marigny district of New Orleans, bordering the French Quarter, this commercial nursery is a marvelously relaxing spot dominated by water features such as fountains, sculptures and various aquatic plants including rare water lilies. Whether you buy anything is entirely up to you.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

City Park

Address: 1 Palm Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70124, USA
Tel: +1 504 482 4888
City Park is arguably the most loved park in New Orleans offering beautiful landscaped gardens, oak trees and walking trails. There are several attractions within the park including the Botanical Gardens which boast a tropical conservatory, water lily pond and a formal rose garden; the New Orleans Museum of Art, one of the city's premier arts attractions; Children's Storyland, home to a carousel and other rides; and the Train Garden, a bizarrely beautiful and intriguing representation of New Orleans buildings and suburbs complete with a magnificent model train set. Also on offer at the New Orleans City Park are four golf courses, a restaurant, fishing, boating, horseback riding and tennis.
Open hours: daily - 06:00 to 19:00, Botanical Gardens, Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 16:30
Admission: free, Botanical Gardens - charges apply, discounts for children, children under five free

Longue Vue House and Gardens

Address: 7 Bamboo Road, Metairie, Louisiana LA, 70124, USA
Tel: +1 504 488 5488
A lovely Greek Revival mansion dating back to 1942 and set among beautiful landscaped gardens of distinct styles, Longue Vue mansion is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:30, Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors, children and students

Louis Armstrong Park

Address: North Rampart Street, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70117, USA
Tel: +1 504 589 4841
Louis Armstrong Park, and specifically Congo Square, is a historically significant meeting place for black slaves during the 19th century and it is here that the regular African dance and drumming celebrations played an important role in the development of jazz music. Congo Square is also significant for local practitioners of voodoo, while there is an imposing statue of the legend himself, Louis Armstrong.
Open hours: daylight hours
Admission: free

Louisiana Nature Center

Address: 1501 Nature Center Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana LA, 70127, USA
Tel: +1 504 246 5672
Incorporating Joe Brown Park, the Louisiana Nature Center in New Orleans is home to several kilometers of boardwalks taking you through several kinds of ecological environments and showing off some local wildlife. Guided walks are available and often guides will catch baby alligators for kids to pat. Also on offer at the Louisiana Nature Center is a planetarium, as well as kayaking, bird watching and craft workshops.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:00, Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - noon to 17:00
Admission: charge, discounts for seniors and children

Woldenberg Riverfront Park

Address: Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana (LA) 70130, USA
Tel: +1 504 581 4629
A relatively small park hugging the Mississippi river front, Woldenberg Riverfront Park features a wooden promenade known as the 'Moon Walk' along its French Quarter section and excellent views of the river.
Open hours: Sunday to Thursday - 06:00 to 22:00, Friday and Saturday - 06:00 to midnight
Admission: free