NOLA & Nudity w/ kids... is it a year round party? (New Orleans: hotels, neighborhoods)

[daniellenbosley]

Is NOLA a party city all year round? Or are images of Mardi Gras only more likely during Mardi Gras? In taking two young children to NOLA, I don't want to worry simply walking down the street that they're going to be flashed!

[rburnett]

This is a non issue. Unless you're hanging out on a small stretch of Bourbon St late late at night durng Mardi Gras, it is highly unlikely that you will see any nudity. Even during the day, though, its still a more "adult" zone. There are quite a few strip clubs with "tantalizing" ads. If that bothers you, it is easily avoided. There is much more to the French Quarter and the city as a whole than the first few blocks of Bourbon St.

[daniellenbosley]

Good to know, thanks! We're not sure if we are bringing the kids or not yet (waiting to see how childcare will pan out), but I wanted to make sure it was avoidable before I went looking at hotels in certain areas.

[rawrockills]

Most of Mardi Gras is actually very kid-friendly. Most of the parades even have school groups in them!

[njkate]

Originally Posted by daniellenbosley

Good to know, thanks! We're not sure if we are bringing the kids or not yet (waiting to see how childcare will pan out), but I wanted to make sure it was avoidable before I went looking at hotels in certain areas.

Kids do not belong on Bourbon ST at night. Other than that NOLA has lots of places to take the kids..Audubon Zoo is great, one of my favorite zoos...I believe the aquarium is open again as well..take them on a free ferry ride across the river to Algiers...

[David910]

I think, while New Orleans is a party city, it is also GREATLY exaggerated! When you think of New Orleans, the thought is Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street. There is SO MUCH more to the city than that shallow part. Don't worry at all. New Orleans' party city reputation, while definitely true, is nothing to worry about.

[hey teach]

Originally Posted by rburnett

This is a non issue. Unless you're hanging out on a small stretch of Bourbon St late late at night durng Mardi Gras, it is highly unlikely that you will see any nudity. Even during the day, though, its still a more "adult" zone. There are quite a few strip clubs with "tantalizing" ads. If that bothers you, it is easily avoided. There is much more to the French Quarter and the city as a whole than the first few blocks of Bourbon St.

I must interject that my husband and I were on Royal Street at 8 am on Sunday morning 2 weeks ago and witnesses a man and woman having sex against a wall. Her skirt was up, his pants were down and believe me we saw everything!

You simply need to be aware of what is going on and redirect your children's attention if necessary.

[David910]

Originally Posted by hey teach

I must interject that my husband and I were on Royal Street at 8 am on Sunday morning 2 weeks ago and witnesses a man and woman having sex against a wall. Her skirt was up, his pants were down and believe me we saw everything!

You simply need to be aware of what is going on and redirect your children's attention if necessary.

Well I can tell you that was an EXTREME rarity and you were just unlucky. Any city you go to will have a little of that. It's just like any other city. It's just that. The OP should live her life and enjoy her trip and not be worried about nudity!

[cylee777]

I highly doubt you gonna have such issue unless like others said, you live on Borboun St. I'll be visiting here next year and I'll find out more about here.

[po-boy]

If you have kids with you I would say to avoid Bourbon Street entirely. Don't go there day or night if you are worried about what your children may see. There are several strip clubs that have fairly explicit photo advertisements. As for flashers and people wearing "inappropriate" clothing that is the norm during Mardi Gras, but you will sometimes see it at other times of the year as well.

Royal is a pretty nice street, but it is only one block away from Bourbon and there is a chance there will be some spillover from Bourbon. Once you get down to Chartres and Decatur you should be fine. The rest of the city is pretty much like a normal city and you should not have any worries at all. There are some great parks and attractions for kids (Audubon Park, City Park, the Zoo, the Aquarium, the Insectarium, the WWII musuem, the streetcars, the Museum of Art)

Even Mardi Gras is generally family friendly if you go to actual Mardi Gras parades in the neighborhoods and you avoid the drunken revelers in the Quarter (particularly on bourbon).