One day in N.O. with 15 yr. old, what to do? (New Orleans: construction, school)

[Almost Heaven WV girl]

We will be traveling through New Orleans this summer with our 15 year old boy and will have one day to spend there. What would you suggest to do that would be fun?

[Orestes]

What kind of activities do you like? Or, for that matter, what kind of activities does your 15 yr. old like?

A quick "blanket answer"? Check out the Riverwalk, then visit the Aquarium/IMAX. From there, take the Audubon cruise to the Zoo. After, you could walk through the park to catch the street car on St. Charles back toward where you started.

Or something like that.

[MoreCowbell]

If he likes creepier stuff he might like to visit one of the cemeteries or do a ghost or vampire tour. I LOVED the French Quarter when I was his age but I had very hip parents who were fine with me seeing strip clubs, sex and drug related t-shirts, tons of bars, etc. The vibe is great though, and daytime is much more calm.

[Orestes]

I forgot to mention the WWII museum. I'm not sure what condition it's in (as far as worthwhile visiting experience/expansion/construction goes). That's an excellent bit of history for a 15 yr old to see, and it might be fairly relevant for him depending on where he is with his History courses in school.

Maybe someone who has been there recently can chime in on how the museum is doing?

[thepointykitty]

I agree that the cemeteries could be a hit, depending on what he likes. I would've been crazy about New Orleans at that age. It's just so different that I'm sure there would be many things to interest him, certainly for a day, anyway.

My sister-in-law is also 15, and we brought her here right before Xmas. We showed her Bourbon St. but didn't spend much time on it. I figured watching a few frat boys puking on the sidewalk might be a nice cautionary lesson for someone that age ;-)

[dailysounds]

Is he thinking about college? Maybe see the Tulane, Loyola, or UNO campus? When I was 15 I went to the French Quarter by myself for the first time. I was intrigued by walking around Decateur and Bourbon, even without going in any of the establishments. The aquarium is really fun. If you're there late enough, those haunted tours are fun. If not, maybe go to one of the voodoo shops.