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It’s Memorial Day weekend and what better way to celebrate in New Orleans than with a picnic? NOLA is home to tons of parks, many of them within walking distance of a lot of the popular spots and neighborhoods. Grab a blanket, some lunch and your friends and family and head out to one of these gorgeous locations! Here’s a list of our top five places to picnic in New Orleans.
1. City Park – Located in the Mid-City/Lakeview area of New Orleans, City Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and was recently named one of America’s Coolest Parks by Travel + Leisure. City Park has a number of different spots perfect for picnicking but my personal favorites are the Pavillion of the Two Sisters and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden.
2. Audubon Park – Located across the street from Tulane and Loyola Universities, Audubon Park is stomping ground for college students, uptown families and tourists alike. Just a short streetcar ride from the French Quarter, it’s not unusual to see groups of people laying on blankets in the grass, people playing Frisbee or people jogging or walking with pets. Grab some wine, cold beers or your favorite po-boy and head to Audubon Park for a picnic and people watching.
3. Woldenberg Park – Whenever I find myself wandering around the CBD or French Quarter, I often wander over to Woldenberg Park. Located along the Mississippi River near the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Woldenberg Park is the perfect place to sit and relax after an afternoon or morning of strolling through the quarter.
4. The Fly – Hugely popular with college students, The Fly is the riverside portion of Audubon Park and is located behind Audubon Zoo along the Mississippi River. The Fly is often packed with college students — some studying, some playing games and others sleeping in the sun — and families, usually with pets. This portion of the park spans along the backside of the Zoo and plays home to many little-league sports as well as adult recreations. It’s perfect for picnicking with children or friends.
5. Jackson Square – What’s better than people watching in the French Quarter? Grab your picnic basket, fill it with your favorite New Orleans foods, and head to Jackson Square. Located in the middle of the French Quarter in front of St. Louis Cathedral, Jackson Square is home to a number of street artists, vendors, musicians and fortune tellers. The actual square itself is gated with plenty of green space.
