Insectarium Could Cure Kids of Need to Bug You

Kids and Bourbon Street? Not exactly a match made in heaven. However, families should remember that it's not the only street in a sprawling city that also includes a wide range of kid-friendly entertainments.

One of the sure-fire destinations for children in New Orleans is the Insectarium. A visit to a building full of bugs may not be at the top most adults' to-do lists, but the creatures who reside there have long fascinated youngsters. Now kids can get their visual fill at the country's largest freestanding museum dedicated to insects.

The museum, opened by the New Orleans Audubon Institute after Hurricane Katrina, is located in the U.S. Customs Building on Canal Street. The 2,300-square-foot museum includes interactive exhibits, a Japanese butterfly garden, and a “den” where people are reduced to the size of insects. Other scary delights include a scorpion pit.

For visitors whose own little bugs get hungry, there are on-site eateries, which include the Tiny Termite Cafe and Bug Appétit.

If tiny creatures are less appealing to your kids than big creatures, then check out the city's Audubon Zoo. This world-class facility is located in Audubon Park and easily accessible by streetcar, bus, or even boat. Among the range of regional wildlife featured are the obligatory alligators and the voracious, ecologically calamitous nutria.

Fans of wildlife from the sea might enjoy checking out the Aquarium of the Americas. Centrally located on Canal Street, the aquarium includes a range of immersive aquatic experiences and environments, including a 400,000-gallon tank exhibit modeled on the Gulf of Mexico.

Another obvious choice for youngsters is the Louisiana Children's Museum. Older children might enjoy the chance to pilot the museum's tugboat on the Mighty Mississippi. Other options include a broadcast studio where kids can practice anchoring the news and a cafe where they can play either waiter or guest.

Parents looking for some well-disguised educational opportunities for their offspring also may enjoy the museum's interactive video games that help kids learn how to eat right, stay safe, and prevent substance abuse. The museum has even added a “casual counseling program” to help local children talk about the aftermath of Katrina.

But May in New Orleans is likely to offer some great weather so remember the outdoor activities that will allow your little energy bundles to stretch their legs. One such opportunity is New Orleans City Park. The 1,500-acre park offers boating, fishing, and nature trails. Additionally, two miniature trains tour the park's perimeter. The park also includes Storyland, a play area featuring 26 nursery-rhyme-themed exhibits, and an amusement park that features a fully restored antique wooden carousel.

What's a trip to New Orleans without some time on the river? Families can ply the Mississippi on one of several river boats that dock near the foot of Canal Street. The Natchez is a fully functional steamboat that offers jazz dinner cruises. Another option is to combine some river time with trips to the aquarium and zoo by catching a ride between them on the John James Audubon.

Another museum that may appeal especially to children fascinated by machines is the National World War II Museum, which is filled with planes, boats, and other equipment from the conflict.