When it comes to spending time in New Orleans, there is no shortage of things to do. Naturally, the French Quarter is a major focus for a lot of tourists. But New Orleans City Park is a place everyone visiting the city needs to add to their list.
It has been described by many as one of the best urban greenspaces in the United States, and offers an incredible variety of attractions for visitors to choose from. This is the kind of destination that deserves a few days to truly take in.
City Park is born
This park has one of the craziest histories of any place remotely like it. This green space was once an incredibly prominent venue for duels between men trying to sort out their issues. One of the Dueling Oak Trees that used to mark the spot still stands.
In the mid 1800s, City Park was established. The initial parcel of land was part of the former Allard Plantation. From there, it would continue to grow, with multiple attractions built and several services added over the decades.
Hurricane Katrina did significant damage to City Park, as it did much of New Orleans. Not only has the damage to City Park been repaired in the years since Katrina, several upgrades were completed that has made it an even better place to spend time.
Natural beauty and artistic beauty
The natural beauty of City Park is almost impossible to capture in words. Sections of the park are preserved, heritage bayou. Additionally, the park has a massive collection of live oak trees, in some cases dating back over 600 years.
City Park is home to the New Orleans Botanical Garden. It was originally established in the 1930s, and has continued to evolve since then. It features a variety of themed gardens and areas, as well as the stunning Butterfly Walk.
In addition to the natural beauty throughout City Park, there are some incredible artistic venues to take in. That includes the New Orleans Museum of Art, which is widely considered to be the best gallery of its kind in the South.
Beyond that, City Park has a variety of outdoor sculpture gardens. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is an immersive experience as is the Helis Foundation Enrique Alférez Sculpture Garden, which is actually part of the Botanical Garden.
The Birding Corridor is also an incredibly special place to spend time. This part of the park is home to an incredible population of native bird species as well as a variety of migratory species. Depending on what time of year you’re there, you could spot very different birds.
Attractions galore!
Beyond the natural and artistic options for things to do in the park, there are a huge range of attractions to choose from. An odd one is the Train Garden which features a model train built around a replica of New Orleans from the early 1800s.
Carousel Gardens Amusement Park is another popular destination. Among other rides, it’s home to a carousel that has been there for more than 100 years, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. To some people, it’s the beating heart of City Park.
On top of all of that, there are seemingly endless outdoor activities to enjoy. Big Lake has boating, hiking, biking and more, with boat and bike rentals available. While fishing for bass, catfish and perch is legal in bayous around the park, it’s actually illegal to fish from a boat.
This is all just the tip of the iceberg for what City Park has to offer. It’s an almost overwhelming mix of nature, art, sports and more in one picturesque environment. City Park is a version of New Orleans that not enough visitors get to experience.