What to do with your visiting family in New Orleans

As graduations near, graduates look for places to celebrate and family-friendly activities to engage in while visitors are in town

With graduations approaching, families from all over the state, country and world will be traveling to the Big Easy to proudly support their loved ones as they begin a new chapter in their lives.

From the first parents’ weekend when your family made the trek to move you in, to the closing of your college years, Deanie’s Seafood is proud to serve students of the many renowned universities in the city of New Orleans and their families.

Your college years here were surely ones to remember, but now that your family is here, you may want to explore some family-friendly fun to celebrate your accomplishments.

Audubon Zoo and Aquarium of the Americas

If you have younger brothers or sisters, you may want to consider visiting the Audubon Zoo or Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Maybe you didn’t get around to this as a student, but it’s an experience you should have before leaving the city and one the whole family can enjoy. The Audubon Zoo is home to more than 15,000 animals and mid-May (not too hot, not too cold) is the perfect time to visit.

Private Party in the heart of the French Quarter

If your family didn’t come from too far away, you may have a big group. Deanie’s Seafood in the French Quarter offers two private dining areas, one opening onto a traditional Vieux Carré courtyard, that can accommodate up to 150 guests. Make your graduation celebration completely your own by hiring a band, opting for a bar in the courtyard or making your party a Cajun crawfish boil with all the work done by Deanie’s! The authentic New Orleans cuisine in the heart of the French Quarter will be the perfect way to end your time in the Big Easy. If you have a smaller group, enjoy some fresh Louisiana seafood in the dining room at our Bucktown or French Quarter location.

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Boiled Crawfish in one of the city’s parks

If your family has come a long way for your graduation, surely they have never had the opportunity to try Louisiana’s favorite seafood, boiled crawfish. Now may be the last chance for you to show them how to eat this food connected with so many of your college memories in NOLA. To escape the rush of the restaurants after graduations let out, pick up crawfish from one of these markets or restaurants suggested by Scott Gold in his recent Thrillist article on the “finest spots in New Orleans boiling up some of the best crawfish in town,” lay out a blanket in the park and enjoy! Some of the most beautiful parks for picnics in the city include:

  • Audubon Park, conveniently located across from Loyola and Tulane Universities and along the St. Charles streetcar line.

  • New Orleans City Park, the 1,300 acre park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and is home to some of the most picturesque and oldest oak trees in the world.

  • Crescent Park in the Bywater was just opened by the city of New Orleans about a year ago. Running along the Mississippi River from Elysian Fields Avenue to Mazant Street, the park includes 20-acres of landscaping, paths for walking running or jogging and two multi-use pavilions.

Other great picnic spots include Woldenberg Park, The Fly and Jackson Square.


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Click here for a step-by-step guide to help you and your family with “How to eat boiled crawfish.”

New ways to explore the city

New Orleans pedicabs and the double decker bus tours probably weren’t around when you began your college journey, but they offer a fun new way to see the city in a small amount of time with the whole family.

The Hop-On Hop-Off Open-Top Double-Decker buses can be caught at stops in the French Quarter, Canal St., the CBD, Magazine St., St. Charles Avenue and all over the city every 30 minutes. You can even opt for escorted tours of the French Quarter and Garden District or a self-guided cemetery tour.

Pedicabs were introduced to the city in 2011 and are another fun, easy and affordable way to get from one place to another. The driver’s are often knowledgeable enough to give riders a small tour along with the ride.

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Deanie’s seafood congratulates graduates and their families across the city of New Orleans this spring and hopes to see you in one of our restaurants for some “Authentic Louisiana Wild” seafood before the world takes you on the next steps of your journey!

Here’s a list of upcoming graduations in New Orleans:

University of New Orleans: May 15 at 3 p.m. at the Lakefront Arena.

Loyola University New Orleans: May 7 through 9. See full schedule here.

Xavier University of New Orleans: All commencement ceremonies will be held Sat., May 16. Click here to view times.

Tulane University: Tulane’s Unified Commencement Ceremony will take place on Sat., May 16 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Click here for a full list of their 2015 graduation activities.

Delgado Community College: Tues., May 19 at the Lakefront Arena

Dillard University: Thurs., May 9, click here for more info.

Southern University New Orleans: Sat., May 9 at the Lakefront Arena, more here

Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans: Thurs., May 14 at Lakefront Arena. More here.

Our Lady of Holy Cross College: Sat., May 16. More here.

 

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