Donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.
Just because summer is over doesn't mean you can't take a fabulous family vacation. The secret is the weekend getaway, a two-day nugget of time when you and your kids can refresh yourselves without missing work or school. For busy families, weekends are easier to plan, simpler to schedule, and they cost significantly less than weeklong trips. Plus, you can just hop in the car on a whim and go.
As travel writers and working moms, we're not surprised that the popularity of weekend trips has increased by 70 percent in the past decade. As you'll see, we like places that are within driving distance of a major metropolitan area, compact enough to be explored in two days, offer activities for every member of the family, have several lodging and dining options, and provide plenty of outdoor activities so we can soak up this colorful season. Just remember to plan ahead, so that you don't waste precious vacation time deciding where to go and when.
With its southern charm and strong French influence, the city of New Orleans is a destination that families flock to year-round. And what better time of the year to visit than Halloween! Treat your family to an authentic haunted holiday in a city that welcomes children of all ages.
FEEL THE SPIRITS
Sure, the Big Easy is a bit mysterious and haunting, no matter when you visit. But the city truly turns kid friendly (and it's substantially less crowded and cooler) in October, when the spirit--or should we say spirits--of the place comes alive. What Halloween lover could resist the chance to meet ghosts and voodoo queens?On Saturday morning, head straight to the French Quarter's centuries-old Haunted Houses, which are open only in October. Inside these grand homes, you'll hear tales of New Orleans' famed ghosts. The stories aren't overly scary; if your children like the GOOSEBUMPS series, they can handle New Orleans ghosts. For a list of the city's haunted locations and tour operators, call the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, 504-566-5011.
Older children will enjoy the 2-hour Cemetery Tour led by Robert Florence, author of CITY OF THE DEAD and NEW ORLEANS CEMETERIES (adults are $15; students and seniors $13; kids ages six to 12 $7; cash and travelers checks only). Call 504-947-2120 or click here for more information. Florence explains such wonders as why families bury their dead above ground (New Orleans, believe it or not, is below sea level), while leading visitors to the city's oldest cemetery and the Voodoo Spiritual Temple, where practitioners still observe this ancient religion.
After the tour, enjoy a piled-high Po Boy sandwich (French bread stuffed with your choice of oysters, roast beef and gravy, pork, fried shrimp, soft-shelled crabs and, yes, even fried potatoes). We like the sandwiches (the original five-cent lunch for poor boys) at Johnny's Po Boy Restaurant in the French Quarter. Prices range from $4.50 to $9; 504-524-8129.Need a break? Check in to the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel (rooms for a family of four start at $329; 504-529-5333), which has a top location--in the middle of the French Quarter--and a rooftop pool. Tip: Make reservations early because this hotel fills up quickly.
Later, take a walk to festive Jackson Square to meet face painters, psychics, musicians, jugglers and artists. Explore the shops, then have dinner at Ralph Brennan's Red Fish Grill on Bourbon Street, a great place for seafood ($15 to $30; kids menu $9 with soft drink and ice cream; 504-598-1200).
On Sunday, you have several options. From the hotel, you can walk to the Aquarium of the Americas (adults $16; kids ages two to 12 $9.50; free for kids under age two. Call 800-774-7394), which features a large, unusual collection of jellyfish. Next, you can board a boat to the Audubon Zoo to visit 1,500 animals, including anteaters, alligators and gorillas (adults $12; kids ages two to 12 $7; free for kids under age two. Call 866-ITS-AZOO).
Or, for a more leisurely day, have Sunday brunch, a N'awlins tradition, at the Court Of Two Sisters on Royal Street in the French Quarter. Take your pick from more than 60 buffet dishes, among them specialities like crabs, crawfish and andouille gumbo ($23 per person, including kids; free for children under age two; 504-522-7261).
For more information, contact the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, 2020 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130; 504-566-5011. For more kid-friendly ideas click here
Diane Bair and Pamela Wright write from their office in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated August 2005.
