Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
6 FRENCH MARKET/RIVERFRONT: FAMILY
FUN IN THE QUARTER
BOUNDARIES: Bienville St., Decatur St., Barracks St., Mississippi River
DISTANCE: 1.62 miles
PARKING: Several parking lots along Decatur
PUBLIC TRANSIT: Riverfront Streetcar, RTA Buses #5 (Marigny-Bywater) and #55 (Elysian
Fields)
The Riverfront area between Canal Street and Esplanade Avenue may be part of the French
Quarter, but it's also a world within itself: a vibrant mix of attractions that includes the
lively French Market, a riverfront promenade, and a linear park with lush pathways and
stunning sculptures.
Founded in 1791, the French Market is the oldest public market in the United States.
Stretching six blocks from Barracks Street to St. Ann Street, it was established as a Native
American trading post and at one time was the only legal place in the city to buy meat. Its
latest incarnation is that of a culinary corridor complete with countertop dining, a cooking-
demonstration stage, and live musical performances.
Other focal points of the area include the Moon Walk, a riverfront walkway with spectacu-
lar views; Woldenberg Park, among the treasures of the Audubon Nature Institute; and the
world-famous Café Du Monde, which has been serving café au lait and sugar-laden
beignets since 1862.
Annual festivals add to the frivolity of the Riverfront, including the French Quarter Festiv-
al, the Creole Tomato Festival, the Bastille Day Fête, and the Mighty Mississippi River
Festival. If you have kids in tow, bring them along—the French Quarter, at least this part of
it, truly is a family destination.
Begin your walk in front of River's Edge, a restaurant at the corner of Dec-
atur and St. Ann Streets in Jackson Square. Walk upriver, away from the
square, to the corner of Madison Avenue, home of Tujague's, the Crescent
City's second oldest restaurant. It's known as much for its bar as it is for its
Creole fare: The cypress stand-up bar and ornate French mirror behind it
have been part of this institution since it opened in 1856.
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