New Orleans' parks are beautifully kept nature sanctuaries built on historically significant sites. The parks of New Orleans are a great source of outdoor activities and are especially excellent kid friendly attractions. Whether you choose to picnic, exercise in the park or just enjoy a day out, New Orleans' parks are great all-around attractions.

Audubon Park

The Audubon Park and adjacent Audubon Zoo where named for John J. Audubon, a one time resident of the city and the nation's most famous ornithologist. The park and zoo cover over 300-acres of the Uptown area near Loyola and Tulane universities. This sprawling park was once property owned by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, the founder of New Orleans. The land was also previously a sugar plantation credited with being the site where sugar was first granulated and the site of the 1884 World's Fair. The land is now an immaculately manicured park full of old oak trees, gazebos, and exercise facilities including the Audubon Park Golf Course.

The Audubon Park Golf Course ranked 4 ½ stars out of 5 by Golf Digest and offers a par 62 scenic course set inside the middle of the park. A traffic-free paved loop around the golf course and lagoon is popular with joggers, cyclists and in-line skaters. Tennis, exercise stations and horseback riding facilities round out the park's fitness activities. Add the convenience of visiting the Audubon Zoo located at the back of the park and you have a days worth of exploring.

City Park

Over 1,500-acres of art, nature and family activities construct New Orleans' City Park. The country's fifth largest urban park features impressively landscaped grounds with botanical gardens, a conservatory, outdoor recreation activities and the New Orleans Museum of Art.

The park's New Orleans Botanical Gardens offers a glimpse into the cultivation and care taken to create this attractive area of City Park. Parents will want to take the kids to the Train Garden located in the botanical gardens. This gigantic train set runs along 1,300 feet of track and explores a fascinatingly creative organic representation of New Orleans and its familiar landmarks. Other kid friendly activities include a visit to Children's Storyland, an amusement area complete with a classic carousel sure to make the little ones happy.

City Park offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation activities. Boat and fish the park's wonderful lagoon or choose to spend a romantic afternoon horseback riding the park's nature trails. More traditional recreational activities like tennis and golf are also on hand. The Bayou Oaks Golf Facility is located in the middle of the park and is home to four eighteen-hole golf courses and a two-story lighted driving range.

The New Orleans Museum of Art located within the park is a gorgeously designed museum and an inspired stop in the park. The museum has doubled its size and houses over 40,000 objects of American, African, French and Japanese artwork. Admission for a minimal fee is well worth the experience and Thursday evening's admission is free and features films, concerts and other art events.

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve

Six physically separated areas make up the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. All of the parks areas highlight the natural surroundings and wilderness of the Louisiana Mississippi Delta area. Historic war enthusiasts will want to visit the Chalmette National Historical Park, site of the War of 1812's Battle of New Orleans. The bloody battle united Creoles and Americans under the command of Andrew Jackson who would later become one of New Orleans most celebrated historic figures. Ironically the battle should never have taken place because the treaty ending the war had been signed 2 weeks before the start of the battle.

Markers map the course of the battle and the visitor center holds exhibits and a film on the historic conflict. A National Cemetery within the park holds the remains of Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and Vietnam War soldiers. This is a somber, but historically significant site historical buffs will not want to miss out on.

From battlegrounds to museums, New Orleans' parks provide a various number of attractions and activities for you to discover. These nature refuges provide locals and visitors with a perfect day outdoors. Whether you choose to picnic, exercise or just spend time with loved ones, the parks of New Orleans provide the perfect surroundings to enjoy.