New Orleans — Day 3

On the third day, we slept in 🛌, enjoyed a lazy brunch 🥞☕, and then drove about an hour to the Global Wildlife Center. It truly lives up to its name—even before reaching the ticket area, we were greeted by free-roaming deer, ostriches, and kangaroos along the roadside! 🦌🐪🦒 Not far off, bison and giraffes roamed freely, making it feel like we’d driven straight into the African savannah. The kids were beyond excited, stretching their necks out the window, eager to see everything at once! 😍 I hadn’t booked tickets in advance for the wildlife center (unlike other parts of our trip, which were fully scheduled), and in hindsight, I’d recommend reserving ahead—waiting in line for walk-up tickets took about an hour. 🕐 But that gave us time to scope out the best spots for feeding and photo opportunities! 📸 The tour lasted around 1.5 hours, and we bought a big $35 bucket of feed—totally worth it! The experience was incredible, way more interactive and immersive than other zoos we’ve visited, like the Palm Zoo, LA Zoo, or San Diego Zoo. If your kids love animals, this is a must-do! 🐾💚 After that amazing dose of nature, we faced a little challenge: I’d booked jazz tickets for 7:15 PM 🎷, with a 45-minute show, meaning we wouldn’t make it back to our hotel before dark. Safety first, right? So we made sure to park within a 3–5 minute walk from the venue. We’d read that while the French Quarter can feel a bit chaotic at night, it’s generally safe—especially compared to the quieter streets outside it, which can feel a bit spooky after dark 👻… especially with NOLA’s vampire and witch legends! 🔮 Luckily, we found parking close by—just a 6-minute walk to dinner, 5 minutes to the jazz club, and another 5 minutes back to the car after the show. 🚗💨 Dinner was a feast of fresh oysters 🦪—so delicious! Then, with happy taste buds, we headed off for an authentic jazz experience right in the heart of where it all began. The 45-minute set was completely acoustic—no mics, no speakers! The intimate venue had around 50 seats, with standing room in the back. And guess what? Standing was actually better because you could dance along! 💃🎶 After the show, walking through the French Quarter at night felt surprisingly lively and safe. The streets were filled with tourists, and every open-door bar had a live jazz band jamming inside. Sure, we passed a few tipsy folks and homeless individuals, but it didn’t feel scary—just part of the city’s character. We knew to keep our distance and keep moving. 😊 Have you ever been to a jazz club in New Orleans? Or fed a giraffe from a bucket? Share your stories below! 👇🎵 #NewOrleans #WeekendGetaway #Attractions #FamilyTravel #WildlifeAdventure #JazzMusic #TravelTips #SouthernUSA