What a great addition to the Audubon Zoo! This was my first time to see the venue after hearing…read moreabout it for a while. The lazy river is artfully done, giving a nod to Louisiana wildlife and nature areas. There are a lot of skillful and friendly lifeguards around the area. There are several different food pavilions, restrooms, locker areas, and areas to sit. There is also a fun water slide, giving homage to the infamous alligators with albinism who have taken residence at the Zoo and Aquarium over the years. This would be a fun place to relax with your kids during one of the summer sessions. My friends and I attending the adults-only Sip and Dip event held on Fridays during the summer. It was very affordable for a private cabana for six with early access. Be sure to reserve your tickets for the event early online as it does sell out. It got a bit crowded toward the end, and they did run out of regular floats, though some preferred the thick floating noodles offered. Every Friday night has a different theme, so there is something for everyone. They bring in Dickie Brennans for the bar, and they were wonderful with decently priced drinks and quality alcohol. They were also creating with the mocktails. I certainly will return for another Sip and Dip either later this summer, if able, or next year. Absolutely worth it!

Four stars for Cool Zoo's beautiful grounds and water features that are artfully rendered. Two and…read morea half stars for Sip & Dip. Five stars for the incredibly friendly staff. My first time at Cool Zoo was for the adults-only Friday night party, Sip & Dip. This event is 2X a month during the heart of the summer and features theme nights with DJs and of course since this is NOLA, people get creative and might dress in theme. I went on 80s night and the music was so fun and I loved people wearing neon, 80s tshirts and even hair and make-up. Refreshments stands are spread out among the park and they do a themed cocktail and sell beer, hard seltzer and soft drinks, along with typical concession food and popcorn. I had the cocktail of the evening, the Purple Rain and while it was eye-catching, it was so sweet and possibly strong, too, that I couldn't drink more than 1/4 of it (and it's a huge cup, fairly priced at only $13). The grounds are beautiful with fountains and an area with slides and water features that you'd normally see children dominating (with perfectly good reason) but it was actually fun to see adults having at it on the slides and at the water sprayers. Then there's the lazy river, which is a decent size, warm and full of jets to move you along. We ended up not using flotation devices and swam/walked through it. My main issue and why this event isn't personally my cup of tea: it's too crowded. It sells out but I think they sell far too many tickets. We arrived 15 min after it started and there wasn't a lounge chair nor seat at a table to be found. Cabanas are so cheap here but they sell out immediately ahead of the event, likely the day that tickets go on sale. The only way I'd return was if I could get a cabana. The lazy river is completely packed 45 minutes into the event. We were lucky enough to get a locker (which also sell out so imagine being there without a space to put your things??? how is that fun?). People are in general nice enough to hand over the inner tubes but good luck ever getting a place to sit if you didn't line up in advance of start time. I keep going back between 3 and 4 stars for the main reason that everyone who works here is SO nice. The staff really made everything bearable for me, as they were so welcoming and helpful to point out where the lockers were (there's another set behind the set you initially encounter). I just think this isn't the event for anyone who avoids crowds of people. And the crowd that was there that night were totally fine (at least early in the evening). They just sell too many tickets for me to enjoy it.

This was a great place to stay with toddlers. So much water for them to play in without having to…read moreworry about them being in to deep. There is a lot of lounge chairs and tables to find seating. The actual hotel need an upgrade and the rooms seem wet/ moist. There is a little light show that is nice to walk and see the water at night.

We brought our two kiddos to stay here for the weekend while my husband was on a business trip. He…read moreworked while we enjoyed the waterpark- which is the best thing about this place! It feels really clean, safe and family friendly. Even on 4th of July weekend, because only guests can use it, the waterpark wasn't packed at all. We would stay again just for the private waterpark! With that said, the food was not good at all. The breakfast at the Oasis grill was okay! But overall food here is sooo overpriced and not worth it. The second day we ended up doing a grocery run and packing lunches. Bonus is that they let us bring in food/drinks into the pool area. So overall we LOVE this resort as a hotel with an amazing pool but will not eat at the restaurants lol Good thing there are lots of restaurants around it, Waffle House, fine dining etc, and grocery stores also.

I really enjoyed this pool club experience. My hotel didn't have a pool so I bought a pool pass for…read morethe day here. The pool passes cost about $25 except on Friday. It's $35. I ended up going on a Friday and to my surprise, it wasn't terribly overpacked. However, I did get there quite early just as they opened. I was disappointment that I was not allowed to have a lounge chair, I was only allowed to have a couch spot that was further from the pool. Other than that, I loved the decor, the drinks and apps. I appreciated that they offered free available water and clean restrooms. They even supplied nice towels so you don't need to bring one if you're on a day pass. It also had a beautiful rooftop view. I'd definitely go back.

So I had a gin lemon mocktail to start, which really just tasted like a sweet lemonade... But after…read morethat one I switched to alcohol drinks - they were so delicious! I got a Tally Me Banana m, which was really nicely balanced between bitter and sweet and a hint of citrus. And then I got a chocolate spicy orange frozen cocktail... I wish I could find it somewhere on their website but I couldn't-- because I would love to try to re-create this at home! The pool bar server that I had two nights in a row was really amazing. The chicken wings were pretty good too. But the vibes... All the vibes were so relaxing and they had a really great DJ on Sunday. Definitely check their website because they have live music regularly.

The number one obstacle in learning to swim is FEAR. So when Nicole said "all they do is teach…read moreyoung kids not to fear the water" she doesn't understand that THAT IS A GOOD thing! You can't learn to swim without doing this first. Fear turns on the amygdala, which tells the body to fight, flight or flee. One can't think to learn in this state. (I'm officially reviewing my dad's business because of Nicole's G.'s unfair review to this LONG STANDING 50+ year old company.) Nicole's second complaint is that "they don't teach strokes." She's not right about that either. If you buy 20 lessons or more you will be guaranteed to learn freestyle and elementary backstroke. (It's on the page with the guarantees... visit the website!) I suppose she only bought a 10 lesson course, which doesn't come with any guarantees.

We had tried lessons at the YMCA, but they kept canceling due to weather. A friend recommended Mr…read more Fish. His prices are very reasonable and you can take lessons on whichever days you choose. Great for kids afraid of the water. He teaches water safety, not all the different swim strokes, which is just what we were looking for. If your kid is afraid of the water, I recommend the 15 lessons.

There's something special about the New Orleans Lakefront -- a place where the city slows down just…read moreenough for you to actually feel it. If you're visiting New Orleans and want to catch a real vibe beyond the usual tourist stops, this is where you go. The energy out here is unmatched. Bounce music floats through the air, blending effortlessly with old-school R&B playing from nearby speakers. The smell of crawfish boiling, charcoal burning, and chicken grilling travels with the breeze coming off the water. It's culture, community, and comfort all wrapped into one experience. Today we came out simply to relax and enjoy a weekend of perfect weather while digging into some crawfish -- and honestly, it doesn't get much better than that. And if crawfish isn't your flavor, you still have great options nearby. Landry's Seafood House remains one of my personal favorites, offering great food paired with some of the best waterfront views in the city. Whether you want to slow-cruise in your exotic car, take a peaceful walk along the water, or sit back and watch the boats sail by while reading a great book, the lakefront gives you space to do it all. Bike rides, jogs, family gatherings, or simply sitting still and letting the breeze reset your mind -- there's plenty to do here that requires absolutely nothing at all. The beauty of the lakefront is that no two visits feel the same. You can make it a multi-day experience and walk away with completely different memories each time depending on your mood. Some days it's music and laughter. Other days it's quiet reflection and sunsets. If you're looking for your own slice of paradise in New Orleans -- somewhere to relax, reset, and truly enjoy the moment -- make your way to the lakefront. Trust me, the vibe speaks for itself.

Always a great time at the lake with crawfish and a daiquiri. There's a lot of parking spread…read morearound the lake as well as places to eat.