New Orleans & Florida's Emerald Coast
With summer officially behind us and the busy daily routines of school and activities in full swing again, I wanted to share a look back at my family’s summer travels. This year, we stayed stateside instead of heading to Europe, and my daughters requested some time at the beach. We decided on the beautiful Florida Panhandle, and to break up the long drive—while also checking off a bucket list city of mine—we added New Orleans as a stop. The result? A perfect combination of culture and relaxing beach time. And the best part? My kids approved!
There’s a German saying I love: “Der Weg ist das Ziel” – the journey is the destination. It felt especially true on our summer road trip—sometimes the stops along the way, not just the final destination, create the most lasting memories. For us, New Orleans was definitely one of those memorable stops. Beignets, culture, history, and swamps—the Big Easy did not disappoint.
Where We Stayed
We stayed 2 nights at the Drury Plaza Hotel New Orleans, which offered the perfect location to explore the French Quarter by foot. It's free large breakfast buffet and the complimentary "5:30 Kickback" made it a hassle-free choice for us. Added bonus - especially when traveling with kids - the rooftop pool.
Day 1: French Quarter & Swamp Tour
We started our day with a stroll through the French Quarter. Our first stop was the famous Café du Monde, where we tried beignets (an instant favorite for the girls) and enjoyed live Jazz. We then explored Jackson Square and St. Luis Cathedral, soaking in the sights and atmosphere. On the way back to our hotel, we wandered along Royal Street, admiring the art galleries and window shopping. We walked down Bourbon Street for about a block, but found Royal Street far more enjoyable with the kids.
In the afternoon, we switched gears, and headed out of town to do a swamp tour with Cajun Encounters. The kids were excited to see alligators, and we weren’t disappointed! We spotted alligators, racoons, fish, turtles, and different birds. Our knowledgeable and passionate tour guide explained the local wildlife and plants, making it both fun and educational. This was definitely a highlight of our trip.
Day 2: World War II Museum
Before heading on to Florida, we spend the morning at the The National WWII Museum. This came highly recommended by lots of our friends, and yes, it is an absolute must-visit in New Orleans. It is filled with so much information on both the European and the Pacific Campaigns, you can spend a full day (or more) at the museum to take it all in. We focused on the European Campaign, spending about four hours immersed in the exhibits. The presentation is very engaging and our girls (8 and 10 years old) where fascinated and entertained the entire time. We all left wishing we could spend more time exploring the rest of the museum - definitely a stop to plan for a future visit.
After our busy city stop in New Orleans, we headed on to the Florida's Emerald Coast. This area of the Panhandle is known for its sugar-white beaches, emerald-green waters, and quaint beach towns. At the heard of the Emerald Coast is the famous Scenic Highway 30A, 24 mile stretch of highway, that winds along the coast through a string of charming, laid-back, family-friendly communities like Seaside, Grayton Beach and Rosemary Beach.
Where We Stayed
Our home base for this vacation was Santa Rosa Beach, one of the larger, more spread-out communities along 30A. It's generally quieter than some of the smaller coastal towns, which gave us easy access to the highlights in the area while still providing a peaceful surrounding. We booked a vacation rental called Happy Heron’s Haven (#2201). It had everything we needed for a relaxed vacation, was beautifully decorated and spotless, and the host was both responsive and helpful.
Beach Highlights
Grayton Beach State Park quickly became our favorite beach spot. The park gives you access to the pristine Grayton Beach, which is consistently ranked as one of the best beaches in the USA. The beach is lined by gorgeous sand dunes, and the park is home to a variety of local wildlife. My girls where thrilled to swim alongside a large sea turtle during one of our visits. During the busy peak travel season, it’s wise to arrive early, as the park often reaches capacity and temporarily closes for additional visitors.
Another beautiful beach I can highly recommend is Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. The sand is pristine, and the surroundings—including longleaf pine trees along the tram route—are stunning. When we visited on a Saturday, the beach seemed busier than Grayton Beach, likely due to the weekend crowd. From the day-use parking area, a tram shuttle takes visitors down to the beach, which is a lovely ride but meant waiting each time we wanted to go. While we really enjoyed our time at Topsail Hill, the shuttle requirement was a minor drawback for us.
Restaurant Recommendation
Our restaurant highlight during our vacation was Stinky's Fish Camp. This local favorite serves incredible seafood with generous portions and a welcoming, friendly atmosphere. A word of advice: during the busy peak travel season, be prepared for a long wait—but trust me, it’s absolutely worth it!
Fun Extra: Seaside & The Truman Show House
We also visited the picture-perfect, colorful town of Seaside along Highway 30A. It has a fun little claim to fame as the filming location for Jim Carrey’s The Truman Show. You can see the iconic “Truman House”, which still displays its house number from the film. While you can’t go inside, it makes for a fun photo opportunity and a neat stop for movie fans exploring the area.
We personally love trips where culture and relaxation meet. It’s how I grew up traveling with my parents and brother every summer, and it’s the style of travel that works best for us now with our girls. Traveling with kids doesn’t have to be scary—you just need to take the leap. And I’d love to help you plan that perfect family vacation for your own crew.
I hope sharing a little about our summer trip has given you some inspiration and ideas for your own travels—whether with kids or without.