by Sasha Emmons

For most people, New Orleans conjures up images of boozy Bourbon Street, voodoo priestesses and smoke-filled jazz clubs.

But should this one-of-a-kind American classic be left to the adults only? The Big Easy can be a great destination for families if you know where to go - and which spots to avoid. Here's our guide to the best attractions New Orleans has to offer kids.

Jazzland
This new theme park on the outskirts of town gives the Disney treatment to New Orleans. Broken into theme areas like Cajun Country, Gospel Garden and Mardi Gras, the park features 31 rides - a 4,000-foot wooden roller coaster among them. There is also a special area for younger kids, featuring gentler attractions like a mini ferris wheel and a kids' car wash.

The French quarter
Although its many antique stores may fail to impress the kids, they will be fascinated by the romance of this European-style neighbourhood. Tour the narrow streets lined with lacy cast-iron balconies as part of a walking tour or on a horse-drawn carriage.

French market
This open-air market is a great spot to let your kids pick out trinket souvenirs like T-shirts or inexpensive jewellery. You'll also find Cajun spices, we-dare-you-to-try hot sauces, jambalaya mix and chicory coffee. Make a stop at nearby Cafe du Monde so the kids can sample a beignet (fried dough covered in powdered sugar).

Swamp tours
The eerie beauty of the swamp will delight your kids. Their eyes will really pop when alligators swim right up to the boat to snack on marshmallows thrown by the guides. If you're lucky, you may also see wild hogs, egrets and herons among the moss-covered cypress trees. Try Jean Lafitte Swamp Tours (504-587-1790) or Dr. Paul Wagner's Honey Island Swamp Tours.

Jazz/Blues/Gospel
Just because they don't have ID doesn't mean your kids can't catch a little music while they're in town. Music club Storyville welcomes children before 9pm, and the House of Blues has a family-oriented gospel brunch every Sunday.

National D-Day Museum
This new museum, housed in an old brewery, details the events on and leading up to June 6, 1944. Built in New Orleans to honour the local manufacturer of the Higgins boats used to ferry soldiers ashore, the museum showcases veterans' oral histories and never before seen film footage. Although the subject matter is dealt with tastefully, you may want to skip this museum if your children are very young.

Mardi Gras World
It's a bit of a hike to get there without a car (a short ferry ride and a bus ride, to be exact), but this kitschy museum houses the breathtakingly elaborate parade floats that are used during Mardi Gras each year. Since the museum is also a functioning workshop, kids will get a chance to see the various stages of creation, from design sketches to sculpting to putting on the final coat of paint. Bejewelled costumes are available for dress-up and photos.

Audubon Zoo
Although this zoo is home to over 2000 animals, its claim to fame is its rare white albino alligator collection. As you might expect, the zoo dedicates a significant area to swampland creatures. A free shuttle from the St. Charles Avenue streetcar takes you right to the zoo.

The riverwalk
Walk along the Mississippi as the paddleboats and ferries drift by. The Aquarium of the Americas is located here (featuring a squeal-inducing underwater tunnel), as well as the Entergy IMAX Theatre.

Proceed with Caution
Bourbon Street has a raucous reputation for a reason. This area is lined with strip clubs and bars whose rowdy crowds spill onto the street. Steer clear of this area at night if you're with the kids.

Although New Orleans' cemeteries are eerily beautiful, the matter-of-fact way in which locals deal with the dead (interring them into above-ground family tombs and bagging the previous remains) may be too much for small children to handle. They are also a favourite spot for pickpockets. Save this attraction for a parents-only trip.