1. Rivertown Repertory Theatre
City: Kenner, LA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (504) 468-7221
Address: 325 Minor St.
Description: Located in the historical Rivertown museum district, this 300-seat theater presents mostly traditional favorites such as Cole Porter’s Anything Goes, Miss Saigon, and Guys and Dolls, September through May. Ticket prices are $22 to $25 for adults; $20 to $22 for seniors and students age 13 to 21; $10 to $12 for children age six to 12. Group rates are available. Box office hours are Tues through Fri 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
2. Cannes Brulee Native American Center
City: Kenner, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (504) 468-7231
Address: 415 Williams Blvd.
Description: Cannes Brulee is Rivertown’s most distinctive museum featuring traditional artwork and crafts created by Native Americans from Louisiana and the Southeastern region of the United States. On exhibit are jewelry, tools, weapons, basketry, clay pottery, woodcarvings, musical instruments, children’s toys, dreamcatchers, paintings, moccasins, and a dugout cypress pirogue.On some Saturdays, these artists give demonstrations of the traditional methods used to create these items. Call for a schedule. Cannes Brulee was the name given to the area by early European explorers. Meaning “burnt cane,” the Europeans so dubbed the area after coming across Native Americans who would cut and burn river cane to help drive out small game.
3. Children’S Castle
City: Kenner, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (504) 468-7231
Address: 503 Williams Blvd.
Description: Opened in 1995, the Children’s Castle is one of several attractions in Kenner’s historic Rivertown district. The area is mostly made up of museums (all of which are worth visiting), but the Children’s Castle is where the art of live performance reigns supreme. Shows featuring musicians, magicians, puppets, and storytelling are presented every Sat morning. Shows are at 11:30 a.m. Call for reservations.
4. The Mardi Gras Museum
City: Kenner, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (504) 468-7231
Address: 415 Williams Blvd.
Description: Miniature float replicas, elaborate costumes, giant walking figures, and a huge papier-mâché king cake make a great introduction to Mardi Gras, dubbed the biggest free show on earth. The Mardi Gras Museum brings Carnival to life year-round with an extensive array of memorabilia, photographs, videos, and costumes. Visitors step into Mardi Gras in a street-scene reproduction complete with all the sights and sounds of New Orleans’ most popular party. Self-guided tours include the 20-minute Richard Dreyfus-narrated video Farewell to the Flesh, as well as 13 other videos shown throughout the museum that highlight the traditions of Mardi Gras. Live costume-making and float-building demonstrations are scheduled periodically.
5. Planetarium And Mega Dome Cinema
City: Kenner, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (504) 468-7231
Address: 2020 4th St.
Description: This state-of-the-art planetarium and observatory features narrated sky shows and laser light extravaganzas. Hours and shows vary. The Mega Dome Cinema is where dinosaurs and safari animals come to life on a giant screen. Shows change periodically. Call for times.
6. Science Center
City: Kenner, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (504) 468-7231
Address: 409 Williams Blvd.
Description: The center is geared to kids age six and older and offers hands-on exhibits centered on science as it is used in daily living, such as hurricane tracking (which qualifies as a daily living situation in New Orleans), human physiology, and the “secret science” found inside walls.
7. Toy Train Museum
City: Kenner, LA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (504) 468-7231
Address: 519 Williams Blvd.
Description: Adjacent to the Illinois Central Gulf railroad tracks is this turn-of-the-20th-century building chock-full of hundreds of model trains, some dating to the 1800s. There’s even a train playscape for the little ones, featuring a half-scale caboose playhouse, a make-believe circus, a train engine, and the Dixie Diner, where youngsters can enjoy a pretend meal.