You may already be familiar with the Louisiana motto, “Sportsman’s Paradise”. Well that applies to sportsmen of all ages. Of course, the motto refers to sports that relate to our natural resources…such as fishing, boating, hunting, bird watching. You may also think of athletes, as I do. There is a paradise for the athlete and athletic fan in New Orleans as well.
Building on our January theme of Kid Friendly New Orleans, get your kids out and about to see and play some sports. New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (formerly New Orleans Recreation Department) provides youth sports programs year round as well as summer camps. Love swimming? Uptown, has a very highly regarded swim program. Or if your kids just like to run, check out Youth Run New Orleans.
Besides playing sports and running around, also enjoy getting out and about to watch sports. This is of course basketball season. As an alternative to NBA basketball, check out a hoops game at one of the local universities. Tulane, UNO, Loyola, and Dillard University all have excellent athletic programs. So whether you are Uptown, Lakeview or Gentilly there is a university nearby where you can watch sports.
A benefit to college sports over professional, the energy is much higher, you can watch men’s or women’s sports, and our favorite part, there is a Pep Squad with a band that play throughout the game. What New Orleanian doesn’t like a good horn section?!
Now the BIG TIME sporting activity on the horizon is the NBA All-Star Game being held in the Crescent City next month, February 13 – 16, 2014. The main event is a high-rollers affair. The family aspect of the weekend is the JAM SESSION. Jam Session will be at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and includes loads of activities for the young and young at heart.
The official website claims…”wall to wall basketball fun for fans of all ages”. There’s skill tests, competitions, meet and greets and more. You can pick the hoop of your choice, as in there are hoops of varying heights so even the little tikes can make a slam dunk! Tickets start at $10.00 per session. Thursday and Friday activities begin at 4:00 PM and Saturday is an all-day affair from 9AM til 10PM.
See you on the court or in the field.
Every thing lovely,
Leslie
Out and About is a weekly blog by Leslie Compton of Every Thing Lovely, a special event and creative consulting team, and is sponsored by Key to NOLA Properties, a full service real estate brokerage firm specializing in furnished rental properties in New Orleans, Key to NOLA Properties and Every Thing Lovely have joined forces to provide a full array of services for travelers’ ( and locals’) personal and professional needs while in the Crescent City.
