I’ve lived my entire life in New Orleans, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. The food is great, the people are friendly, the weather is fair (we are forgiving people) but it just comes down to living in New Orleans is the best. It’s a playground for little kids. From running down Monkey Hill at the zoo and splashing in the waterfall to swearing that the Lady Bug rollercoaster was the fastest in the world, here are the four reasons why growing up in New Orleans is the best.

The food

This one is a given. Where else are you able to experience so many different types of food? From crawfish and gumbo to French cuisine and fine dining, New Orleans offers it all. When your out-of-state friends come in town and ask for restaurant recommendations, you easily have five at hand, but never can seem to remember all the amazing places you’ve been.

The weather

OK, hear me out here. Yes, it may be unbelievably hot, but, some of the best times are splashing around in the puddles created from random rainstorms. Because of our slower than slow sewer system, streets can sometimes flood and when that happens, it’s not uncommon to see parents pushing their younger children around in boats or really anything else that floats. The kids love it, the parents love it (once they get over the fact that they can’t leave for work because they’re flooded in again), it’s a win win.

Carnival Season

Again, this is a given. I went to my first Mardi Gras before I turned 1 and never stopped. It has something for the adults (a day off of work) and something for kids (free stuffed animals and beads). You have a spot, you have a ladder, you have a routine. By the time you turn 5, you’ve got this Mardi Gras thing down pat.

The city is your playground

Of course there are parts of the city you should stay away from but that’s with every city. When you grow up in New Orleans, you grow up into a city that’s fun to explore. From Jackson Square to City Park and everything in between, there’s an adventure everywhere.

When you grow up in New Orleans, you grow up in a city that’s full of culture and history. When you grow up in New Orleans, every other city sounds boring. What do you mean you don’t get a week off of school to catch stuffed animals that are kind of smelly? How many festivals can you catch in one month? I’m proud to say I’m from New Orleans. 504ever.