New Orleans Indoor Activities

It may seem counterintuitive to some, but Affirm Fitness’s head fitness trainer, Lauren Leitner, also owns a biscotti-making business. Of course, all of the desserts she doles out are low in fat, making them tasty complements to the healthy lifestyle that she hopes to impart upon her students at Affirm Fitness. There, she and fellow trainers lead exercisers of all stripes through boot camps that are either traditional or tailored to new moms. Cardio-and-sculpt boot camp shows exercisers how to have fun as they transition between drills in agility, interval training, and body-weight resistance. In baby-friendly Bootie Camp, participants push strollers a little bit faster than usual for a cardio workout that allows them to spend time with little ones while they improve themselves. Moms can even spend a little time sculpting muscles with hand weights or by lifting diaper bags filled with bricks. Affirm Fitness’s class schedule also includes dance-inspired Zumba cardio workouts, relaxing yoga, and TRX suspension training.

Check the schedule for showtimes. Student tickets are regularly $10 each, and Thursday performances are pay-what-you-can shows.

The Zephyrs boast a rich history of nurturing budding bat-swatters and arm-bazooka wielders; nearly 50 former Zephyr players are currently playing in the major leagues. Led by the big-swinging 22-year-old first baseman Logan Morrison, who sported a .300 average and 10 RBIs in his first 40 at-bats, and 23-year-old hurler Ryan Tucker, who posted a 1.59 ERA and nine strikeouts in his first 11.1 innings, the Zephyrs are primed for another run at the PCL American South division title.

The Southern Food & Beverage Museum quells culinary curiosities with ongoing exhibits celebrating the unique bites and beverages of the South. Permanent exhibits include Tout de Sweet: All About Sugar, which examines the role of sugar production in Louisiana, and A Table at Galatoire’s, which traces the venerable restaurant’s history through artifacts such as original plates and salvaged blue-cheese crumbles. Inside the museum, guests encounter The Museum of the American Cocktail, a Martha Stewart brand-endorsed knowledge vault that explores the history of mixed drinks from the 1800s to the modern day, housing original absinthe fountains and Prohibition-era flasks crafted from Al Capone’s day planner.

Yogi Michele Baker began teaching yoga at a New Orleans athletic club in 1998. Ten years later, after Hurricane Katrina forced Baker to evacuate her home, she started writing a yoga-instruction training manual. She soon put it to use, using it as a guide to lead her staff at Swan River Yoga, which she opened with business partner Keith Porteous. Today, the yoga center helps pupils practice yoga and guides aspiring instructors as they hone their craft and nurture the third eye that sprouts from their forehead.

Yoga classes are suitable for a variety of skill levels, and range from prenatal and beginners’ yoga to Anusara yoga—a class that focuses on flowing movements and proper alignment. Swan River Yoga also provides holistic services such as massage, reiki, and acupuncture.

Let the name fool you—BooKoo Bounce is all about bouncing. The 8,300-square foot climate-controlled indoor playground boasts nine inflatable attractions spread across two arenas. Primarily designed for ages 2–11, the hop-friendly attractions range from air-filled basketball hoops and Bat Man-themed slides to obstacle courses ripe for crawling and racing. Kids can also flock to the spacious bounce houses that look like colorful castles and birthday cakes, perfect for kids who dream of being royalty or moving into a baked good after college.

While their young ones play, parents can relax in a lounge where a pair of high-definition televisions stays tuned to the latest in major sports.