We had an unplanned morning during our trip to N.O. so we decided to take the street car up to the park. Our main goal was to have coffee and beignets at the Cafe Du Monde in the park instead of fighting the crowds at the main location. That plan worked out well as there were only a couple people in line in front of us when we arrived around 9am. It did fill in but nowhere close to what it was like at the main location.
After our breakfast we strolled around the immediate area. We only explored the areas in the south end of the park but there was lots to see. There are some beautiful bridges over the water and the McDonogh Oak was close by (over 800 years old).
The real surprise was the free Sculpture Garden. The gates opened at 10am and there is a LOT of sculptures to look at in an extremely well manicured grounds. Well worth your time.
After the sculpture garden we walked west through the park, took a nice swing on one of the many bench swings, then headed out of the park to visit the Hurricane Katrina Memorial and some of the nearby cemeteries.
You could easily spend a full day in the park. We barely scratched the surface. Take the 48 street car (Green route) to the Museum of Art stop (it's the last stop on the route) and it is a short walk to Cafe Du Monde or the Sculpture Garden. If you find yourself at the west end of the park it is only a short walk to the 47 street car (red route) Cemeteries Transit Terminal, which will take you back down Canal to the French Quarter area.