The barrier island beaches are closer and as good as gulf shores. Trampani's is the best seafood on highway 90 from mobile to New Orleans... And out of a survey of 11 members of congress that I took there and Antoines in NOLA, all 11 of them said they liked Trapani's more.

There isn't a place to drop the kids off really. There are some water slide places, etc... though that they'll enjoy. Some of the casinos have pretty impressive game rooms for kids too.