Son is playing in a tourney in New Orleans starting the 17th. Daughter really wants to go to beach for one day - any recommendations??

I would drive to Mississippi or to Florida. Nothing like the white beaches of the Florida panhandle.

I would not go anywhere near the water around New Orleans. There was lots of "stuff" that got washed away in the storm. You just don't know how far it was washed away.

There aren't any good Gulf of Mexico beaches within an hours drive of New Orleans, (well, maybe within the next 20 years or another Cat 5 hurricane there will be). As stated in a previous post, go to Long Beach MS thru Biloxi MS. Of course these areas are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina also.
What tourney are you coming down for??????