Snap! Gurgle! Quack!
Written: Nov 27 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fabulous for the kiddies and adults
Cons: Pricey, but the exhibits are worth it
The Bottom Line: Definitely a must-see for visitors bored with the French Quarter, the Aquarium of the Americas provides a family atmosphere at a respectable price.
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| salme's Full Review: Audubon Institute Aquarium of the Americas |
The Audubon Institute's Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans is a fun, but too brief, frolick for the whole family. Located on the Mississippi riverfront at Canal Street, the Aquarium is easily accessible by auto or streetcar. It opens at 9:30 am and is open every day. Parking is free during certain hours.
Prices:
$13.50 adults
$10.00 seniors (65+)
$6.50 children under 12
The Aquarium:
First, there is the building. I remember it as rather dark and a bit gloomy, but aquarium fans know this is the norm, to better regulate the temperature by avoiding heat-producing lighting. Architects Billes Manning & Eskew Filson
produced a wonderful, full, and easy-to-traverse building. Built in 1990, the Aquarium was at one time the largest and most well-regarded in the country.
The Exhibits:
The Aquarium has several standing exhibits, including a Mississippi River Basin exhibit that fills in visitors on the ecological system just steps from the Aquarium's front door. This exhibit includes a fascinating white alligator.
Visitors can look into major aquatic habitats of North and South America, the Caribbean Sea, the Amazon Rainforest, and the Gulf of Mexico. Each exhibit mimics very closely the natural habitat of the creatures in those areas.
The Amazon Rainforest is a nice break from the darkness of the Aquarium's interior, offering a bright and lively, if humid, interior habitat.
My personal favorite exhibit was a toss-up between the Sea Otters Buck and Emma, and the new exhibit of Seahorses. The exhibit is truly fascinating, complete with two types of horse-ees that mimic their environments; put them among seaweed, and they sprout "growths" that look like the seaweed.
From Potbellies to Dwarfs, the Seahorse Gallery includes a variety of seahorses to delight and amaze. Seadragons float through the water on tiny fins that move so quickly they look like hummingbird wings.
One astounding fact I learned from the Seahorse Gallery: It's the MALES that give birth to the young. Now that's fair.
I also liked the model of a giant shark's jaw -- the yawning jaw was taller than I am, and provides a popular photo op.
Don't forget the IMAX theater (costs extra) and underwater bridge!
The Ranking:
According to their website, "the Aquarium of the Americas is ranked one of the top five in the nation," with more than a million gallons of water and more than 15,000 animals. I'm slightly spoiled, with the proximity of the Baltimore Aquarium; the shark exhibit and rainforest are larger in Balto. Still, New Orleans' Aquarium is thorough, interesting, and enlightening. I liked the setup of the exhibits, as well as the location of a couple of gift shops interspersed with the exhibits, which allowed my companion to buy some more film.
Final Word:
Definitely a must-see for visitors bored with the French Quarter, the Aquarium of the Americas provides a family atmosphere at a respectable price.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
salme
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Location: University Park, MD
Reviews written: 32
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
Professional editor and freelance writer.
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