The Aquarium - #4 in family friendly New Orleans
Written: Jun 24 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A top 10 Aquarium - not to be missed
Cons: No major cons
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| wego2wdw's Full Review: Audubon Institute Aquarium of the Americas |
The Aquarium of the Americas is one of the top attractions in New Orleans for families. The combination of location, exhibits, and experiences make it simply a must for visitors to New Orleans. Here's my review.
The Aquarium is located at the foot of Canal Street, right on the Mississippi River and within blocks of the French Quarter and the Convention Center. Hours of operation are generally 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Admission is $13.00 for adults, $10.00 for seniors, and $6.40 for children under 12. You can park free for three hours at the nearby Hilton New Orleans. Park near the "Whale". You can also walk from most hotels in the French Quarter area or take the convenient river trolley (the red trolleys which go along the river). More information can be found at the Aquarium's website: http://www.auduboninstitute.org/html/aa_aquariumain.html
The Aquarium is just spectacular. It's been open ten years now and the exhibits are always changing. The permanent exhibits are the Carribean, The Gulf of Mexico, and the Mighty Mississippi. Each exhibit shows the sea life native to that area. The Carribean exhibit is my favorite. There is just nothing like it being surrounded by spectacular fish and sea creatures all around you. My daughter's favorite is the Mighty Mississippi. As you walk through a hunid area that reminds me so much of New Orleans you'll see the animals and plants that are indigenous to the river. My personal favorite are the large catfish but my daughter loves looking at the alligators and turtles. The Aquarium also is home to a large shark exhibit which includes an area where children can pet small nurse sharks. I like to sit in the small bleachers and watch the sharks swimming around from a safe distance. The Aquarium also has several smaller exhibits which tend to change. Right now there is an exhibit called "Pacific Coast Adventures." This is an interactive exhibit with many activities designed to teach visitors more about that part of the country. My daughter's favorite on our last visit were the masks the museum staff was helping the kids make. There's also a great exhibit of two sea otters which the Audobon Institute is keeping as part of a project to save their declining population. Lastly the newest exhibit is the Seahorse Gallery. This exhibit was not yet open on our recent visit and we're looking forward to seeing that next time.
The Aquarium also has an IMAX theater with a rotating series of films. IMAX tickets are extra but the films are spectacular and well worth the added cost (about $4 if you buy a combination ticket). In addition there is a large gift shop which sells not only museum souvenirs but many educational items. There is also a large snack bar on the top floor overlooking the Mississippi River which serves some of the food New Orleans is famous for as well as the usual hot dogs, chips, and soft drinks.
We simply love the Aquarium and visit often. Our four year old simply can not get enough of the sea life and we've found the staff to be among the best we've seen. If you're in New Orleans, I'd urge you to definitely make it a part of your next visit.
My top tips:
1) The completely air conditioned Aquarium is a great place to visit between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the New Orleans heat and humidity can be unbearable.
2) The Aquarium is extremely easy to tour. The exhibits all spiral upward and then downward and you'll see everything by just following that route.
3) For a great day, combine your visit to the Aquarium with one to the Audubon Zoo. You can even buy "zoo cruise" tickets which give you admission to the zoo and aquarium plus riverboat transportation between the two. It's something I always do with first time visitors to the city.
I hope you and your family have a great time on your next visit to New Orleans!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
wego2wdw
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Member: MB
Reviews written: 47
Trusted by: 14 members
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