Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas stands at 1 Canal Street on the Mississippi riverfront at the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. Operated by the Audubon Nature Institute, the aquarium presents marine life from the waters of the Americas in a series of themed galleries. The signature Gulf of Mexico exhibit features a large tank with sharks, rays and sea turtles viewed through a walk-through tunnel. Other galleries cover the Amazon Rainforest with free-flying birds, piranhas and anacondas, the Caribbean Reef with colorful fish, and the Mississippi River Gallery with alligators, paddlefish and native species. Penguins, sea otters and jellyfish are other favorites, and seasonal exhibits and touch pools allow close encounters. The adjacent Entergy Giant Screen Theater and the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, located at the old US Custom House on Canal Street, are separate or combined attractions. Visitors usually spend two to three hours, and slightly longer if they add a film or the combination ticket. The aquarium is generally open Tuesday through Sunday, though hours change seasonally, so confirming at the Audubon Nature Institute website is wise. Combo tickets with the Insectarium or the Zoo are cheaper than buying separate admissions, and buying online can save time at the door. Crowds are lightest on weekday mornings and heaviest on weekends, school holidays and rainy days when other outdoor activities are not available. For photography, the shark tunnel is the highlight, and dimmed lighting means a steady hand and no flash are best. The location is a short walk from the French Quarter, and the Riverfront streetcar stops nearby. Walks along the riverfront promenade, called the Moon Walk and Woldenberg Park, provide pleasant views before or after a visit.