The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, is by far one of the cities finest attractions. With it's many exhibits and attractions, it is the perfect way destination for a family get away.

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is located at 1 Canal Street, on the banks of the Mississippi River in New Orleans LA. It is home to hundreds of species of aquatic life, and exhibits that the entire family can enjoy.

Adventure Island is one of the Audubon Aquarium's largest exhibits, designed for fun and exploration for the young and young at heart. The main feature of Adventure Island is a 2,600 gallon pool that allows visitors to come up close and personal with cow-nose stingrays. Visitors can touch the stingrays, as well as feed them, though there are specific feeding times and food must be purchased separately. It is best to purchase your feeding tokens early, as there is a limit to 15 tokens per feeding.

Another popular exhibit at the Audubon Aquarium is the penguin colony. This colony features two species of warm-water penguins, the African black-footed penguin and the Rockhopper penguin. The African black-footed penguin is the most numerous penguin in the penguin colony and the aquarium has had great success in breeding them in captivity. While it is not an interactive event, there are two penguin feedings daily for visitors to enjoy.

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is also the home of Buck and Emma, two Southern Sea Otters. Buck and Emma live in a custom-made habitat that consists of a 25,000 gallon exhibit. Buck and Emma's care has been entrusted to the Audubon Aquarium by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, as part of a sea otter enrichment program. Otters are now endangered animals due to being hunted for their fur, so Audubon Aquarium is hoping to help protect these beautiful creatures by helping to educate others of their life, and their need for conservation. Visitors can enjoy watching them frolick and play, as well as watching their daily feedings.

"Spots" the alligator is a favored attraction of the Audubon Aquarium, located in their Mississippi River Gallery. "Spots" is a rare, white alligator. "Spots" is not an albino alligator, however he is Leucistic, meaning that a rare gene mutation makes him white, with blue eyes, rather then the pink eyes that an albino would feature. The need for "Spots" to have a safe home in the aquarium is extremely important, since white alligators do not camouflage well in Louisiana swamps, and would make easy prey.

There are many other exciting exhibits to view as well, including the Frogs-Beyond Green exhibit, the Horses and Dragons from the Sea exhibit, and let's not forget the Caribbean Reef. The Caribbean Reef is an exciting adventure for people of all ages. This 30 foot long tunnel, holding an amazing 132,000 gallons of water, surrounds you and allows you to encounter aquatic creatures of all shapes and sizes from North and South America.

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas hours of operation change depending on the season, so it is important that you call or check their website before visiting. Admission prices vary depending on tickets purchased, as you can purchase tickets for just the Audubon Aquarium or package tickets that include the Audubon Zoo and the Entergy Imax theater as well. Be advised that you may also have to pay for parking, depending on where you decide to park.

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is a great way to spend any day. When visiting New Orleans, it is definitely a must see attraction that anyone, no matter how young or old, is sure to enjoy.