Audubon Aquarium of the Americas at the foot of Canal St, in New Orleans

 
Built in 1990, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is located at the foot of Canal St, in New Orleans on the Mississippi Riverfront adjacent to the French Quarter and right in the heart of Downtown New Orleans.
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans is run by the Audubon Institute which is dedicated to the study and appreciation of Nature. The Audubon Institute also runs the Audubon Zoo, Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, the Audubon Louisiana Nature Center.
 
The Audubon Aquarium  is home to some of the most incredible exhibits that showcases different underworld habitats from around the world. 
 
The Aquarium is highly interactive, Sensory Inclusive and wheelchair and stroller accessible. There are engagement stations around every exhibit and they will constantly provide interesting facts about the inhabitants of these exhibits. 
 
Aquarium  is home to a host of fabulous and unique marine animals including sharks, stingrays, moray eels, sea horses, jellyfish, clownfish and several others. 
 
Besides the aquatic animals the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas canal street New Orleans LA has rare and endangered animals such as the white alligator, colorful frogs, African penguins, parakeets and others. 
 
The aquarium offers a range of experiences for its visitors such as touching and feeding the stingrays, meeting the penguins and sharing some fun moments with the sea otters.
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas gift shop is a great place to snag some amazing souvenirs of the visit to the facility. Enjoy amazing benefits and discounts on  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas tickets prices with the different membership plans to the aquarium. 
 
Learn about the various conservation  programs the aquarium is involved in and how you can be part of this amazing mission to save the world’s ocean with a visit to the  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.
 
To know more about the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas click on the video link below: 
 

 
You can also visit the  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas website by clicking on the link
 

 Why visit the Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans?

 
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Canal Street New Orleans LA  is ranked as one of the top five best aquariums in the United States of America. 
 
Aquarium  showcases underwater worlds from the Caribbean, the Amazon Rainforests, the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
 
The Caribbean Reef exhibit of the Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans has an underwater tunnel from where the visitors can view the moral eels, stingrays and other exotic marine creatures. 
 
The Caribbean Reef has a show where the divers hand-feed the stingrays and also interact with the visitors.
 
The Gulf of Mexico is the largest exhibit at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans. It is 17 feet deep and it holds an amazing 400,000 gallons of saltwater which is manmade. 
 
Aquarium exhibit Gulf of Mexico has a ¼ scale replica of an offshore oil rig and it is home to stingrays, sharks, King Midas the green sea turtle and schools of blue runners.
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans LA is home to a bustling colony of rockhopper penguins who are from South America and Africa. These penguins prefer the warmer waters of the temperate zone rather than the cold water of the Antarctic. 
 
The  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans  has one of the most successful African penguin breeding programs.
 
The aquarium is also home to two very active sea otters Buck and Emma. These two were rescued and rehabilitated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and now live in the Aquarium.
 
The animal husbandry department of the aquarium has designed a special sea otter enrichment program for Buck and Emma which involves a lot of toys, fun activities, treats and training. It is a joy to watch these two gambol and frolic around their enclosure. 
 
The  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas imax theatre features a large flat screen, single projection 3D and high definition capabilities and it is the finest motion picture system worldwide.
 

Special Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans Exhibits 

 
 

 
Aquarium has some of the most fascinating exhibits in the facility that can pique the interests of both young and old visitors.
 
 

Gulf Of Mexico Exhibit

 
 
This is the largest exhibit in the  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans 17 feet deep and filled with pilings covered in barnacles. There is a quarter-scale replica of an oil rig and the tank is teeming with schools of fish, stingrays, a green sea turtle and two toothy sand tiger sharks. 
 
There are also brown sharks and nurse sharks which are mild natured and mostly bottom dwellers in this exhibit at the Aquarium. The tank also has Tarpons which also has the amazing ability to go up to the water surface for air to fill their swim bladders. 
 
The tarpons are able to extract oxygen this way besides using their gills. The tarpons survived the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas hurricane Katrina because of this ability when the life support system of the aquarium was greatly damaged. 
 

Amazon Exhibit

 
 
The Amazon Rainforest exhibit is a forest-like atrium with lots of trees and it also has a walkway that leads to the treetops. The exhibit has many open-top enclosures as well as a cascading waterfall. 
 
This exhibit in the Aquarium has several other small exhibits within it such as the Shallow Flooded Forest which has Corydoras catfishes, colorful tetras and many others. 
 
Then there is the Big River Big Fish display that showcases red-flanked pirarucu, redtail catfish, orange-spotted stingrays and a few others. 
 

Amazon River Edge

 
 
This fascinating exhibit in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans has a large anaconda which spends most of its time lying motionless and is fed a whole rabbit each month. Besides the anaconda, there are prochilodus, piranhas and several others thrive in this exhibit. 
 

Parakeet Exhibit

 
 
Next to the Amazon exhibit in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is the parakeet pointe where guests can see these beautiful and colorful almost tamed birds fly freely. The birds even enjoy being hand-fed by the guests. 
 

The Great Maya Reef

 
 
This is an enormous tank filled with colorful fishes that are normally found in the Yucatan reefs of Mexico. This exhibit in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has a 30-feet acrylic tunnel that is built under a 4200 square feet and 16½ feet deep tank. 
 

Living in Water 

 
 
The Living in Water exhibit in the  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans has several exhibits in different sizes that mainly focus on different kinds of aquatic creatures and how they live and survive in their natural environment.
 

Seahorse Gallery

 
 
This is one of the most fascinating galleries in the  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and it features long snout seahorses, pot bellied seahorses and lined seahorses. They glide leisurely around the tank flipping their dorsal fins every few seconds and are fed live shrimp, copepods and amphipods.
 

Penguins in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

 
 

 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas penguins are South American rockhopper penguins with yellow head-plumes and the black-footed African penguins. The exhibit has a large glass enclosure with a rocky habitat as well as a large pool for the penguins to enjoy. 
 
This is one of the most popular exhibits in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and guests can also enjoy a close encounter with these penguins with a backstage pass. 
 

Otters in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas 

 
 

 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has two playful otters that were brought to the facility as they did not adjust well in the California kelp forests. The exhibit has two pools and a large area that is used for behind the scene tours as well as feed the otters. 
 
These ravenous eaters are fed shrimps, squids, mussels, crabs, fish and clams twice a day. These playful otters entertain the guest all day long with their antics as they play with their toys during their training. 
 

The Geaux Fish Gallery

 

 
This is one of the new galleries in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans Louisiana and it highlights the fishing industry in Louisiana. There are interactive games and stations where kids can explore and enjoy. 
 
The gallery has many displays featuring a variety of bait fish which are used to make meals and fish oil. The largest display is the Louisiana Fish Tagging program that has some fine specimens of red-drums, sheep head, speckled trout and several others. 
 
There is another interactive exhibit in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas that lets guests use a virtual reel and identify local fishes and get on a fishing boat. The guests can also touch the stingrays and feed them in the shallow pool. 
 

Mississippi Gallery

 
 
This gallery in the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has some fascinating small and large freshwater exhibits that showcase the marine animals that inhabit the Mississippi River. Some exhibits have small shrimps, clams, etc while others have the blue catfish and channel catfish.
 

Rare Animals of the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

 
 

The White Alligator 

 
 
This spectacular and rare animal is the highlight of the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. According to surveys, only 18 of these magnificent animals are left in the wild now. These alligators look like albinos but they are not. 
 
The white skin and blue eyes are due to a gene mutation and they are called leucistic. Generally, alligators do not eat during the colder months and its no different with these white alligators as well. But during summers they are fed once a week with raw quail, chicken and fish. 
 

Colorful Frogs

 
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has another unique exhibit, the Frogs -Beyond Green Exhibit. This display has a wide variety of colorful frogs and a toad as well. The exhibit also has a film show, several interactive and fun filled activities. 
 
The Audubon Aquarium has a breeding program as well that includes different dart frogs such as a blue dart frog and the golden poison dart frog.
 

Amazing Experiences at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

 

 

Escape Extinction – Sharks

 
 
This is an experience presented by the Escape Room group at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans. This experience is a combination of several interactive games, puzzle solving and challenges given to the group and the mission is to save the sharks from extinction. 
 
The session is a one hour experience of facing several challenges to complete the mission. This experience is great for large groups, birthday celebrations, team building exercises, field trips, etc.
 

Close Encounter of the Penguin Kind

 
 
Enjoy a close encounter with an African penguin in the private encounter area of the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. An aviculturist will guide the guests and answer all questions pertaining to the life and habits of these amazing marine animals. 
 

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Theatre

 
 
Entergy Giant Screen Theatre is the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas iMax theatre featuring 327 front row seats with state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos multi-dimensional sound system. The theatre also has a 5 1/2-story screen with a 4K digital projection system. 
 
Experience larger than life adventures with one of the world’s most advanced motion picture technology. 
 

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Membership

 
 
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans offers several membership packages to suit the requirement of different types of visitors. 
 

• Individual Membership to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans gives free admission and benefits for one adult at the cost of $138 and for senior citizens over 65 years is available for $77.
• Individual Plus gives free admission and benefits for two adults with the same address or one adult and one guest at the rate of $165. The Senior Senior Individual Plus Memberships for two adults of 65 and above years are available for $94

 

• The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans Louisiana offers Family Memberships that extends the benefits to two adults and upto six children at the cost of $220. 

 

• The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas cost of a Safari Krewe Membership is $330 and benefits include two adults, upto six children, two guests, two caregivers and six extra one-time tickets.

 

• The Golden Eagle Membership cost is $550 and includes benefits for two adults, upto six children, six guests, two caregivers, eight one time extra use tickets, free rides on the zoo train for four people and one gift family membership. 

 
To learn more about the different Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans Louisiana Membership plans, benefits and conditions log on to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas website by clicking on the link
 
 

Tickets and Special discount coupons for the Audubon Aquarium

 
 
Enjoy a flat 16% savings on your tickets with the mobile friendly Audubon Aquarium of the Americas coupons. 
 
With the membership of the Audubon Aquarium guests can get a 10% on purchase from Audubon Aquarium of the Americas gift shop.
 

General Admission Tickets 

 
 
The tickets include admission to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas imax theatre.
 

• Adult Ticket Price: $29.95

 

• Senior Ticket Price: $24.95

 

• Child Ticket Price: $24.95

 
There are also Audubon Zoo and Aquarium of the Americas combo tickets which include admission to both these attractions which guests can also visit on two different days. 
 
Cost of these tickets are:
 

• Adult Ticket Price: $40

 

• Senior Ticket Price: $33

 

• Child Ticket Price: $30

 
There are also several different types of discounts on Audubon Aquarium of the Americas prices such as:
 

• The Tourist Attraction Audubon Aquarium of the Americas discount tickets are available which offers admission to various other attractions in New Orleans as well. 

 

• AAA Discounts that save $2 on Adults tickets and $1 on Child tickets on showing the AAA card.

 

• Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Military Discount is available for active and retired military personnel where they can receive a discount of $3 on Adults tickets and $2 off a child’s ticket upon showing a valid ID.

 

• Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Groupon tickets can save upto $15 on General Admission. 

 

• There is also a special Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans discount tickets for City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana employees. Guests can save $2 for general admission with a valid ID. 
• Audubon Aquarium of the Americas discount tickets are available for local Orleans Parish residents where they receive a special benefit of free admission every Wednesday with a valid ID. 

 
This discount can be applied on a rotating basis for Louisiana Nature Center properties – Zoo, Aquarium, Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, or Planetarium.
 

• Audubon Aquarium of the Americas Groupon tickets offer some amazing discounts on admission tickets ranging from $10 to $15 on Adults, Seniors and Children tickets. 

 

Events at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

 
 

Breakfast With Mermaids

 
 

 
This is a public event where visitors get to meet a real mermaid and enjoy a breakfast meal together with these mermaids. This event is held in front of the Gulf of Mexico exhibit at the Audubon Aquarium
 

Oceanfest

 
 
Oceanfest is a celebration of the oceans of the world and it is held each year in the month of June. During this time the  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has several hands-on activities that are aimed at teaching the visitors about the importance of the oceans in the world and how they can help keep these oceans healthy. 
 
This is a month-long celebration so visitors can plan their visits accordingly. 
 
 

Go 4th On The River

 
 
Independence Day is celebrated in a grand way at Woldenberg Park with amazing fireworks that takes place right over the Mississippi River. To honor this event,  Audubon Aquarium of the Americas offers a flat $4 discount on all adult and children’s tickets. 
 
 

Weeki Wachee Mermaids

 
 
Watch mermaids swimming among the fish at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. This event takes place on the weekend of November 1st – 4th, and visitors can head to the Mayan Reef tunnel to experience this wonderful event where the Weeki Wachee Mermaids will swim around and wave at the crowds.
 
 

Scales & Ales

 
 
At this event, theAudubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans celebrates National Seafood Month with a wonderful party where there is live music, seafood, and an open bar. All the proceeds from this event will be used to help fund education and conservation programs to try and make sure that everyone gets to enjoy this delicious food for years to come.
 
 

Host an Event at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

 
 

Weddings

 
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is a great place to host a wedding ceremony as well as reception. There are several places in the aquarium that can be used for each event. Each of these spaces are large and the variety of fish in the background forms a perfect backdrop for a wedding.
 

Birthdays

 
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas has a private party room ideal for birthday celebrations. The room has porthole windows that look into the Gulf of Mexico exhibit with sharks and rays being part of the birthday celebrations. 
 
 

Corporate Events

 
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans LA is an ideal location for any kind of conferences, meetings, retreats, corporate team building exercises or any other corporate event. 
 
The aquarium’s first floor, second floor, Aquarium Plaza and the Gulf Conference room can all be used for events depending on the number of guests invited. 
 

Social Events

 
 
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas event spaces can be used for any social events ranging from anniversaries, engagement parties, bridal showers, bat and bar mitzvah and any other social event or celebration. 
 

Career at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

 
 
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas jobs offer excellent career opportunities for those interested in animal husbandry, aquarist, research assistant and several other positions. The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas LA internships programs in the various departments of the facility. 
 
Placements are available in animal care, conservation, education, volunteer management, administration and many others. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. These internship programs last for about 12 weeks while advanced placements can last upto six months for qualified interns. 
 
To learn more about the various openings visit the official website: https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/internships
 

Audubon Aquarium Operating Hours

 
 
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans hours are Thursday to Monday 10 AM to 5 PM. 
 
The Aquarium remains closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; Thanksgiving and Christmas. 
 

Woldenberg Riverfront Park

 
 
The Woldenberg Riverfront Park at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is a beautiful park along the Mississippi River. It is a 16 acre stretch of lush green space that goes up to the iconic French Quarter. 
 
Visitors to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas can enjoy a picnic or just sit and enjoy the view on one of the benches after exploring the Aquarium. The Woldenberg Riverfront Park at Audubon Aquarium of the Americas was named after philanthropist Malcolm Woldenberg. 
 
Earlier this place used to have warehouses and industrial blocks which has been replaced with jumping points for dinner cruises and diving boats. On any given day, visitors to the Woldenberg Riverfront Park can see a wedding, a school trip, people out on picnics, local musicians, street performers, etc.
 
All year round there are events taking place in this spectacular park including the famous French Quarter Festival that has the main stage in the Woldenberg Park. 
 

Where is the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas?

 
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas address is 1 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130, United States. 
 
If you are visiting and need directions to the aquarium then you can directly call on the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas phone number. 
 

Parking for Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

 
 
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas does not have its own parking lot. However, there are several parking areas nearby. 
 
There are various options guests can use including parking tools such as SpotHero which provides live parking options as well as price comparison. 
 
There are also discounted parking lots with prices ranging from $3 to $21 for 6 hours to full-day parking. For Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans parking, you can choose from any of the following parking garages that are within walking distance from the aquarium. 
 

• Hilton Whale Wall Lot – 728 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130

 

• Badine Lot – 111 Rue Iberville St., New Orleans, LA 70130

 

• Premium Parking Garage at Canal Place – 333 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70130

 

• Metered parking is also available but guests should read the signs carefully before parking their vehicles as parking rules vary throughout the city. 

 

Audubon Aquarium Visiting Tips

 
 

• Book your Audubon Aquarium of the Americas tickets online to save time and skip the lines. Visitors can also buy the tickets from an off-site ticket counter.

 

• The best time to visit the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans is during the weekdays in the afternoon. 

 

• During the month of March to May it is best to visit in the early part of the week after 2:30PM to avoid school groups and field trips. 

 

• The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is usually less crowded from September to January, this would be the best time to visit if you want to explore the exhibits at your own pace. 

 

• The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans allows strollers and wheelchairs inside the facility. There are some complimentary wheelchairs as well for those who may need them. 

 

• The Aquarium does not allow outside food and drinks within its premises. 

 

• The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is a smoke-free property.

 

• The information booth of the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is located in the Lobby and it provides information like Audubon Aquarium of the Americas maps, daily schedules of feedings and shows, etc.

 

• Wheelchairs are available at the information booth as well as the Lost and Found and Hand-stamp for re-entry and parking validation. 

 

• All the pathways along the exhibits of the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans is handicap accessible.

 

• Service animals are allowed inside the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas  except the Parakeet Pointe. Therapy animals are not allowed inside the aquarium. 

 

Hotels near Audubon Aquarium

 
 
There are several hotels near Audubon Aquarium of the Americas and out of town visitors can pick according to their own convenience and availability. 
 

Hilton New Orleans Riverside

 
 
This 4-star hotel is within walking distance from the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans. It is located in the Central Business District hence close to other attractions of the city as well. 
 
The property has 2 outdoor pools, 3 restaurants and 2 bars, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and other amenities. 
 
 

Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans

 
 
This 4-star hotel is within 10 minutes walking distance from the Aquarium and several other attractions. The property has a host of amenities for the comfort of the guests which includes an outdoor pool, restaurant and bar, business centre, wi-fi, etc. 
 

Hampton Inn & Suites New Orleans

 
 
Located at 0.4 miles from the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans Louisiana, this hotel is a 3-star property. The hotel has a world-class fitness centre, a business centre, free Wifi, air conditioning among other amenities. 
 
 

Best Western Plus St. Christopher Hotel, New Orleans

 
 
This 2.5-star property offers 108 smoke-free guest rooms with room service, housekeeping, 24-hour business centre, 24-hour front desk, laundry service and free wifi among others. It is located 0.2 miles away from the aquarium and several other major attractions in the area. 
 

Loews New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans

 
 
The hotel is within walking distance from the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans. The property has 285 guestrooms, an in-house restaurant, bar, indoor pool, limo service, free wifi and several other amenities. It is also within walking distance to many other attractions of the city. 
 

Restaurants near the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas New Orleans

 
 

McAllister’s Select

 
 
This is one of the best restaurants near the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas for a quick bite after the visit. They serve some of the best selection of American comfort food such as BLTs, Sandwiches, Soups, Salads, Sweet Tea and lots more. 
 

Morton’s The Steakhouse – New Orleans

 
 
This is one of the most popular steakhouses in the country and it specializes in classic fares. It is famous for its favourite cuts and 24-ounce porterhouse, a 16 ounce New York Strip and a 12-ounce double cut filet. 
 
The menu also features several delectable items such as fresh fish, lobsters and chicken. 
 

The  Buffet – Harrah’s New Orleans

 
 
This restaurant has one of the best buffet spreads around. Their spread includes French and Asian fares with an equally impressive dessert bar which serves over 40 items. This is a casual dining restaurant and has its own private parking lot. 
 

Top 10 Attractions near Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

 
 

• Masquerade Nightclub

 

• Harrah’s Casino New Orleans

 

• The Fillmore

 

• Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium

 

• The National World War II Museum

 

• Holocaust Memorial

 

• The Spanish Plaza

 

• The Historic New Orleans Collection

 

• Earth Odyssey

 

• The Sazerac House

 

Final Words

 
 
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is a great place for some family fun and entertainment combined with learning about a very important aspect of ocean conservation and marine animals that inhabit these oceans. 
 
What makes this aquarium truly worthy of a visit is all the interactive games and puzzles the get the visitors to be a part of the whole experience. 
 
From touch pools to hand feeding the stingrays to walking with the dolphins to playing with the sea otters, the aquarium has all that would make the visit truly memorable.