New Orleans Aquarium Discounts and Tour Highlights
Whether you’re a resident “Nawlander” or just passing through the city on the weekend, New Orleans aquarium discounts give you the best prices on marine magic. Considered one of the top New Orleans, LA, things to do, All ages and interests will love their trip to the aquarium! So, grab your friends and family, buckle up the kids, and head on over to the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas today, for a wildlife experience that you will not soon forget!
Table of Contents
- New Orleans Audubon Aquarium Exhibits
- Gulf of Mexico
- Living in Water
- Stingray Touch Pool
- Mississippi River Gallery
- Great Maya Reef
- New Orleans Aquarium Highlights
- New Orleans Aquarium Discounts
- New Orleans Aquarium and Information
New Orleans Audubon Aquarium Exhibits
This stunning enclosure at the Audubon Aquarium features sharks, rays, and whales
Just steps away from the festivities of the historic French Quarter, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas awaits with a long list of incredible exhibits and spectacular displays of marine wildlife! One of the most affordable NOLA parks, and one of the best ways to fill your days in the Crescent City, the Aquarium of the Americas is fun, informative, and beautiful. From otters to penguins, sharks, and rays, enjoy an afternoon deep-diving the inner workings of marine habitats from the Gulf of Mexico on down to the Amazon and beyond.
While you’re there, deep-dive these 5 can’t-miss exhibits at the Aquarium of the Americas for optimal enjoyment and fun!
1. Gulf of Mexico
Image Courtesy of the Audubon Nature Institute
No trip to the Aquarium of the Americas would be complete without a visit to the Gulf of Mexico exhibit. A 400,000-gallon tank of salt water that emulates the real thing, this exhibit is the biggest and baddest of the whole lot.
The tank boasts a wide range of species native to the Louisiana coast and the Gulf of Mexico like sharks, grouper, amberjack, sting rays, sea turtles, and more! What makes this exhibit truly exceptional is that it was created with authenticity in mind, going so far as to install a massive faux oil rig covered with real, live barnacles!
2. Living in Water
Image Courtesy of the Audubon Nature Institute
If you haven’t been to the Aquarium of the Americas before, you will be amazed at the vibrance of the facilities and the wildlife that resides within. The Living in Water exhibit is one feature, in particular, that is sure to dazzle, so be sure to bring your camera along for some snaps! A New Orleans kid-friendly things to do, check out popular, flashy fish like Nemo (clownfish) and Dory (royal blue tang, regal tang, or surgeonfish), as well as the beautiful, but invasive, Lionfish!
3. Stingray Touch Pool
Feeling stingrays gracefully glide over your hands is one of the most unique children-friendly activities in New Orleans! Image Courtesy of the Audubon Nature Institute
Have you ever touched a cow’s nose before? Well, how about a cownose stingray!? If not, this is your chance! As gentle as they come, cownose rays can be found throughout the western Atlantic and Caribbean. They are also super social and gentle, making this exhibit a true fan favorite.
Step up, reach down, and watch these amazing creatures glide through the water and straight for your palms! Watch and interact with the stingrays as they play down by the bay - what do you say?
4. Mississippi River Gallery
Image Courtesy of the Audubon Nature Institute
Set above the Mighty Mississippi River, feast your eyes on resident freshwater species like the catfish, sturgeon, and paddlefish, as well as a leucistic (similar to albinism, but only partial pigmentation loss), white alligator at the Mississippi River Gallery. A New Orleans classic, this exhibit is surrounded by docks, nets, and rocks so authentic, you’ll swear that you were gearing up to ride a riverboat queen!
The exhibit isn’t just freshwater fish, either. As you probably know, the Mississippi River flows from the mainland into the sea. As such, the Mississippi River Gallery also examines wildlife in and around the brackish (part saltwater part freshwater) waters of the port, and even features creatures of the land and sky like the majestic barred owl!
5. Great Maya Reef
Image Courtesy of the Audubon Nature Institute
From its mysterious entryway and a 30-foot submerged tunnel leading to the main exhibit, the Great Maya Reef exhibit at the New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas is 4,200 square feet of awesome. Take a look at the day-to-day interactions of an array of interesting and exotic sea critters like moray eels, spiny lobsters, coral, lionfish, and yellowtail snapper. The next best thing to a snorkeling trip off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula, swim on over to the Great Maya Reef exhibit for a wealth of sunken artifacts, treasure, and marine wildlife!
New Orleans Aquarium Highlights
See the penguins at the New Orleans aquarium swim and play in their very own penguin habitat
The Audubon Aquarium’s simulated habitats listed above are truly top-notch, which is a huge credit to the zookeepers and scientists on staff. From animal husbandry experts to biologists and top-tier veterinarians, the pros with the New Orleans Audubon Parks and Aquariums are some of the hardest-working folks you will find anywhere!
With that being said, you can rest assured that each trip to this amazing aquarium should yield high-quality experiences, happy animals, and unforgettable family memories. Every trip to the New Orleans Aquarium is special, and no two trips are exactly the same. Some sights, scenes, and sounds you can expect to encounter include:
- Gulf of Mexico Exhibit
- Great Maya Reef
- Amazon Rainforest
- Reef Rescue
- Mississippi River
- Parakeet Pointe
- Penguins Exhibit
- Stingray Touch Pool
If you’re looking for even more amazing animals during your trip to NOLA, check out the Audubon Zoo. Expect the same great exhibits, but with more animals that inhabit the land and air. Find coupons and promo codes for the Audubon Zoo online at TripShock.com!
{Read Reviews & Book New Orleans Tourist Attractions Online}
New Orleans Aquarium Discounts
New Orleans Aquarium discounts are no longer available. But Tripshock.com offers discounts on lots of exciting New Orleans tours and attractions including Plantation Tours, Museums, and Swamp Tours.
New Orleans Aquarium and Information
Jellyfish, sharks, and seahorses, oh my! According to a recent Traveler Story, your little ones will love the magical marine life they encounter at this awesome aquarium
New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas Hours: The aquarium is open from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm Tuesday through Sunday, Mondays during the spring and summer, and some select holiday Mondays. Hours of operation are subject to change.
New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas Address: 1 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130
New Orleans Aquarium of the Americas Parking: Discounted parking is available, and for more information about where to park and how much it costs, click here: https://audubonnatureinstitute.org/aquarium-getting-here
The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is a celebration of everything wet and wild in the Big Easy and beyond. Just a short stroll from Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, treat yourself and your family to a day of learning and adventure at one of the Southeast’s most robust wildlife parks. Featuring a wide range of in-depth exhibits that explore the life and times of both the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River, this is your chance to become the most knowledgeable marine biologist since George Costanza!