The Audubon Zoo of New Orleans

During your vacation to the “Big Easy”, you will find there are plenty of New Orleans attractions to keep you busy. However, if you are looking for one of the New Orleans attractions more geared toward the children, a trip to the Audubon Zoo is worth taking.

The organization of the Audubon Nature Institute has a collection of attractions across the city to acquaint tourists and the locals with amazing wildlife from across the globe. There is Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, The Aquarium of the Americas (including an IMAX theatre), a golf course and several parks like the Audubon Park and the Woldenberg Riverfront Park in the heart of New Orleans.

The Audubon Zoo was opened in 1914 and has grown over the years to incorporate innovative exhibits and a large collection of exotic animals. You can see the World of Primates exhibit featuring gorillas, lemurs, tamarins, and siamangs, to name a few. There is even a family of Sumtran Orangutans, an endangered species whose recent birth of baby orangutan Blaze, made headlines as a success in the effort to save this declining species.

The Audubon Zoo in New Orleans has habitats for white tigers, jaguars, rhinos, and the world of komodo dragons (the world’s largest lizards). For a real treat, visit the Louisiana Swamp exhibit. This Audubon Zoo exhibit looks like a transplanted section of the Louisiana bayou right in the heart of New Orleans. Here you can find cypress trees, Spanish moss and other swamp favorites like a trapper’s cottage, the white alligator and Cajun cuisine. Treat the family to a live feeding of the gators, then later check out the black bears playing. This is one of the best New Orleans attractions in town.

The Audubon Zoo has several other attractions, like the newly installed rock climbing wall for $5 per person. When you get to the top of the wall you can see the entire view of the Zoo. For the kids, there is an endangered species Carousel and the Swamp train that takes you around the Zoo for an additional fee.

For a thrill, try the hi-tech Safari Simulator Ride. On this ride, images are projected on a large screen and your chair moves in sync with the experience. You can take a ride in a Haunted Mine, swim with the Dolphins, ride on a Cosmic Coaster, pretend you are in a Race Car Slot, or go on a mission to save the endangered mountain gorillas on the Gorilla Safari ride.

During the year the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans hosts several events that celebrate local culture like the Soul fest in June, which celebrates the African American culture and its tremendous contribution to the music of New Orleans and the world. Geared for children, there are crafts, music, and delicious soul food to sample!

One of the great New Orleans itineraries could include breakfast in the French Market, a day at the Aquarium of the Americas, followed by a cruise down the Mississippi to the Audubon Zoo and finshing off the day with a dinner jazz cruise at night. Plan carefully though, because the Aquarium stays closed during some big events like Mardi Gras.

The Audubon Zoo is one of the best New Orleans attractions for family fun!