Audubon Aquarium
4.4(15,073)4.4 out of 5 stars, 15073 reviews New Orleans, LA
About Audubon Aquarium
The Audubon Aquarium offers a unique dual experience with both marine life and an insectarium, highlighted by an interactive sting ray petting area and a consistently praised butterfly section. It stands out for its well-maintained displays and a surprisingly tasty unique snack – chocolate chip cricket cookies. It's particularly appealing for visitors interested in regional fish and an engaging 1.5-4 hour activity.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families visiting New Orleans seeking a multi-faceted indoor attraction.Children interested in both aquatic life and insects.Those looking for unique interactive animal experiences (e.g., sting ray petting).A 2-4 hour activity to fill a morning or afternoon.Visitors looking to experience local marine life.
Why families love it
- The butterfly section is a consistent family favorite across reviews.
- Interactive opportunity to pet sting rays, particularly enjoyed by children.
- Includes both an aquarium and an insectarium for diverse viewing.
- Well-maintained facilities with pretty and nice displays.
- Lovely music and ambiance contribute to the experience.
- Offers a unique culinary experience with chocolate chip cricket cookies (reviewer notes you can't taste the cricket).
Insider tips
- Be prepared for admission: Children 12 and older require an adult-priced ticket ($40).
- Plan for a visit duration of 1.5 to 2 hours if moving at a steady pace, though deeper engagement can extend it to 3-4 hours.
- Don't miss the butterfly room and the opportunity to pet sting rays.
- Consider starting your visit in the insect area, as one reviewer found it a good way to begin.
- For a unique experience, try the chocolate chip cricket cookies.
- It's a valuable stop for out-of-town visitors keen on seeing regional fish.
Good to know before you go
- If your primary expectation is a full-day attraction for the $40 entry fee, as visit times can be as short as 1.5 hours.
- If you are specifically looking for a zoo experience for the $5 add-on, as its accessibility or visibility within the venue is unclear.
- Admission costs for children 12+ are set at adult ticket prices ($40 per person).
- The visit duration can feel short for the price, with some reviewers noting 1.5-2 hours, while others suggest 3-4 hours are possible.
- An optional $5 zoo access add-on is mentioned but its entry point or location was unclear to a reviewer, implying potential difficulty in finding or accessing it.
- Crowds
- No specific crowd level information or peak times are mentioned in the reviews.
- Value
- Admission is $40 per person for full access to both the Aquarium and Insectarium. Children 12+ are charged adult prices. An optional $5 add-on for a zoo is mentioned, but its availability or access points are unclear. While some found the 1.5-hour visit short for the price, others spent up to 4 hours, suggesting value depends on individual engagement. It's considered worth it for those traveling from afar to see regional fish.
- Food
- There is a restaurant on-site.
- Accessibility
- No specific accessibility accommodations are mentioned in the reviews.
- Safety
- The facility is compliant with Animal Welfare Regulations, ensuring animal well-being and by extension, visitor safety around the animals.
What parents say
"Great place to visit while in New Orleans. Admission costs for children 12+ is an adults ticket. We didn't eat there, although there is a restaurant. The butterfly section was the families favourite part. Ample parking around the aquarium. Will take you roughly 1 hrs 30mins to walk around."
2 weeks ago
"$40 per person for full access to insect and aquarium. $5(?) more for access to a zoo, but I did not observe any entries or anything that specified where that was anyway, I was here for approx 2 hours and had a great time. Music and ambiance are lovely!!! Please check this place out"
3 weeks ago
"Very fun and insightful! You can easily spend at least 3-4 hours here. I even tried their chocolate chip cricket cookies! (Don't worry, you can't taste the cricket😉)"
a week ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
More new year's eve kids activities in New Orleans
New Year's Eve Kids Activities New Orleans City Park
4.8(19,463)4.8 out of 5 stars, 19463 reviewsNew Orleans
New Year's Eve Kids Activities Audubon Zoo
4.5(8,029)4.5 out of 5 stars, 8029 reviews6500 Magazine St, New Orleans
New Year's Eve Kids Activities Woldenberg Park
4.6(5,857)4.6 out of 5 stars, 5857 reviewsWoldenberg Park, 1 Canal St, New Orleans
New Year's Eve Kids Activities Audubon Insectarium
4.6(3,013)4.6 out of 5 stars, 3013 reviews1 Canal St, New Orleans