by callen60

Ozarks, Missouri

January 5, 2011

by ripplefan2

Queens, New York

July 6, 2007

by Ailuri

Cincinnati, Ohio

July 17, 2000

by Amber Autumn

Chalmette, Louisiana

June 8, 2005

The Aquarium of the Americas has changed since it opened after Katrina, but with changes comes some new attractions. For the most part, the Aquarium looks just as it has for years. The same large, two-story fountain with metal scale that look like fish scales greets visitors as they enter through the front door. The gift shop to the right has a new appearance like being under the sea with more of a grotto and bright coral design. The Aquarium is open from 10am to 6pm Tuesday through Sunday. I think that they are closed on Mondays. Also, if you park in the parking lot that has a huge "Whale Wall" (off of Poydras, in the view of Harrah's), you can go to Information and get it stamped, so when you return to your car, you have $5 taken off the parking fee. Sure it's a good way to walk, but you're saving $5 on parking -- which is a good deal. Especially when you need to save money.

Some of the great views are the tunnel where fish and stingrays swim above your head and around you. The kiddies always seem to like this part, and pose for pictures. Further is more tanks of fish and eels, jarfish (yellow fishies), and a circular tank where a school of fish swims in one firection. By proceeding up the staircase beyond that is the Amazon Forest. A fun representation of the Amazon (along with a huge anaconda) and a kids treehouse to get a bird's eye view of the tanks, lush greenery, and a small grotto that makes for a great picture. Through a sliding glass doorway, penguins and tropical sharks are the next encounters of the deep. Next to the tanks is a huge mouth with big, sharp teeth that kids love to climb on and take pictures with.

Beyond this, seahorses and frogs are the next on the list. The frogs have their own chamber and a frog king to take pictures with behind Kermit the Frog (in a collage of Favorite and Famous Frogs). On the other side of the frogs are Ursula's eels, playful otters, and a glass cover that looks down on a huge tank of Carribean creatures (sharks, fish, stingrays). There is also a food court with ice cream, pizza, and Burger King. Further is a new playplace for kids where they can touch a shark, play on a pirate ship, take a picture as a mermaid, seal, or starfish. You can do this or continue to the Mississippi River section. A white alligator is the first creature you'll encounter below a Cajun cottage. Owls and hawks fly through the air as you look at the small tanks of fish. After this, you can take an elevator or walk down two flights of stairs into the Carribean waters section.

The Carribean water section has jellyfish, and the large tank that you viewed from the glass near the Otters. Now there's a larger view at all kinds of creatures existing in one tank. At 1pm, there's a show where brave divers go into this tank (with the sharks).

by azsunluvr

Mesa, Arizona

January 26, 2003

If you’re touring without children, allow a couple of hours to thoroughly tour these wonderful exhibits. With children, plan to stay longer as they’ll be enraptured by some of the creatures here.

On the first floor, saunter through the “Caribbean Tunnel,” a clear plexiglass tube through an underwater garden. Fascinating fish and colorful coral will keep you gawking for several minutes. Wander past tanks of glowing jellyfish and stop to watch the sharks swimming in the Gulf of Mexico tank.

Climb the stairs to the 2nd floor to see sea creatures of the Amazon Rain Forest, including huge catfish, then pause to watch the playful penguins before heading over to pet a baby shark. Yes—-pet a baby shark! The prankish otters require more than a brief stop as they roll, splash, and play. Next is an area of changing exhibits. Right now the exhibit is Frogs!--every color and size imaginable. Next stop, a rare, white alligator sitting on a dock in a reconstruction of a Louisiana bayou fishing spot.

There are several areas where you can see some of the inner workings of the aquarium. You’ll see some of the pumps and filters that keep the creatures in the right temperature and chemical mix for their survival here.

The IMAX Theater offers two or three movies shown several times throughout the day. We saw Space Station 3D. Awesome, awesome! Except for the lady who took an “emergency” cell phone call and chatted for 10 minutes during the show!

There really is no reason to pay full price for this attraction. Coupons can be found everywhere, even at the information booth at the airport, for discounts and combination discounts.

by IWW639

New Orleans, Louisiana

August 27, 2000

Its relative location to the French Quarter make it a must see. Park in the parking lot behind the Holday Inn next to the mural of the whale. Walk thru the Riverwalk mall and don't forget your tickets on the way back for free parking (first 3 hours).

by kimbis

Lansing, Michigan

August 22, 2007

by Bamagirl

Athens, Georgia

June 1, 2004

by lashr1999

NY, New York

January 23, 2005

by themusicaltraveller

Laguna Hills, California

February 10, 2005

There was a beautiful glass tunnel that surrounded you with species of the Caribbean.

The jellyfish exhibit was amazing. There were some of the biggest jellyfish I've ever seen.

A tropical rainforest with piranhas and wild plant life was a lot fun. It's the closest I think you'll ever get to a piranha, unless of course you'd be silly enough to go swimming in a rainforest somewhere.

There's a fun penguin exhibit that I think is great for the kids.

The Gulf of Mexico exhibit has some big and rare sharks. From what I remember, it housed a hammerhead shark at the time, which is very rare to see in an aquarium.

I've heard that they are opening a big insect exhibit. It may already be opened by now, but it sounds like it'll be fun.

There is also an IMAX theater that we didn't get to go to, but any IMAX is always a fun learning experience.