Audubon Zoo

Audubon Zoo occupies 58 lush acres in New Orleans' Uptown neighborhood, set within the larger Audubon Park under ancient live oaks draped in Spanish moss. It's one of the top-rated zoos in the country and offers a distinctly Louisiana experience.

The Louisiana Swamp exhibit is the zoo's signature attraction and its most uniquely regional feature. A faithfully recreated bayou habitat houses American alligators (including extremely rare leucistic white alligators), Louisiana black bears, snapping turtles, raccoons, and native bird species. The exhibit's atmosphere -- cypress trees rising from dark water, Spanish moss overhead, fog effects -- transports visitors into the nearby swampland without leaving the city.

The broader animal collection includes African elephants, giraffes (with a feeding platform), orangutans, jaguars, Andean bears, and a comprehensive reptile house. The Jaguar Jungle exhibit recreates a Mayan ruins setting. The African Savanna section has open-habitat viewing. The zoo is compact enough that families can see every major exhibit in a single visit without exhaustion.

Cool Zoo, the seasonal splash park (open approximately May through September), adds a water-play component that's essential in New Orleans' subtropical summer. A lazy river, water slides, splash pads, and spray features provide cooling relief. Admission is an additional $10 per person. For summer visitors, Cool Zoo can easily occupy 1-2 hours and justifies bringing swimsuits.

The zoo's location is part of its appeal. Audubon Park, which surrounds the zoo, features walking paths beneath 300-year-old live oak alleys -- some of the most photographed trees in the South. The St.

Charles streetcar line runs along the park's northern edge, providing a scenic ride through the Garden District directly to the zoo entrance. Taking the streetcar ($1. 25 each way) is both transportation and an attraction.

Combo tickets with the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas (in the French Quarter) provide savings for families planning to visit both. The Audubon Nature Institute also operates the Audubon Insectarium and Audubon Butterfly Garden, both downtown.