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French Quarter Attractions
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
1 CANAL ST.
New Orleans LA 70130 USA Phone: (504) 581-4629
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is on the Mississippi River at 1 Canal St. More than 15,000 specimens represent some 530 species of marine life found throughout the Americas. Visitors can see sharks, stingrays, red-bellied piranhas, white alligators, black-footed and rockhopper penguins, sea otters and endangered sea turtles.Aquatic habitats include the 400,000-gallon Gulf of Mexico exhibit, the Caribbean Reef tunnel, the Amazon Rainforest and the Mississippi River. Other displays include the Seahorse Gallery and one of the largest jellyfish collections in the world. The aquarium's Entergy IMAX Theatre immerses visitors in larger-than-life nature films shown on a five-and-one-half-story screen. Adjacent to the aquarium, Woldenberg Riverfront Park is the location of cultural and educational facilities. Food is available. Allow 2 hours minimum for the aquarium, 30 minutes minimum for the theater.
Admission: Aquarium admission $16; over 64, $13; ages 2-12, $9.50. Theater $8; over 64, $7; ages 2-12, $5. Combination ticket with theater $20; over 64, $17; ages 2-12, $12. Combination ticket with Audubon Zoo $22; over 64, $18; ages 2-12, $14. Combination ticket with theater and zoo $28; over 64, $24; ages 2-12, $18. Parking $4. Reservations are recommended for the theater
Hours: Aquarium Tues.-Sun. 10-5; closed Mardi Gras Day, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. Last admission 1 hour before closing. Theater show hours vary; phone ahead
Credit Cards: AE, DS, MC, VI
Audubon Zoo
6500 Magazine St.
New Orleans LA 70118 USA Phone: (504) 581-4629
Audubon Zoo is at 6500 Magazine St. just s. of the park. Encompassing 58 acres of realistic habitats and more than 1,500 animals, the zoo is home to many rare and endangered species. Exhibits include the African Savanna, Australian Outback, Asian Domain, Embraceable Zoo, World of Primates and Reptile Encounter, home to a Komodo dragon. Mayan temples and ruins are the setting for Jaguar Jungle.The Louisiana Swamp Exhibit recreates the culture and wildlife of a 1930s Cajun settlement. The Swamp Train takes passengers on a tour of the zoo. Guests may go for a whirl on the Endangered Species Carousel while riding such creatures as zebras and giraffes. Narrated feedings and elephant shows are offered daily. The zoo can be visited via the Aquarium/Zoo Cruise. Note: Due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the following schedule is in effect; phone ahead or check www.aaa.com for updates. Allow 3 hours minimum.
Admission: Admission $12; over 64, $9; ages 2-12, $7. Train $4. Carousel rides $2
Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10-4, Sat.-Sun. 10-5. Closed Mardi Gras Day, the first Fri. in May and Dec. 25. Last admission 1 hour before closing
Credit Cards: AE, DS, MC, VI
St. Charles Avenue Streetcar
St. Charles Ave. & Canal St.
New Orleans LA 70118 USA Phone: (504) 248-3900
St. Charles Avenue Streetcar can be boarded at stops along St. Charles Ave. and Canal St. The oldest continuously running street railway, the streetcar is now part of the municipal transit system. The 35 olive-green trolley cars date 1923-24. The line itself was built in 1835 to connect New Orleans with the city of Carrollton.From Canal Street (near the French Quarter) the line runs up St. Charles Avenue, past the Garden District, the campuses of Tulane and Loyola universities and Audubon Park. The Canal Street stop is at the corner of Carondelet Street. Note: The system's overhead electrical lines were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina; full service is expected to resume by late 2007. In the interim, buses are operating on the same route.
Admission: Fare $1.25 each way (exact change required)
The Historic New Orleans Collection
533 ROYAL ST.
New Orleans LA 70130 USA Phone: (504) 523-4662
The Historic New Orleans Collection is at 533 Royal St. The complex of restored 18th- and 19th-century buildings includes a French Quarter bank, a courthouse, a mansion, a Creole cottage and courtyards. Galleries in the 1792 Merieult House present exhibits dedicated to different periods in the history of New Orleans. A research center is at 410 Chartres St. Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Complex free. Guided gallery tours $5; rates may vary per exhibit
Hours: Complex open Tues.-Sat. 9:30-4:30; closed holidays. Guided gallery tours conducted Tues.-Sat. at 10, 11, 2 and 3
New Orleans Museum of Art
1 Collins Diboll Cir.
New Orleans LA 70124 USA Phone: (504) 658-4100
New Orleans Museum of Art is at 1 Collins Diboll Cir. in City Park. Funded by millionaire sugar broker Isaac Delgado in 1910, the Greek Revival building is home to 46 galleries. The collection includes a comprehensive survey of Western and non-Western art from the pre-Christian era to the present. An entire floor is dedicated to Asian, African, Oceanic, Pre-Columbian and Native American art.The museum also houses a treasury of work by French artists, including Edgar Degas, Raoul Dufy, Joan Miró, Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso. Other displays include sculpture, photography, decorative arts and an extensive Fabergé collection. Note: The museum is open on a reduced schedule as a result of Hurricane Katrina; phone ahead to confirm hours. Food is available. Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Admission $8; over 54 and students with ID $7; ages 3-17, $4. Admission may increase for special exhibits
Hours: Wed.-Sun. 10-4:30; closed major holidays and Mardi Gras Day
Credit Cards: MC, VI
New Orleans Rum Distillery Tour
2815 Frenchmen St.
New Orleans LA 70122 USA
New Orleans Rum Distillery Tour is at 2815 Frenchmen St. Several varieties of rum are made from Louisiana sugar cane and blackstrap molasses in this distillery. Tours include tastings and a behind-the-scenes look at the distillation and filtration processes. CLOSURE INFORMATION: The tour is temporarily suspended due to the effects of the 2005 hurricane season; check www.aaa.com for scheduled reopening date and rates.
Aquarium/Zoo Cruise
2 Canal St.
New Orleans LA 70130 USA Phone: (504) 586-8777
Aquarium/Zoo Cruise offers departures from both the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas on Canal St. and the Audubon Zoo at Audubon Landing in Audubon Park. The riverboat John James Audubon takes passengers for a 7-mile narrated cruise along the Mississippi River between the aquarium and the zoo. Food is available.
Admission: One-way fare (cruise only) $13; ages 2-12, $6.50. Round trip (cruise only) $17; ages 2-12, $8.50. Combination cruise, aquarium and zoo admission $38.25; ages 2-12, $21.25. Other combination tickets are available
Hours: The riverboat departs the aquarium Tues.-Sun. at 10, noon, 2 and 4. Return-trip departures from the zoo are at 11, 1, 3 and 5. Closed Mardi Gras Day, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. Hours may vary; phone ahead
Credit Cards: AE, DS, MC, VI
Cajun Queen
1 CANAL ST.
New Orleans LA 70130 USA Phone: (504) 524-0814
Cajun Queen departs from the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas dock on Canal St. This 600-passenger riverboat takes passengers down the Mississippi River on a narrated 1-hour harbor cruise past the French Quarter and through one of the world's busiest ports. A 2-hour jazz cruise with optional dinner also is offered. Food is available.
Admission: Jazz cruise fare with dinner $53; ages 6-20, $28. Jazz cruise fare without dinner $30; ages 6-20, $20. Harbor cruise fare $20; over 65, $18; ages 3-12, $12
Hours: Note: Due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the following temporary schedule is in effect; phone ahead or check www.aaa.com for updates. Jazz cruise boards Fri.-Sun. at 7 and departs at 8. Harbor cruise departs Fri.-Sun. at 10:30 and 2:30; boarding is 15 minutes prior to departure. Closed Mardi Gras Day and Dec. 25
Credit Cards: AE, MC, VI
Creole Queen
1 CANAL ST.
New Orleans LA 70130 USA Phone: (504) 524-0814
Creole Queen departs from the Canal Street dock at Riverwalk. This 1,000-passenger paddlewheeler offers a 2-hour jazz cruise on the Mississippi River with optional dinner. A narrated 1-hour harbor cruise also is available. Note: Due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina, the following temporary schedule is in effect; phone ahead or check www.aaa.com for updates. Food is available.
Admission: Jazz cruise fare with dinner $53; ages 6-20, $28. Jazz cruise fare without dinner $30; ages 6-20, $20. Harbor cruise fare $20; over 65, $18; ages 3-12, $12
Hours: Jazz cruise boards Fri.-Sun. at 7 and departs at 8. Harbor cruise departs Fri.-Sun. at 10:30 and 2:30; boarding is 15 minutes prior to departure. Closed Mardi Gras Day and Dec. 25
Credit Cards: AE, MC, VI
Steamboat Natchez
Toulouse St. & Decatur St.
New Orleans LA 70130 USA Phone: (504) 586-8777
Steamboat Natchez docks at the Toulouse St. Wharf at Jackson Square. This stern-wheel steamboat features live jazz and narrated 2-hour Mississippi River tours of the port of New Orleans. A dinner jazz cruise is also available.
Admission: Fare $18.50; ages 6-12, $9.25
Hours: Narrated river tours depart Wed.-Sun. at 2:30 (also Fri.-Sun. at 11:30) and board 30 minutes before departure; closed Mardi Gras Day, Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. Hours may vary; phone ahead
Credit Cards: AE, DS, MC, VI
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