The 23 Best Things to Do in New Orleans

"On a typically hot and humid New Orleans day, there aren’t many places more pleasant than the cool, dark rooms of the aquarium. Formerly the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, in 2023 this facility underwent a $41 million renovation that also relocated the Audubon Nature Institute’s Insectarium, and now both attractions are contained under one roof. The insectarium has obviously been completely redesigned, adding a new butterfly garden, with the aquarium itself presenting a new walkthrough exhibit of wading birds and a reconfigured Gulf of Mexico exhibit that can be viewed from above as well as from eye level. You could spend almost any amount of time just meditating as the jellyfish float by, or watching the penguins go about their daily routines. The butterfly garden is also a lovely spot to linger and experience the whimsy of these colorful creatures. If anything, it’s a challenge to leave once immersed in the calm and aquatic tranquility." - Paul Oswell