Audubon Aquarium

Awesome aquarium and (my personal favorite) insectarium! Many insectariums I've been to seem to have been afterthoughts and were mainly a few enclosures with random insects or arachnids. This one was awesome! very well thought out with lots of well done exhibits and insects/arachnids. I especially enjoyed the experience of sampling foods make with insects. The aquarium part was also very good with a nice mix of fish/ocean exhibits with other animals. Highly recommend.

We spent about an hour and a half at the aquarium and the insectarium. We were very impressed with the variety of animals and the displays. Sometimes it was slightly frustrating trying to find the signs to identify the animals. Petting the sting rays was exciting and we loved the largest tank with massive fish, rays, sharks, and a sea turtle. The insectarium isn’t as excited. We didn’t enjoy having to bend down for all of them. They should have displayed them at an adults height with steps for children, like the sting rays exhibit. The butterfly exhibit was spectacular.

Very fun, small aquarium. Can touch stingrays, and watch the fish and sea turtles swim. The insectarium attached was very cool if you have a kiddo interested in bugs. 3/5 of us tried the bugs at the bug cafe and really liked the taco dip. Butterfly garden was fun as well. Spend the extra $5 and get the trio ticket that includes the zoo. My teenagers all loved all three places!

We bought advanced online tickets for both the aquarium and insectarium for a weekday entry and arrived right at opening (10 am). The aquarium was clean, well-organized, and easy to navigate. My favorite part interactive stingray touch pool exhibit. You can also watch them get fed at 1:30 pm. We spent about 5 hours at the aquarium and insectarium, including a beverage break at Cafe Aqua. They do have some extras like a hurricane simulator and VR chairs. It’s a little pricy, but I always like visiting local aquariums and seeing the sea life.

A large enough zoo that can make it a day experience depending on your pace. With various opportunities with events with some of the animals, but! They may be day specific so check the calendar. I recommend waiting to reach the swap to eat. Makes a nice halfway point and if you brought your own food or would like the cafe’s, the one at the swamp will have different dishes and you can eat with the gators. Oh for the parents they do have some light alcohol options like Truly or some other beer brands at either location. Lastly, the 1st thing you may want to do is go to gift shop and immediately buy a refrigerated spray fan… of course it won’t be cold all day but in those you’ll be so glad, also feel free to throw some ice in there to keep it cool. Hope you guys have a pleasant day 🫶

Although I've been to the Georgia Aquarium numerous times, this was an insectarium and aquarium which is quite unique. You start off in the insectarium with large displays of insects and you learn a lot! There is a nice pathway to see everything (boy did we see everything!), and the displays are easy to get to even with crowds. The staff are very knowledgeable and willing to help and answer questions. You even get a chance to walk through a butterfly garden. Overall, fun for families, even squeamish moms like me.

Thoroughly enjoyed our time here. All the staff were fabulous! Loved how excited they all were to chat about the animals. They made the visit so much more fun! Shout out to Blake- your love for your job at the aquarium is infectious! Thank you! Sad that the snorkeling experience isn't currently available. *Little tip: If you are planning to do the aquarium and the zoo you can add the zoo ticket for a little less than $10 more for a regular entry fee at the front desk or online. Make sure that the zoo is open on the day you want to go, they are closed Tues-Weds. You also need to use that second ticket within a few days- double check on that, too. Enjoy! #audubonaquarium #audubonzoo #neworleanskids #neworleansfamily

The New Orleans Aquarium is a thoughtfully designed and truly immersive experience. The layout flows naturally; beginning with exhibits that highlight the rich local habitats of Louisiana and then gradually expanding into global regions like the Amazon and Mayan areas. Each section feels purposeful, with smooth transitions and plenty of space to linger and observe. About halfway through, there’s a well-placed café. It was a perfect pause point to grab a meal before continuing the journey. The combination of regional storytelling, diverse marine life, and beautiful display design makes this aquarium both educational and inspiring. A fantastic experience and highlight of New Orleans.

The Aquarium and Insectarium still going strong in New Orleans! A place of wonder for kids without being too overwhelming. Fascinating gulf exhibit (the main tank with an oil rig inside) and swamp animal area with white alligator, red tailed hawk, etc. Plus unforgettable butterfly exhibit and sweet buttery smell of cookie samples (with, uhhh, high protein inside) in insectarium.

We bought advanced online tickets for both the aquarium and insectarium for a weekday entry and arrived right at opening (10 am). The aquarium was clean, well-organized, and easy to navigate. My favorite part interactive stingray touch pool exhibit. You can also watch them get fed at 1:30 pm. We spent about 5 hours at the aquarium and insectarium, including a beverage break at Cafe Aqua. They do have some extras like a hurricane simulator and VR chairs. It's a little pricy, but I always like visiting local aquariums and seeing the sea life.

This aquarium is absolutely not worth $100 for two adults. The included insectarium is strangely the stronger of the two halves of the museum, but still largely lacking in engaging exhibits. Some museums lack intrigue for adult visitors because they cater more towards children, but we visited with three kids under ten and the exhibits weren't particularly geared towards them either. I would only recommend visiting if you or someone in your party receives discounted or free admission as a resident of Orleans Parish.

Best Aquarium I've ever been too! The exhibit were amazing! First , I've been to many butterfly gardens and this by far is the best one ever. The butterflies were abundant. You actually see them fluttering around. It was magical! We loved petting the stingrays. Staff were nice. There were penguins bobbing in the water. Too cute! I loved the insects and all the unique little creatures. So fun!

Love the butterfly room. Amazing to be alongside such beautiful Creatures. Not a large room, but still got the experience.

I love aquariums. This one is definitely on the small side. But the extra added benefit of the insectarium is so cool. Lots of information and lots of insects to see. The butterfly room is especially amazing. The staff was very friendly and answered questions as I walked through the entire aquarium. You also have a chance to touch the rays in their pool. Plan to be there for about an hour. Unless you have kids that really like to sit and watch the big tanks of fish. I definitely recommend this place.

Less than impressive. Does not compete with other aquariums I've visited. Grossly over priced.

Great aquarium! Plus they now have the insectorium and butterfly aviary attached! And! Discount purchase for zoo tickets if used in four days of the purchase. It is a lovely escape from the heat and a good education regarding what 'The America's' actually entails.

I don't know about you, but I seldom turn down an opportunity to observe and learn about the complex ecosystems on our planet and to focus on the local aquatic creatures. What was an extra bonus at this aquarium was a fabulous exhibit on insects. The highlight of the exhibit was the butterfly room. The aquarium portion was ok and I really liked the portions that featured regional animals. Got to view alligators up close and personal. It is a relatively smaller aquarium which is not a negative. You can take your time and explore all of exhibits before getting museum fatigue. Glad we came.

I was on my last day of my 2 week long NOLA trip and decided to spend the day at the aquarium. Stopped by the insectarium first as they had a good package deal and then onto the aquarium! It definitely wasn't the best aquarium I had been to - there was a good amount of displays that were empty and it just felt not as clean as others. It was also highly geared towards children. However, it was interesting seeing some varieties of animals I had not seen at aquariums prior as I had never seen an alligator in real life!

We were visiting and staying nearby. The staff was great. Living in Ct I am used to Mystic Aquarium which is larger and has more exhibits as well as hands on areas This aquarium was much smaller but we enjoyed it. The penguins were adorable and very interactive. Along with admission you have access to the insectarium which had a butterfly room you could walk through. Wear light blue and you will have butterflies all over you.

Was a cool visit the only draw back is you have to get tickets to both but my kiddo Andes up really liking the big side much to my displeasure.

We spent a nice morning visiting the aquarium and insectarium. We enjoy aquariums and have been to many. This one is nice. Small. Clean. Fun. The insectarium was pretty cool. Enjoyable time!

I love our aquarium. A great way to beat the NOLA heat, and so much to explore. There are multiple sections to explore different sea life, a touch pool, a cafe, and more. I also recommend getting the insectarium package if you have time especially to see the butterfly garden at the end. It's a great deal. If you're not a reader, you can walk through both slowly and take about an hour. If you love to read and catch all the shows and feeding, it can be a 3 hour ordeal! The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. I have really enjoyed it since the remodel.

It was my second visit here but when I came it was during the Eras Tour weekend. They went all out in terms of decoration and all. Because of the concert taking place, it was quite busy. Overall it's a nice aquarium and they also have a butterfly exhibit.

I found this to be a very disappointing aquarium, especially after hearing there were recommended by USA Today! It's a very small aquarium and cost over 40 dollars. I was actually in disbelief at the end that we had gone through it all. I personally found the fact that every major "section" of the aquarium ends with some food court place very frustrating. If each of those food locations were exhibits, another hour could have been added onto our experience. I would not go again and would be hesitant to recommend unless the prices change / they offer deals during the week!

Very nice insectarium, aquarium, and butterfly exhibits. One butterfly became my friend, hitching a ride on my arm. The fish were mesmerizing to see. I got to touch a stingray, which felt kind of squishy. We came here because the weather was bad and we couldn't walk far. What a really nice few hours to spend.

I visited the aquarium for the first time today. I enjoyed myself. I am not into bugs so I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the insectarium. The aquarium section was nice too but it did feel a bit smaller than I expected. There was a butterfly room with pretty butterflies. There was also a food section where you could eat bugs if that's something that peaks your interest. I personally did not eat any bugs. Overall, I thought the price was a bit high for what was offered especially considering the cost of nearby parking.

Came here for the first time with my family. The aquarium admissions comes with the insectarium exhibit so it was definitely worth it. The aquarium was pretty cool. If it was by itself, I'd say it wasn't worth the money, but because of the insectarium, it made it worth it. Our hotel was nearby so we walked. There is a paid parking lot nearby. There are a few homeless people outside so just be careful. All the staff were very friendly.

We bought the $50 ticket that gave us access to all 3 attractions: the aquarium, insectarium, and zoo. Such a great deal in my opinion! This was our first time visiting, so we really took our time going through the exhibits. I don't like or care for insects, but it was neat to see everything such as the honeypot ant and elephant beetle. It was lovely being able to walk through the butterfly garden. The aquarium was definitely my favorite. We started off in the bayou exhibit. Got to see alligators but unfortunately we couldn't see the albino one as it was hiding its face. We saw fish and birds of many kinds. As we transitioned to the next exhibits, we really experienced the ocean vibes- the inside was dark, blue, and cool. We were able to watch the penguin feeding and pet the cow nose rays (so cute). I greatly appreciated every opportunity that was offered for interactions. Overall, our visit was a good one! There wasn't an overwhelming amount of people, the employees were kind, the AC was a plus of course, and the whole place just seemed to be taken care of fairly well! The aquarium was less than a 20 min walk from bourbon st.

The aquarium is on the smaller side, but I really enjoyed walking through it and observing the different wildlife. They have a unique insectarium and a butterfly exhibit, where you can walk through an area filled with butterflies flying around you--definitely a cool experience. They also showcase various insects that you don't typically see in aquariums, which was an interesting addition. The actual aquarium itself was enjoyable, with highlights like seeing an owl and alligators up close. My ticket also included access to the zoo, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to visit. Overall, it's a cute little aquarium, though I do wish there were a few more animals to see especially with the cost of the ticket. Still, a fun stop if you're in the area!

I finally had the chance to visit the newly renovated Aquarium and Insectarium, and it was definitely a treat! While the renovation brought a fresh look, many of the exhibits and setups felt familiar from the old aquarium. That said, I really enjoyed the Insectarium--especially the interactive section where you could try bug treats! The Cricket King Cake was surprisingly good! My daughter had a great time, and the visit brought back a lot of nostalgia for me. While I would have appreciated a few more completely new updates, it was still a really enjoyable experience overall. Definitely worth a visit!

Are the tickets a bit pricy? Sure. But this was a great way to spend the day with kids. Ours were 8 and 10. My 10 yo absolutely loved the ray touch tank exhibit and we probably could've spent a full hour there. I don't really get why the Insectarium and the Aquarium are listed as different places, as you literally can't buy separate tickets. Both are great. This would be a perfect rainy day activity. That said, it does get crowded.

Went back after years of not visiting. They have completely redone the aquarium. Now they have added the insect portion. I loved the butterfly room!! It was so cool to walk through and have butterflies lane on you. The aquarium itself was alright. I feel like some of the changes were good, but I miss some of the old things. I still love the room with floor to ceiling glass with the fish, turtle and sharks.

The Aquarium and Insectarium are in one huge building. The man who sold us our tickets suggested that we walk through the insectarium first. It is an amazing display of insects, some surprisingly large, like the "walking stick". It is approx 6-8 inches long. There were several displays of cockroaches and cockroach related critters. They come in many sizes, including one really huge one, 6 inches long. Spiders and lobsters are distant relatives! Before we moved to the Aquarium, we went into the butterfly room. One has to enter through a double door to guarantee the beautiful creatures do not fly out. There were several feeding dishes, around which the butterflies congregate. They might land on you, but you must not try to catch one. It's a very calm room. Then on to the Aquarium. There were many many individual exhibits, but also one huge central tank with a lot of presumably compatible fish and a couple of turtles. There was a display of alligators. They looked very docile, just lying around. If you are trying to get in your 10,000 steps in a day, it's easily accomplished here.

When in town visiting, we decided last minute to visit the aquarium. We looked at the time and saw we would only have about 2.5 hours to visit there. We contemplated whether this was sufficient time but we decided to go for it. We were glad we did! This was a good amount of time and especially so since it was very quiet and empty because we went on a Monday afternoon. The insectarium was our favorite part. We have been to a butterfly enclosure in Denver and while it was huge, we liked the Audubon one better because it was smaller so the butterflies were closer and more easily visible. We read that the butterflies like light blue so we put both of our kids in the color. The butterflies landed on them often. They were also able to name and release young butterflies into the room for the first time. That was really special! The worker in the butterfly exhibit was so knowledgeable and friendly. Actually, everyone we encountered was! They do a great job hiring and training an excellent team. The kids loved the massive turtle, too. The penguin enclosure was nice, but one thing our home aquarium offers that our kids love, that this aquarium didn't, was listing the names of each of the penguins. At our home aquarium, they have a chart with a color code for each penguin's name that corresponds to their little arm tag. My kids love knowing each of the penguin's names. This penguin enclosure was really nice and visible though. Overall, we are so glad we made the decision to go! Really fun experience. And my kids both ate a bunch of cricket snacks. lol The only reason for the 4/5 stars is that it was very expensive for how small of an aquarium it is. The cost was greater than our local aquarium but ours at home is triple the size.

Terrible. $115.00 for 2 people. Did the whole thing in less than 45 minutes. Worst aquarium ever. Save your money.

Top of our list for touristy things to do, we made our way over to the aquarium right after breakfast on our first day in town. The crowds were manageable for a Friday morning and we were able to move pretty comfortably through the exhibits. Unfortunately, that's in part because there's not actually a whole lot to see. For $50 admission to the aquarium and insectarium, we expected to spend longer than an hour or so exploring. The insects were a rather small portion of the upstairs, which I did expect but I wished there was more. It was fun to try some bug snacks and I hope they expand the offerings (the lady said it used to be a wider variety pre-covid). Moving into the aquarium side was more outwardly disappointing. It's a lot more crowded and there were a lot of empty tanks and use of mirrors to make things seem bigger. Not to mention every 5ft they're trying to sell you an add on or crap to lug around through the rest of the exhibits. That was a huge turnoff, especially made worse by the lack of attractions within. Audubon is a world renowned name so I definitely expected better. It seems like it has a lot of potential and is maybe going through a growth period or tough times? We also wondered if the zoo is the star of the three attractions and driving up the cost of these other two. We do hope to go see the zoo on a future visit, but I'm not sure I would recommend the aquarium/insectarium if you're on a budget or looking for the best activities on a limited visit.

It was a rainy day in New Orleans, so we decided to go to the aquarium. We found out that there is more. The Insectarium is connected, you can buy tickets for each one or a package for both. It was recommended to us, to first visit the Insectarium. There were a lot of very interesting insects. Walking sticks (some really hugh, like 6 inches), ant colonies, and the butterfly room. That is really special. You walk in through a double door area to prevent the butterflies to escape. After that it is amazing. Butterflies in all colors and sizes flying around. Another double door (please check if no butterfly landed on you for a walk out) and on to the aquarium. Plenty of nice species, some in smaller tanks, some together in huge tanks. There was a number of aquariums with jelly fish. When in New Orleans and it rains (which happens a lot, according to our tour guide), this is a wonderful destination.

Close to Ferry on river front, in New Orleans. We were told of the aquarium by another tourist, I don't entirely recall the ticket price per adult but it was within normal range or I would have remembered an overprice. Of most aquariums we've visited they all tend to have similar set ups and this was same although there was an Insectarium for $32 we did not add. There's the small individual fish tanks along the walk to get to sting Ray open tank where can touch them. Large center tank w sharks, sea turtle, and larger fish. Followed by bird enclosures, swamp animals, and a large indoor rainforest-like portion of the building. These places are always worth visiting once or twice occasionally if you like nature.

So cool. We got there right at 10 and beat the crowds. Staff was welcoming and full of knowledge. Super cool spot to kill a couple hours. Loved it !

I was excited to finally visit the newly remodeled aquarium. In recent years, my daughters and I visited at least three times a year. We absolutely love what they've done with the place! The greatest enhancement is the combination of the aquarium with the Insectarium. I have always heard great things about the Insectarium, but I never visited it. My daughters loved the exhibits, especially the hurricane simulator. The color schemes were perfect and child friendly. I noticed slight changes, but they didn't take away from the overall experience. I'm looking forward to our next visi

Since the remodel it was even more fun the design makes more sense and it takes you on a journey to different locations of the world of animal mostly of the swimming variety but they have many lad animals as well. This perfect place to take kids and have a great time. They have penguin, sharks, rays and a touching pool where you can touch starfish, rays and other small swimming creatures.

We were in town for the game so we showed up around 4 (bad planning on my part) HOWEVER; it was just about empty so we really got to see everything without having a massive group or kiddos running around. Felt very private and peaceful. The staff were all super nice! The whole thing was beautiful and well kept. I really came for the butterflies. To be so up close with so many was such a fun experience. One day when we return we'll show up earlier.

I enjoy this aquarium but felt like there weren't many exhibits as before. It was about $30 to get in and the experience didn't feel worth the price, but, to give back to the community, the price is worth it. We might have come in on an off day. I'd definitely return to try again :)

I've been wanting to see the newly remodeled Audobon Aquarium for a while now, and I'm glad that I finally paid a visit! The layout was unique and organized, and I liked the journey through different ecosystem models of our oceans. I loved how they displayed a typical Gulf oil rig reef and all of the wildlife that live in that atmosphere. A great place for kids and adults alike, with knowledgeable and friendly staff members! I think it's a little bit pricey, but definitely worth seeing once! The Animal Crossing Tour was cute, and will be displayed there until September 14th, 2024.

I have always loved coming to the Audubon Aquarium in New Orleans as there was so much to see. I was really excited to see it again after they remodeled and changed things up. We got there and admission was almost $90 for 2 people. They put the insectisarium in the aquarium now which was nice so you dodnt have to go to 2 different places. They also seem to make the path of travel one way flow so you are always moving in one direction to see everything. The albino alligator didnt look real as you saw his tail was straight laying on top of the water and not in the water. As he was laying on the concrete slab, you never seen him breathing. I have a feeling he passed away and they had a fake one of him out there to make it look like he was sleeping. We got through everything so quick that it seemed like they took some things out. The whole gulf of mexico experience seemed smaller than before. Definitely was disappointed and not worth the money we paid. Will say that they are still renovating so it may be more in the future.

The smallest aquarium I've ever been to. The "aquarium" is split in two: a huge side with insects and a rather small side with some fish...You could barely see the penguins because the glass was so dirty and bad quality for the cold condensation. The fish here were no very exotic and my favorite part is usually the Jellyfish tanks and they don't even have a great selection of them. But you can have a "fun lunch" because they offer you bugs to eat...

We had a blast at the aquarium! This was the number one thing that my kids wanted to do while in town. The price was a bit of sticker shock for me but we went ahead since it was so important to them. This is the main reason for 4 rather than 5 stars. The Insectorium had some very interesting things. We wouldn't have done that on its own but I'm glad it was included. My favorite part was the butterfly sanctuary. I happened to wear a bright green shirt and the butterflies loved it! If you want them to land on you, wear something bright. It felt magical! The other favorite parts of the aquarium were the jellyfish, the string ray exhibit, the alligators and the walk through aquatic hallway. It was crowded but not so much that we couldn't enjoy it. We walked there from the French Quarter and while it was very hot, the breeze from the water and the view of the riverboats was nice. It was a lot of fun and I think families would enjoy it. As I said, it was more expensive than I would have liked but I don't regret going. It was really fun and we have some great memories!

We go for our kids - they love it. It's hard to beat the magic and wonder of such incredible creatures separated from the visitor by a few millimeters of glass. Highlights for my family are the majestic and large shark tank, the enchanting aquarium tunnel, and of course the sting ray tank where the children and adults can carefully touch one as it glides by. The new renovation that combines the insectarium with the aquarium unfortunately created a level of visitor volume that I find pretty overwhelming (and sadly like this is profit maximizing at the expense of user experience and learning). Viewing area at the glass is now crowded at almost every site. Another downside of the recent renovation is that the really intriguing butterfly experience of the insectarium has now been crammed into a small room toward the river - the variety of butterflies seems much fewer and the room doesn't have the flora of the prior location. The dining area is very much a rapid production, dietary relic of the past. It is nice that there is alcohol for the parents (where else will you find an aquarium like that in the USA? Probably nowhere!). However the food options are really unhealthy - what you'd find in a concession stand or children's birthday party (cheap pizza, chicken nuggets with majority fried breading and little meat). It would be nice if they could embrace some healthy meal options and snacks given that those are in high demand by many families these days. We will go back because of the kids - we'll just plan to eat before or after. Now that we know that the aquarium experience has changed, I guess we are now prepared for a rapid fire, crowded experience.

I had an okay time at the Audubon Aquarium. Luckily for me and my partner, we came on an off day, which meant no crowds and an aquarium venue all to ourselves! Tickets were $30/person, so reasonably price and definitely cheaper than home. However, when I walked through the aquarium, I realized that $30 is all they should and can charge. This aquarium is quite small and doesn't have as many exhibits as other aquariums I've been too (e.g Long Beach Aquarium and Monterey Bay Aquarium), but it did feature some creatures that I normally wouldn't see back home. I thought it was cool we got to see some owls and a friendly ol' alligator in the exhibit. He didn't seem so energetic, but I attribute it to the packing heat and humidity that engulfs much of Louisiana, lol. It was also neat to see some penguins too! There was a little fella that kept hanging around the window to greet people, so that was pretty cute. Anyways, parking was a bit of a drag, however, expected since the aquarium is located near tourists traps haha. We parked in a building connected to the mall and was able to validate our parking to receive a $2.50 discount.

I'd say the aquarium as a whole isn't bad, they have quite a variety of animals and the style and design is all pleasing. The only reason i feel like it isn't a 5 star is the size for the price. you don't get what you pay for here. It's honeslty really small and you could probably walk through this whole thing in 20 minutes

We bought tickets before coming to New Orleans. Not that impressed but it was something to do. Our aquarium in Oregon is much better laid out and you don't feel you are constantly looking for which way to go.

This is a very nice and educational place to visit. The exhibits are well laid out. We bought our tickets online and only did the aquarium side. You can do both the aquarium and insectarium too. There is a lot of aquatic life to see and a sting ray tank where you can touch the sting rays. A tunnel to walk through is cool with fish and rays swimming above and around you is neat. There is an outside aviary also.

definitely worth a visit. i seen a few things i havent seen before. the place isnt overly crowded at all which is nice. the price is a but steep, we finished the place in an hour.

We had an outstanding time. We really enjoyed the Insectarium - lots of live insect, great detail and learned so much. Insect were very lively and moving around. Aquarium part kind of small but the insectarium def made it worth it. We also went on a weekend where mermaids were swimming underneath the water - it was so cute and the children all loved it. They should be an aquarium touring mermaids of the states. The location was very clean.

So disappointed. Starting with getting a ticket. No smile. No hello. Customer service is dead here. The aquarium is nice but, for $42+ (with tax), it just wasn't worth it (to me). I did the whole thing in about an hour and a half. And so it was a very quick trip through all the exhibits for a not insubstantial amount. It's a nice way to spend a bit of time if money isn't an issue. If it is, go to the WWII museum instead.

Very disappointed in the gift shop, I bought a glass shot glass and they had nothing to wrap it in or any bags due to "conservation" Many other zoos and aquariums offer paper bags.... Very disappointing. Otherwise the aquarium was nice it did stink but mainly because BO! Would not recommend going on a weekend way too busy!

I had high hopes and expectations for the aquarium in New Orleans. I was told that it was rated one of the best in the country, so I decided to give it a visit on a recent work trip. I came on a rainy, Saturday afternoon and the place was packed - tons of kids and families trying to escape the rain. I didn't mind the crowd, being a solo 30 something year old. But much of the aquarium was under construction and several of the exhibits were closed. Perhaps my expectations were set to high, but I found the entire experience to be quite average. There was a mermaid exhibit while I was there, which was nice to see the joy on the children's faces as the mermaid swam around in one of the tanks. Best in the country? I'm not so sure. Then again, I might be spoiled living on the West Coast.