Aquarium of the Americas: a cool spot in N.O.

• By CYNTHIA V. CAMPBELL
• Published: Jun 29, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, 1 Canal St. in New Orleans, is a perfect spot for cooling off on a hot summer day. You can’t swim with the animals, but you can spend hours watching and learning about river and sea creatures.

Exhibits that relate to Louisiana include the Mississippi River Gallery, the Gulf of Mexico and Louisiana’s white alligators. The only spot in the building that’s warm is the tropical Rainforest. Other fun exhibits include Frogs — Beyond Green and Adventure Island with a touch pool.

Sea Otters Buck and Emma are a playful pair, and feedings are at 2 p.m. daily. The aquarium’s entire penguin colony survived Hurricane Katrina and is happily back home. Penguin feedings are at 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily.

This summer, the Entergy Imax Theatre is featuring two beneath-the-ocean 3D films, Dolphins and Whales, a documentary by Jean-Michael Cousteau, and Sea Monsters, an animated recreation of prehistoric sea creatures. Two additional films are Bugs! and Hurricane on the Bayou.

The Audubon Aquarium of the Americas is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Entergy Imax Theatre is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular Aquarium tickets cost $17.50, adults; $13.50 seniors 65 and older; and $7.50, children ages 2-12. Imax tickets cost $8.50, adults; $7.50, seniors; and $7.50, children. A variety of combination tickets, including Aquarium and Zoo, Aquarium and Imax, Aquarium and Insectarium are available. For information on exhibits, tickets, gift shops, food, parking and more visit http://www.auduboninstitute.org or call (800) 774-7304.