Louisiana
Nature|Wildlife & Farms

The Audubon Zoo Has Been Voted One Of The Best Zoos In The U.S.

Audubon Zoo in New Orleans, ranked #6 by USA Today, offers a diverse and enchanting experience with over 2,000 animals.

Published Nov 13, 2020

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin

USA Today recently published a list of the best zoos in the country, and Louisiana made the list. Our very own Audubon Zoo in New Orleans ranked # 6 on the list, and while it’s # 1 in our hearts, it’s certainly one of the best zoos in the nation, and if you’ve never been, you’re in for a real treat.

Tucked away in the historic Uptown neighborhood of New Orleans, the Audubon Zoo has been a favorite Crescent City attraction since it opened in 1914.

alt
Audubon Zoo/Facebook

Covering nearly 60 acres within Audubon Park, this beautiful zoo is home to over 2,000 animals of all shapes in sizes.

advertisement
alt
Audubon Zoo/Facebook

From the moment you step inside the gate, it’s easy to see why Audubon ranked so high on the list.

alt
Vasily O./Trip Advisor

But the zoo hasn't always been a crown jewel for New Orleans.

alt
Gulsina Aydinova/Google

In the 1970s, the zoo had fallen into disrepair and was facing two options: improvements or closure. They chose the former, and within a decade, they were well on their way to becoming one of the best zoos in the nation.

advertisement
alt
Marywhotravels/Trip Advisor

It's always a pleasure to see children's eyes light up when seeing their favorite animals up close.

alt
Amanda M./Trip Advisor

There's always a live exhibit or feeding show going on.

alt
Audubon Zoo/Facebook

And there are fun playgrounds peppered throughout, which are always a hit with the kids.

alt
Audubon Zoo/Facebook

From the sculptures to the animals, a visit to the Audubon Zoo is always an enchanting experience.

alt
Marywhotravels/Trip Advisor

If you have a favorite animal, chances are you'll find it here.

advertisement
alt
Gina Salvatore/Google

The zoo will lead you all around the world, showcasing different animals. You’ll pass through the jaguar jungle, the African Savana, and the Louisiana swamps during your visit.

alt
Hans Richter/Google

Of course, Monkey Hill is always a fan favorite.

alt
Randy Wehremeister/Google

And the endangered species carousel is an absolute must.

alt
Flidoro1997/Trip Advisor

You'll want to get there early, because this is one zoo you'll want to spend the entire day at!

advertisement
alt
Dave Brown/Google

The Audubon Zoo is open Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Admission:


Adults: $24.95

Children 2-12: $19.95

For more information, be sure to check out the zoo's website and give them a follow on Facebook so you never miss out on any upcoming events.

Have you ever been to the Audubon Zoo? Share your memories with us in the comments below!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

Experiences|Activities

The Audubon Center in Louisiana Where You’ll See More Than 20 Penguins in a Single Afternoon

Published Sep 29, 2024

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin
alt
Louisiana Travel/Flickr

The Audubon Nature Institute is a fan favorite for locals and tourists alike. From sloths to scorpions and everything in between, Audubon is one of the top-ranked zoos in the country for a reason. 

advertisement

For aquatic enthusiasts, the Audubon Center in Louisiana offers a special treat where you can have an animal encounter with penguins! If your social media feed is anything like mine, you’ve likely seen that jumbo King penguin, Pesto, that was recently born at the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium in Australia. I can’t get enough of this absolute unit of a bird, and since I can’t hop a flight to Australia, I’ve found the next best thing—a penguin party at the Audubon Aquarium. 

Let’s learn a little about the African Penguin and what the animal encounter experience is like:

alt
Betty’s Bay, South Africa -African penguin (Spheniscus demersus), also known as the jackass penguin and black-footed penguin at Stony Point penguin colony.

There are 18 species of penguins in the world. Most of them prefer a snowy climate surrounded by glaciers and icebergs, but not the African Penguin. This fella is a unique species of penguin that has acclimated to warmer climates. 

Fun fact: all penguins are naturally found in the southern hemisphere. There are no penguins living naturally in the northern hemisphere. 

alt
A pair of African penguins on Boulders Beach near Simon’s Town. | Location: Near Simon’s Town, South Africa.

African Penguins live in colonies on the coast of Southern Africa. They have distinctive pink patches above their eyes, but another signature calling card for these flightless birds is the sound they make. African Penguins tend to make a noise that sounds like a donkey, which is how they earned their nickname, the jackass penguin.

The Audubon Aquarium hosts a penguin party every week where visitors can get up close and personal with these endangered beauties. These animal encounters are kept to small numbers both for the safety of the animals and guests, so I’d recommend buying your tickets a few weeks in advance.

alt
Penguin swimming in water with bubbles. African penguin. Spheniscus demersus. Cape penguin or South African penguin. Copy space.

Groups of eight will be led to the encounter area where the experience will last about 45 minutes. Visitors will need closed-toe shoes to participate, so plan accordingly! 

The majority of an African Penguin’s diet consists of sardines, shellfish, and anchovies. If you have shellfish allergies, this may not be the animal encounter for you. 

The Audubon Aquarium hosts penguin parties every Friday and Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. Participants are asked to arrive at the Information Booth at least 15 minutes beforehand. 

This is an awesome experience for families, as long as everyone is six years old or older. How often do you get the opportunity to pet a penguin?!

If you've ever been to one of the Audubon Aquarium's penguin parties, let us know! If you love this, then you absolutely need to check out Barn Hill Animal Preserve. They have even more animal encounters, including sloths and otters! It's about a two-hour drive from New Orleans, but I promise you it's worth a road trip.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

Nature|Wildlife & Farms

Here Are The 4 Absolute Best Pumpkin Patches In Louisiana To Enjoy In 2024

Discover the best pumpkin patches in Louisiana, each offering unique activities and photo opportunities for the fall season.

Updated Aug 6, 2024

Written by 

Jackie Sutherlin

It might not feel like it, but fall in Louisiana is on its way to us. This is my favorite time of the year, and I couldn’t be more excited to share some of the best pumpkin patches in Louisiana with y’all. Even though we still may be experiencing some summer temperatures, these pumpkin patches will soon start opening their gates and letting you come through with your crew to pick up some pumpkins to decorate for the season. I know there are dozens and dozens of pumpkin patches around the state, but these pumpkin patches in Louisiana go the extra mile with endless activities and photo opportunities to enjoy.

advertisement

1. Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch

alt
Travis Griggs/Google Reviews

Mrs. Heather’s is one of the best pumpkin patches near New Orleans, and it’s worth a road trip. The pumpkin patch is open from September 25 - November 8, 2024, and you’ll want to plan to spend the entire afternoon here. Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch offers a lengthy list of activities for the family to enjoy, including face painting, a corn maze, a hay maze, seesaws, a jumping pillow, and so much more. Special cartoon characters often make an appearance, so be sure to follow Mrs. Heather’s Pumpkin Patch on Facebook so you never miss out on any announcements.

2. Curry Farms

alt
Curry Farms/Facebook

This pumpkin patch near Monroe is perfect for a fall afternoon. The pumpkin patch opens on September 28 and runs until November 3, 2024, and admission is $15 per person. Curry Farms boasts nearly 20 activities to enjoy including a tractor tire carousel, sluice mining, a corn maze, hay rides, and so much more. After the season is over Curry Farms transforms into a Christmas tree farm, so you can come back after pumpkin season and snag your perfect tree!

advertisement

3. DixieMaze Farms

alt
Samantha McGhee/Google Reviews

One of the best pumpkin patches near Shreveport, you’ll find yourself visiting DixieMaze Farms a lot this season. Opening September 28, 2024, Dixie Maze Farms will have a wide range of pumpkins to choose from, as well as all your favorite farm activities. The corn maze at DixieMaze Farms is one of the best in Louisiana, and every year it’s something different. The entire Fall Fest at DixieMaze Farms is memorable. They host movie nights on the weekends, and closer to Halloween the corn maze gets a haunted upgrade on select nights.

4. Poche’s Patch & Maze

alt
Daniel Veloza/Google Reviews

Folks living in Cajun Country will have a blast picking the perfect pumpkin at Poche’s Patch & Maze. As one of the best pumpkin patches near Lafayette, the whole family will love an autumn day spent here. The pumpkin patch opens at the end of September, and runs until Halloween. They haven't announced a specific opening date for 2024 yet, but it's coming! Poche’s has awesome events planned for each weekend, so be sure to check the schedule beforehand!

Did your favorite Louisiana pumpkin patch make the list? Let us know in the comments below! Of course, fall is so much more than just pumpkins. Check out our guide to fall in Louisiana where we highlight some of our favorite hiking trails, festivals, and upcoming events.

After you've plucked the perfect pumpkin and decorated your house, you may be inspired to do a little leaf-peeping! Here's everything you need to know about when the leaves will change in Louisiana.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates and news

All Stories

Food
Restaurants

Dine for Less Than $10 a Person at This Iconic Hot Dog Stand in Maine

by Kim Falchek
on Oct 4
A visit to Flo's iconic hot dog stand in Cape Neddick is always a must stop. The steamed dogs with famous relish sauce are both affordable and delicious.
Nature
Hiking

The 2.7-Mile Hiking Trail in West Virginia That Is a Fall Foliage Wonderland

by Lisa Sammons
on Oct 3
alt
Food

The Best Apple Fried Pie in Tennessee Comes From This Mountain Orchard

by Chris Dodge
on Oct 3
A mouth-watering apple fried pie.
Nature
Hiking

The 2.7-Mile Hiking Trail in Virginia That Is a Fall Foliage Wonderland

by Beth Copenhaver
on Oct 3
alt
Food
Restaurants

The Off-the-Beaten-Path Restaurant in South Carolina That Is Worth the Day Trip

by Beth Copenhaver
on Oct 3
alt