Audubon Zoo

Audubon Zoo is the family day that also happens to show off Uptown New Orleans. It sits at the river end of Audubon Park, among some of the city's grandest live oaks, and it is laid out as a series of themed regions rather than rows of enclosures, which makes a few hours here feel like a walk through landscapes. The Louisiana Swamp is the one to prioritize, because no other zoo can do it: a recreated bayou world of cypress, boardwalks and old fishing-camp buildings, home to alligators, bobcats, foxes and other native wildlife, and an easy way to show children the ecosystem they may not see on a swamp tour. Jaguar Jungle wraps big cats, macaws and rainforest paths around replica Mayan ruins, with a misty trail and a nocturnal house; the Asia region holds orangutans, a tiger and elephants; and the African Savanna brings lions, rhinos and giraffes, with Twiga Terrace for eye-level giraffe views and a newly added group of zebras sharing the habitat. Flamingos in their lagoon, whooping cranes in a wooded marsh and the old Hygeia fountain round out the photo stops. Kids have their own landmarks: Monkey Hill, built so children in a flat city could have a hill to run up, and the Cool Zoo waterpark with a lazy river and splash zone, open seasonally and a lifesaver on steamy days. Tickets can be bundled with the Audubon Aquarium downtown, making a two-venue family plan easy. Fit: families first, and first-timers who want to see the Uptown side of the city by streetcar and park walk.

The setting is half the appeal. Audubon Park stretches from St. Charles Avenue to the river, with a jogging loop shaded by oaks and lagoons full of egrets, and the zoo occupies its riverside end. The most memorable way to arrive is to ride the St. Charles streetcar to the park, then walk through it to the zoo entrance, about twenty minutes of the best scenery in the city; the Magazine Street bus gets you closer if small legs are tired. Families who drive will find parking at the zoo, but the streetcar-and-stroll approach turns the trip into a sightseeing outing in its own right.

How to plan the day: arrive at opening, especially from late spring to early fall, because the animals are more active and the heat is lower. Do the Louisiana Swamp and Jaguar Jungle first while it is cool, break for lunch at Zoofari Cafe or a packed picnic, then save the Cool Zoo splash area for the hottest part of the afternoon when it is in season. Check the daily schedule for keeper talks and feedings, and look at the Wild Encounters options on the official site if you want a closer, paid animal experience. Jaguar Jungle has been through a multi-year renovation that expanded its South American section, so some paths may change as work wraps up; the core rainforest walk and bat house have stayed open.

Practicals: allow three to four hours, longer with the splash park. Strollers are available and paths are mostly flat and shaded, but bring water and sunscreen. The zoo is closed on a few major holidays; check the official calendar before you go. Combination tickets with the aquarium and insectarium downtown are good value for families staying several days. Pair the zoo with a Magazine Street lunch, a Garden District walk, or the streetcar ride back downtown for an easy Uptown loop.