Swimming Up the Ranks
Audubon Aquarium ranked as the #2 best aquarium in the U.S. in the most recent USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Poll.
Located on the banks of the Mississippi River and at the front end of the Woldenberg Riverfront Park, the Audubon Aquarium is home to over 3,600 animals representing upwards of 250 different species.
For the past nine years, Audubon Aquarium has received nominations in the USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice competition. Last year, the aquarium ranked as the fifth most popular aquarium in the country.
"This is a fantastic honor and one our team strives to achieve on a daily basis with their hard work and dedication," Rich Toth, senior vice president and director of Audubon's downtown facilities, said in a press release. "At every turn, our team looks to showcase the animals in our care to provide unforgettable experiences and educate our guests about [the] world's oceans."
Renovations on the Riverfront
After undergoing a $41 million renovation that merged the Audubon Insectarium with the aquarium, the facility reopened with new experiences and exhibits on June 8, 2023. There is also the Life in the Gulf area, which gives guests access to the top of the Gulf of Mexico exhibit. There is also an exhibit featuring free-flying birds, as well as a new Amazon Encounters area with a two-toed sloth.
The team of professional travel experts and editors who made the nominations mentioned the aquarium's shark and ray touch pool as a highlight of the aquarium. The 13,000-gallon exhibit gives guests the opportunity to meet marine life up close as images of other ocean life are projected on the 60-foot LED screen.
This year, Audubon Zoo was ranked #7 in the Best Zoo competition and Woldenberg Riverfront Park, home to the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium, ranked #2 amidst the nation's riverfront parks.
