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There are plenty of amazing sights to see in New Orleans. There is the Bayou, the many fantastic jazz clubs, gorgeous Southern Gothic architecture, and some of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. I have gone there several times, and I always find new things to see. Of all the sites out there, however, my favorite one has to be the Aquarium of the Americas.
I have been to many different aquariums around the country and a few around the world. I have seen some good displays out there, and some lousy ones. The aquarium of the Americas, in my opinion, is one of the best aquariums out there. I've seen a lot of aquariums where the cages are dingy and the fish look malnourished or even diseased. Not so in the Aquarium of the Americas. The displays are large and impressive and the selection of wildlife is absolutely astounding. There are different fish, marine mammals, and ocean floor fauna from all over the world. They have a great touching pool for the kids where they can pick up starfish and horseshoe crabs. They also have an impressive display of sharks.
I think my favorite thing to look at in the aquarium of the Americas is the jellyfish display. There are other larger, more impressive and more exotic displays, but I have always loved jellyfish. There's something so slow and meditative about the way they move, and so beautiful about their simple, yet functional structure. Without exerting any will of their own, and with only the urge to move towards light, They manage to range throughout the world's oceans. They are barely any smarter than plants, and yet they can move with a rhythmic and delightful beauty that is almost like a dance.
My kids always like looking at the otters. The aquarium of the Americas has a pretty decent display of otters where you can watch them swimming around, eating food off of their bellies, and even frolicking and playing in the water. I used to live by the ocean when I was a kid, and I remember being able to watch otters in the harbor. It is a real treat to be able to go down and see otters again. I have always loved the ocean, but never had the chance to see its secrets up close. That is why it is nice to go to an aquarium where the secrets can be brought right to me.
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